COVID-19 Resources

• An article from GDC member SolarAid on how they are supporting communities in Zambia and Malawi respond to COVID-19, including through the provision of vital information and off-grid solar products.
• A webinar from GDC implementing partner Hystra, and featuring GDC members Ecofiltro, Moon and Mwezi, considering how to pivot inclusive business models in times of crisis.
• The launch of an online sales platform from GDC member Easy Solar, enabling the purchase of solar and clean cooking products to customers in Sierra Leone.
• A blog exploring how last mile distributor Frontier Markets has rapidly sought to find customer-centred solutions to the COVID-19 crisis in India

• A series of short training tutorials on crisis business planning from the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurs.
• Free access to the COVID-19: Business Survival Toolkit from the Invest in Africa (IIA) initiative.
• A survival checklist from the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship for social enterprises to navigate the crisis.
• A COVID-19 briefing from McKinsey. See in particular section 4 on ‘Planning and managing COVID-19 responses’ and associated webinar recording from Business Fights Poverty.
• A blog from Mulago on weathering the storm for social entrepreneurs, from social entrepreneurs.
• Templates for creating robust contingency plans.
• Topical webinars from the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurs on crisis cash flow management and rapid business plan pivot (the summaries are available here).
• A webinar from Impact Amplifier on developing entrepreneurial resilience during turbulent times.

• A step-by-step guide from World Economic Forum on workforce principles for the COVID-19 pandemic.
• A framework from BAIN, including a priorities checklist for CEOs, to help business leaders respond to the crisis.
• A webinar from Business Fights Poverty exploring how Kenya has taken steps to deal with the crisis through multi-stakeholder engagement via the National Business Compact, and providing insights for other countries’ responses.
• A podcast exploring how CEOs leading companies in Uganda, Zambia and Ethiopia are dealing with the crisis.
• A real-time review of country-specific COVID-19 social protection measures from the World Bank, ILO and Unicef.
• A map and summary from the World Bank of national SME support measures in response to COVID-19.

• A how-to guide from 60 Decibels, for conducting customer phone surveys during social distancing and lockdown.
• A webinar from GDC implementing partner BoP Innovation Center on how to communicate with customers remotely, during the COVID-19 crisis.
• A blog from the World Bank sharing practical tips for conducting remote surveys during lockdown.
• Guidance from iBAN on re-evaluating target customers and market segments during the pandemic and beyond.

• A guide by People Matters to help companies plan, prepare and respond to staff-related work implications, due to COVID-19.
• A crowdsourced guide to help SMEs, including templates for communicating with staff.
• A comprehensive list of virtual communications tools, video conferencing and collaboration platforms to enable working from home.
• Webinars from The Global Good Fund on a range of people management topics, including managing a virtual team and balancing work and family responsibilities during times of crisis.

• Virtual bootcamps (28th and 30th April) from the African Management Institute, focused on financial forecasting and cost management during an economic slowdown.
• A webinar from GOGLA, aimed at solar companies to help them mitigate the threat of COVID-19 to their businesses, with a focus on financial management and preserving cash.
• A cashflow tool, scenario template and guide for communicating with investors, from Nonprofit Finance Fund.
• A panel of impact investors and social enterprise funders providing insights into the shifting funding landscape in the current environment.

Find out more 

While the above resources are our top picks, this is not an exhaustive list. If you’d like more information, here are some additional resource pages members may find useful:

• Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE)
• Bertha Centre (particularly for companies operating in South Africa)
• Business Fights Poverty
• GOGLA (particularly for off-grid energy)
• Invest in India Business Immunity Platform
• Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship
• NextBillion