As in other parts of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on Africa, not only in the realm of health, but in the areas of peace, security, democracy, economy, and international relations. The Wilson Center Africa Program will host the 2021 Southern Voices Network for Peacebuilding (SVNP) Virtual Annual Conference, “The Political Economy of Democracy and Peacebuilding in Africa in the COVID-19 Era,” from July 19-23, 2021.

This conference will assess the impact of COVID-19 on democracy and peacebuilding in Africa, examine the crosscutting roles of gender, youth, technology, non-state actors, and international stakeholders on these issues, identify some of the challenges posed and opportunities created by the pandemic, and explore the way forward for U.S.-Africa relations in the COVID-19 era. The conference will also discuss best practices, concrete recommendations, and policy options for addressing challenges and strengthening democracy and peacebuilding in Africa. The conference will feature a series of events that will include African and U.S. policymakers, practitioners, international stakeholders, and experts, and African heads of organizations and senior leaders from the SVNP.