The COVID-19 pandemic has had varying impacts on vulnerable communities, including women and girls, who already face social and economic disparities that are likely to amplify the effects of the crisis on their wellbeing. African women journalists covering the pandemic are crucial in ensuring that news coverage on the outbreak is inclusive of women’s voices and knowledge while shedding light on under-reported issues that are often at the bottom of the news agenda.

Nearly a year and a half into the Covid-19 pandemic, the aftershocks of the pandemic are particularly profound and likely to be ongoing as the content struggles with getting infections under control.

Africa has seen a significant amount of false information around the Covid-19 pandemic and this is leading to a loss of trust in the institutions and authorities tasked with responding to the pandemic.

West Africa has a long history of gender-based violence which has been exacerbated by a culture of impunity and lack of women in positions of influence and authority. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the problem, leading to an increase in occurrences of domestic and sexual violence.Women in the region are currently dealing with "two pandemics" while simultaneously caring for their families.

Africa, and African women in particular, are on the front lines of several compounding crises. The COVID-19 pandemic’s aftershocks disproportionately affect women and girls, exacerbating barriers to participating in the economy and public life. Meanwhile, the world faces a climate crisis and related food insecurity and violence surges.