Assessment of COVID-19 on NGO Operations :The Case of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia
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Date
2021-06
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A.A.U
Abstract
The Corona Virus Pandemic-COVID-19 has remained a major threat to mankind around the globe costing over four millions of lives. Apart from the cost of life it affected, its effect on regional and global development is also immense and is leading to socio-economic crises.It follows that taking one of the humanitarian organization, one with ample exposure and expertise in the sector, a study that can adequately respond to various queries emanating in
non-governmental organization has been needed. As such the study is believed to showcase the underlying challenges observed in the area following the COVID-19 Pandemic. It follows that with the intent of examining the effect brought about following the pandemic, this study
was conducted taking fouryears’ data extending from April 2017 to April 2021. Employing a mixed research design, the study made use of an in-depth interview from target participants and secondary data attesting its performance trend 3 years before the onset of COVID-19.
The set of questionswere meant to assess the effect of COVID-19 on the finance and funding of HFE (an NGO); the effect on its overall performance that includes the challenges brought about on employees financial and non-financial rewards; and possible interventions taken by the organization were considered.The study found out that the pandemic has severely affected donation in response to which the organization had made a cost cut approach that has directly affected running cost and capital budget. Comparatively, prevention activities were the most affected. The organization hibernated (suspended) its activities in outreach centers, and changed at least one of its strategic plans as was seen with interruption of 18 months’ campaign of identifying as many obstetric fistula patients as possible from the rural
regions and doing repair surgeries for them. New staff recruitment was frozen and benefits of all employees were stopped. COVID-19 prevention protocol, preventive kits (masks, sanitizer, more washing facilities) for the staff, cost saving measures, screening procedures and setting up a treatment facility for moderately sick employees were among the measures taken to minimize the effect of the pandemic on the staff.A more comprehensive study with
variables tailored to collect the effect of the pandemic from the employees’ perspective, involvement of more people in the interview from other sections, and an ongoing assessment of the effect of the pandemic on the organization are recommended to help fully understand the effect. Key terms: Corona Virus Disease -19 (COVID-19), Economic Effect, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (HFE), outreach centers, strategic plan.
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Keywords
Economic Effect, Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (HFE)