By Pamela Okutoyi
The global impact of COVID-19 is still unfolding and the virus is spreading. However, there could be a silver lining to the outbreak for Kenya and the world’s sustainability ambitions.
Kenya’s sustainability journey has been one of ‘two steps forward, one step back’. While lauded for the phenomenal progress it has made in the energy sector, Kenya’s developmental path has been riddled with challenges.
The country may be famed for the largest wind power, but when it comes to realizing other sustainable development goals, the country is greatly challenged. Also with the growing population, it is definite that change does not come so easily. What Kenya needs is a jolt system, a stimulus that forces swift action.
COVID-19 could be the wake-up call that Kenya needs.
The impact of the coronavirus outbreak, which has turned Kenya’s vibrant cities into ghost towns overnight, is now being felt by every citizen, with supply chains disrupted for everything.
Already reported to have almost 300 cases, the country is now threading a fine line between managing a potentially deadly health epidemic and keeping its economy afloat.
But as the business world scrambles to figure out how to keep working without the largest business center, some positive signals have been emerging for the sustainability community.
The war on wildlife trade may finally be taken seriously
According to World Animal Protection, wildlife is causing the spread of zoonotic diseases and damaging the conservation of wild animals. The gravity of the virus has shone a spotlight on Kenya’s wildlife trade, raising important questions about the risks and morality of wildlife consumption.
Reading the papers and watching news and story highlights, scientists have dubbed the origin of the virus to wildlife.
These has heavily censored social media platforms, a discourse on wildlife trade and conservation, is allowing for more civic society voices to be heard.
The future of telecommuting could allow greater work flexibility across the country
While the trend for remote working has proliferated in recent years, it has largely been concentrated in a small number of sectors. The lockdown period, now affecting 40 million people in cities, has inadvertently forced many enterprises to rethink the way they work while staying productive.
The use of video and teleconferencing could help companies review their travel policies. This not only helps save time and costs but also reduce the level of greenhouse gas emissions. The often overlooked carbon footprint goals, may no longer be as elusive as it seems.
A sickly healthcare industry could be given a new lease of life
The virus has exposed the limitations of the healthcare system in Kenya. Despite the effort by the government to ensure the healthcare system is non-limited, Kenya’s creaking healthcare sector has long suffered from lack of resources, especially in the public hospitals and rural areas. A typical hardware versus software issue on the surface smothers a systematic problem of inequality and inefficiency that run deep in the veins of a resource intensive industry.
As the capital city, Nairobi, the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak, continues to deal with a rising number of cases week after week, severely overworked medical staff workers are being hailed as heroes from around the world. This will hopefully shine a light on the need for greater engagement with doctors and nurses across the country’s health service. Feedback from healthcare workers will not only help to improve their working conditions and interests but also be a valuable source of ideas for how to improve the system.
A boost to strategizing Kenya’s traditional philanthropy efforts
Kenya’s roots in traditional philanthropy beyond cash donations has been slow. Traditional forms of philanthropy may be useful, but are often diffused and unfocused. Strategic corporate giving, closely tied to well thought-out business objectives to ensure that contributions reflect the values of the organization, deploy funds more effectively.
Prioritizing an underrated issue: supply chain resilience
A study by Harvard Business Review found that 60 percent of the 779 readers it surveyed warned that poor visibility of who they do business with is a significant source of risk. Shocks such as disease outbreaks and natural disasters often expose global companies to vulnerabilities in their supply chains. And the result to business continuity can be punishing.
This current epidemic is likely to result in companies taking a more proactive approach to managing risks in their supply chains. Identifying areas of vulnerability and ensuring potential disruptions are dealt with promptly will be taken more seriously in boardrooms.
A lesson in human empathy
Perhaps the most important lesson now unraveling is one of human empathy.
COVID-19’s origin from a city in central China has raised fears of racism and xenophobia around the world. The viral nature of the corona-virus story may have contributed to fueling sentiments of fear and hostility but in many ways it has allowed for public discourse. Such discussions enable us as individuals to reflect on our own unconscious prejudices.
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