Focus Areas
Helping low- and middle-income countries and communities respond to the crisis and build resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens decades of progress in international development. The challenge for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), donors, and development partners is to respond to the present crisis and its secondary effects across all sectors, and to help government systems and communities become more resilient in the future.
RTI’s rigorous approach to program implementation allows us to quickly adapt when conditions and needs change—as is the case during the COVID-19 pandemic. We help countries and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from a range of public health threats, including Ebola, Zika, and now COVID-19. Additionally, our researchers provide new data and insights into the COVID-19 pandemic and how the development community can respond, adapt, and build a brighter future.
Learning and Adapting During COVID-19 | A Series of Webinars
These sessions focus on how the international development community is facing the challenges of COVID-19. View past webinars and sign up to receive information for upcoming events.
Related Projects and Insights
Explore some of the ways we’re helping countries and communities respond to the pandemic and its secondary effects.
5 Ways to Promote Virtual Community Engagement for Obesity and NCD Prevention During COVID-19
Tracking COVID-19's Impact on Food Security in Senegal
Learn More about Tracking COVID-19's Impact on Food Security in Senegal
We’re Listening: Reaching Communities in Nigeria with NTD Treatments Amid COVID-19
Learn More about We’re Listening: Reaching Communities in Nigeria with NTD Treatments Amid COVID-19
Capacity Building Under Lockdown: Findings from a Virtual Learning in Zambia
Learn More about Capacity Building Under Lockdown: Findings from a Virtual Learning in Zambia
Adapting in a Pandemic: Simple Innovations for Big Impact in Trachoma Elimination
Learn More about Adapting in a Pandemic: Simple Innovations for Big Impact in Trachoma Elimination
Teacher Training in the Philippines during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Learn More about Teacher Training in the Philippines during the COVID-19 Pandemic
An Expert Interview with Dr. Aissata Fofana
Learn More about An Expert Interview with Dr. Aissata Fofana
COVID-19 is Showing Us How Market Systems Can Help Build Resilience
Learn More about COVID-19 is Showing Us How Market Systems Can Help Build Resilience
The Honduras Model Police Precinct Project Helps to Offset the Impacts of COVID-19
Learn More about The Honduras Model Police Precinct Project Helps to Offset the Impacts of COVID-19
Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Learn More about Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Fighting COVID-19 in the Philippines
Samoa Project Offers Lessons for Improving Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic
Learn More about Samoa Project Offers Lessons for Improving Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic
Shining a Spotlight on Adolescent Mental Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Learn More about Shining a Spotlight on Adolescent Mental Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Expanding Affordable & Reliable Electricity Services in Ethiopia
Learn More about Expanding Affordable & Reliable Electricity Services in Ethiopia
Powering sub-Saharan Africa’s COVID-19 Response through Off-grid Energy
Learn More about Powering sub-Saharan Africa’s COVID-19 Response through Off-grid Energy
USAID ReachHealth Project Expanded to Support the COVID-19 Emergency Response in the Philippines
Philippine University Joins Local Response to COVID-19
Learn More about Philippine University Joins Local Response to COVID-19
Rapid Response Helps Cambodian Students Learn at Home while Schools are Closed
Learn More about Rapid Response Helps Cambodian Students Learn at Home while Schools are Closed
USAID/Senegal Governance Activity Demonstrates Value of Multi-Sectoral Collaboration in Response to COVID-19
COVID-19 in Somalia: Leveraging Finance to help Somali Businesses in the Face of Crisis
Sub-Saharan Africa Must Remain Vigilant
Mitigating the Impacts of COVID-19 in Secure Settings: Lessons from Belize
Learn More about Mitigating the Impacts of COVID-19 in Secure Settings: Lessons from Belize
Collaboration through Crisis: COVID-19 Learnings from Global Health Leaders in Nine Countries
Visualizing COVID-19 Vulnerability: When Chronic Disease Prevention Matters
Learn More about Visualizing COVID-19 Vulnerability: When Chronic Disease Prevention Matters
Capabilities Highlights
Rapid and Flexible Response to Shocks: We partner with donors, government ministries, and local stakeholders to contain and mitigate the effects of shocks including disease outbreaks, weather events, and conflict.
Strengthening Systems to Build Resilience: We work with all levels of governments and a variety of stakeholders in LMICs to build strong systems that are better prepared to respond to threats by supporting planning and budgeting, improving service delivery, mobilizing national resources, and strengthening social accountability.
Data & Analytics: We bring together technical expertise in epidemiology, surveillance, mobile technology, social science, and data analytics to develop and adapt smarter programs and take them to scale. Our systems are designed for practical use in development settings and may be quickly tailored and repurposed.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, Learning, and Adapting (MERLA): Using monitoring, evaluation, and research to inform continuous learning and adapting during project implementation, including during shocks like COVID-19, requires significant changes in programming, which RTI is well experienced and prepared for. Read more.
Working Across Sectors
We are responding to the primary and secondary effects of COVID-19 in and across different sectors in the short, medium, and long term. Learn more about our expertise and experience in international development.
Meet the Experts
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Richard Reithinger
Richard Reithinger
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Donal Bisanzio
Donal Bisanzio
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Katherine J. Wachala
Katherine J. Wachala
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Rajeev Colaço
Rajeev Colaço
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Carmen Strigel
Carmen Strigel
Related Projects
New Framework Examines Enterprise Resilience in Ethiopia
RTI-funded research on agrodealer enterprise resilience provides a framework and insights for assessing and understanding the resilience of micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises
Read More about New Framework Examines Enterprise Resilience in Ethiopia
