The coronavirus pandemic could cost Africa dearly. Two points of growth less, and losses of income of tens of billions of dollars in the energy, transport and tourism sectors, according to the United Nations Development Program. Containment measures are also expected to have a major economic and social cost, with nearly half of the continent's jobs threatened.

Hence the importance of making up for the lack of social coverage for more than 80% of the African population, says Noura Hamladji, deputy director for Africa, within the UNDP.

Finally, beyond direct aid to households, the urgency is to give already fragile health systems the means to cope with the pandemic. "The Covid-19 will touch Africa on its Achilles heel, which is the health system," said Noura Hamladji, who recalls that the continent has only 0.25 doctors per 1000 inhabitants, 12 times less than the average of OECD countries.

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