Global mapping of civil society collaborations and initiatives to face COVID-19 in self-built neighbourhoods.
Premises for action
Investment and care priorities
Access to adequate housing is a fundamental condition to protect the right to life and the effectiveness of mortality prevention depends on the speed of response.
The impact of the pandemic is suffered disproportionately in areas where housing conditions are precarious, such as in informal settlements.
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Governance and intersectoral alliances
Facing the pandemic makes learning between organizations imperative and promoting strategic alliances to protect and care for the lives of the entire population and especially those exposed to structural vulnerability.
Local governments are essential to quickly respond to the pandemic and must be supported by national governments and multilateral organizations.
It is necessary to guarantee the participation of civil society in the design, implementation and evaluation of responses to this emergency to make its implementation viable.
Livelihood and local economy
In the goal of preventing mortality, not only those related to COVID-19 but also mortality related to the economic measures taken must be considered.
The path to reactivate the economy and generate employment will be through a paradigm shift in the construction of infrastructure, housing programs and comprehensive urban development that incorporate issues of sustainability, inclusion and resilience.
Care system
A transition towards a caring society, recognizing the role of women as caregivers of homes and communities (HIC, 2020).
The connection and alliance with leaders and grassroots territorial organizations is a precondition for an effective response and recovery that prioritize care systems.
Spatial data and territorial knowledge
Decision making must be based on epidemiological evidence, territorial data and the knowledge of social organizations on the conditions of vulnerability and the installed capacity in the territories to coordinate effective actions.
Public pedagogy is key to counteracting misinformation and rumours that promote fear, confusion and lack of trust in institutions.
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Regional recovery strategy
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The crisis is a point of no return and the actions taken today will change the cities of the future (UCLG, 2020). Therefore, it is necessary to rethink sustainable territorial development strategies and their articulation with global agendas.
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The quickest strategy to capitalize on the immediate response and contribute to the long-term post-pandemic recovery is to generate a regional intersectoral alliance that will catapult a renewed comprehensive improvement program for healthy neighbourhoods.
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