The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked unprecedented havoc on children, families and communities around the globe, disrupting vital services and putting millions of lives at risk. Since March, attempts to avert the global health crisis have seen nationwide school closures in 194 countries.

The annual report provides a snapshot of how End Violence worked with partners to act as a global platform for change – catalysing new political commitments, investing new resources, and equipping practitioners across the world.

This research was conducted in March and April 2020 to explore children and young people’s reflections and perceptions on the COVID-19 outbreak.

School closures are a common short run policy response to viral epidemics. The authors study the persistent post-epidemic impacts of this on the economic lives of young women in Sierra Leone, a context where women frequently experience sexual violence and face multiple economic disadvantages.

This document has been developed by WFP and UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Offices and provides a non-exhaustive list of recommended multi-sectoral actions for Government, UNICEF, WFP and other partners to consider as part of their short and longer-term planning for and implementatio