COVID-19 and Indigenous Women in East Africa

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, calls have been made for continuing analyses of its impacts on and dynamics among the world’s most vulnerable groups and peoples. Indigenous peoples have been recognized as one of the groups at heightened risk for COVID-19 and its many adverse socio-economic and other impacts.

This brief summarizes emerging evidence on the impact, responses and opportunities related to COVID-19 among Indigenous people in East Africa. As the virus continues to spread in the region, there are major socioeconomic implications. Indigenous peoples, who live in 35 countries in Africa, often depend on access and rights to their traditional lands and the natural resources that such lands hold. Many of them live in hard-to-reach, geographically isolated areas and experience political and social neglect. And although their livelihoods diverge, East Africa’s Indigenous peoples are united by a shared history of vulnerability, marginalization, land tenure insecurity, poverty and inadequate political representation.

Women and girls comprise about half of the population of East Africa’s Indigenous peoples. Women play critical roles in tourism, agriculture, health and environmental and biodiversity conservation; are key to food and livelihood security; and possess vital knowledge of sustainable forest, livestock and ecosystems practices. But they are also particularly vulnerable to multiple forms of discrimination, violence, sexual abuse and mistreatment both within and outside their own communities.