Africa Community Vulnerability Index 2020

The Africa CCVI ranks 756 regions across 48 African countries on their vulnerability—or their ability to mitigate, treat, and delay transmission of the coronavirus. Vulnerability is assessed based on many factors grouped into seven themes: socioeconomic status, population density, access to transportation and housing; epidemiological factors; health system factors; fragility; and age. The index reflects risk factors for COVID-19, both in terms of clinical outcomes and socioeconomic impact.

The Africa CCVI is the only index to measure vulnerability to COVID-19 within most countries in Africa at this level of detail. The index is modular to reflect the reality that vulnerability is a multi-dimensional construct, and two regions could be vulnerable for very different reasons. This allows stakeholders to customize pandemic responses informed by vulnerability on each dimension. For example, policymakers can identify areas for scaling up COVID-19 testing that are more vulnerable on theme two - population density - or direct community health workers or mobile health units to areas that are vulnerable due to weak health systems  infrastructure. The modularity of the Africa CCVI can help governments design lean and precise responses for subnational regions during each phase of the pandemic. 

As the pandemic response is scaled-up and more data on testing, hospitalizations, and deaths becomes available across Africa, the Africa CCVI can help model the cascading effect on communities. We can also overlay relevant data to generate unique insights. For example, as countries ease lock-down measures, overlaying mobility data on Africa CCVI maps can be used to customize lock-down policies, or to guide policies - for example, how vaccine distribution should be prioritized.