In a second session that addressed community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, Joyce Mbogo of Ladies of Liberty Alliance in Kenya spoke of the importance of managing mental health at a time when people are not allowed to move freely, and that domestic violence has been on the upswing. From Uganda, John Socrates Mugabi related how trade has ground to a halt because of closed borders—an issue that impacts neighboring South Sudan particularly hard, as 80 percent of food imports come from Uganda, and no trade between the two countries is possible. To make matters worse, the government requires permits for food distribution and health care, meaning that most people have become entirely dependent on government handouts. John Mustapha Kutiyote of Students’ Organization for Liberty and Entrepreneurship was unable to overcome technology problems and did not speak, reiterating the infrastructure issues that are currently plaguing his country.
The challenges of starting and maintaining a civil society organization vary, but marketing, fundraising, and maintaining intellectual integrity are constants for all organizations, irrespective of size or experience. Three concurrent sessions, held in English, French, and Arabic, featured panelists who have built think tanks from the ground up as well as leaders of newer organizations who shared their recommendations for growth. Another common challenge is in staffing, particularly in countries where the foundations of freedom are not widely understood by a mass audience. Panelists in all three sessions emphasized the importance of maintaining a mission-driven purpose by developing ideas for reform, working with influential audiences in policy and media to disseminate ideas, and then engaging in activism to create change.