AMEL's COVID-19 Response

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AMEL mobilized its ecosystem of civil society activists and respected young leaders across Africa and the Middle East to disseminate vetted information in local languages. We collaborated with the UN on its COVID-19 Communications Response Initiative and leveraged the power of social media to reach millions across Africa and the Middle East with critical information on how to prevent the spread of the virus.

Mobilizing activists

The AMEL ecosystem is full of civil society activists and young leaders who are already assisting and advocating for vulnerable populations in their own communities. They each have local and national networks of young people that can help translate and disseminate accurate information about COVID-19 in local languages. These young changemakers are also uniquely positioned to lead the charge against misinformation and influence their peers to stem the tide of rumors and fake news spreading rampantly on social media, messaging services and in communities.  

providing content and training

AMEL has led public webinars on the impacts of COVID-19 in Africa and the Middle East and is providing tailored training and mentoring for its alumni network. AMEL Alumni include young leaders in 32 countries across Africa and the Middle East who participated in the AMEL Institute pilot program. Throughout the pandemic, they have received content and training to empower them to counteract misinformation and deliver vetted critical information, such as those produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the African Center for Disease Control, to tens of thousands in their communities and beyond. Through this process, additional information, approaches, materials, translations and insights are being collected and developed in order to expand and improve efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across the region and the world.

leveraging technology to reach millionS

AMEL leveraged social media to reach mass numbers across Africa and the Middle East with educational content on COVID-19 in local languages. Through targeted ad campaigns on Facebook, AMEL reached millions individuals across the region. The educational content was disseminated through videos and other social media content in local languages such as Arabic, Amharic, Swahili, Chewa, Yoruba, French, English and more.

Check out this presentation about AMEL’s approach to COVID-19.