Rwanda

Rwanda’s Covid-19 response was centrally coordinated, implemented through decentralized government authorities and local CSOs, guided by development partners and enforced through punitive measures. While this structure enabled efficient service delivery, equity considerations had been of lesser concern. The country’s response centered on social protection extension and economic recovery. However, it glossed over the everyday realities of the extremely poor and vulnerable. The measures put in place to curb the spread of the virus were disproportionate to the measures designed to solve its socio-economic fallouts. Democratizing pandemic responses and proper targeting of the most vulnerable to enhance greater engagement between state and citizens is therefore recommended.