The COVID-19 pandemic has posed numerous challenges to international development work. In response, Simone’s working model has adapted accordingly, building on pre-existing strengths for effective distance working.
As international travel and in-person fieldwork have become nearly impossible at present, Simone is working more closely than ever with trusted local counterparts, leading to enhanced capacity development at both individual and national levels. Trust, teamwork and capacity building, always central to Simone’s approach, have become more important than ever before.
Simone has continued regular monitoring and evaluation of ongoing projects during the pandemic. She has used multiple routes for remote data collection, including using Skype and Zoom to conduct focus groups, key informant interviews, and overseeing of internal self-reviews. Risk assessments have been conducted to determine appropriate safety measures including the use of appropriate PPE and social distancing measures for counterparts on the ground. Mobile apps have been utilised successfully for collecting new data, and further analysis on pre-existing data is being carried out. In addition, ongoing evaluations have been modified to gather information about the COVID-19 pandemic, gathering valuable real-time data to document the pandemic’s effect on teaching and education in project areas.
For more detail on projects ongoing during the COVID-19 outbreak and how Simone has approached these, please click on the links to read the case studies below: