Bridging Continents Through Collaborative Research on COVID-19 Resilience in Africa

The Japan Society for Afrasian Studies (JSAS) fosters dialogue between African scholars based in Japan and Asia, and Japanese/Asian scholars specializing in African studies. It builds intercultural and intergenerational links to address shared regional issues. Since December 2022, JSAS has led the project “Exploration of Practical Wisdom and Resilience Overcoming Downside Risk – Collecting Grassroots Voices in Africa under COVID-19,” supported by the Hitachi Fund for Research Related to Infectious Diseases (https://www.hitachi-zaidan.org/global/activities/fundsupport/project/field-expanding_03.html).

This project explores the perceived and actual risks of the pandemic across seven African countries (DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe) and documents how local communities displayed resilience in overcoming challenges. By analyzing the risks from the pandemic and government responses, it highlights grassroots perspectives and the practical wisdom that emerged. The findings, in collaboration with African research institutions, offer insights into public health, policy responses, and community resilience.

This poster introduces JSAS, the project’s outcomes, and an upcoming publication, underscoring the role of grassroots responses in resilience-building. It also demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary, collaborative research in overcoming geographical and cultural divides to address global challenges.