With the escalation of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) has a range of experts available for interview to offer fresh insights and commentary on the wide-ranging implications of the virus:

1. Marta Foresti, Director of ODI Europe and head of ODI's Human Mobility Initiative, is available to discuss the role of migrant key workers in responding to the crisis and the impact of Covid-19 on attitudes and policies towards migration.
2. Rebecca Nadin, Director of ODI’s Risk and Resilience programme, is available to discuss the environmental impact of Covid-19. Rebecca is an expert on China and in fact was living there during the SARS outbreak in 2003. She is researching the future of China’s ‘Belt and Road’ development initiative and what this might look like going forward.
3. Jonathan Tanner, Research Associate for ODI’s Digital Societies programme, is available to discuss the disruptive effect of coronavirus on how we use technology in society. This includes the infrastructure needs to support remote working, the role of social media in spreading disinformation, how tech companies are reacting to Covid-19 and the potential technological solutions (including app/smartphone solutions) to the outbreak.
4. Vidya Diwakar, Senior Research Officer for ODI’s Chronic Poverty Advisory Network, is available to discuss the implications of Covid-19 for people living in poverty or near the poverty line. Her area of expertise also covers how various sources of risk (including different forms of ill health) can intersect for vulnerable groups to contribute to impoverishment.
5. Sherine El Taraboulsi-McCarthy, Senior Research Fellow in ODI’s Humanitarian Policy Group, is available to discuss the implications of Covid-19 in conflict zones with a particular focus on Yemen, North Africa and Nigeria and on the power dynamics of a pandemic in a conflict including what it means for warring parties, for governments and for the international community.
6. Amanda Gray Meral, Research Fellow in ODI’s Humanitarian Policy Group, is available to discuss the impact of Covid-19 on refugees and the refugee crisis in Europe and beyond.
7. Sorcha O'Callaghan, Director of ODI's Humanitarian Policy Group, is available to discuss the implications of Covid-19 on humanitarian aid, refugees and displacement.
8. Annalisa Prizzon, Senior Research Fellow in ODI’s Development Strategy and Finance programme, is available to discuss the implications of the virus for international cooperation and public finance.
9. Dirk Willem to Velde, Director of ODI’s International Economic Development Group, is available to discuss the global economic impact of Covid-19 including import/export revenue decline on regional economies and the effect of falling prices of oil and other commodities. He has currently tracking the impact of the outbreak on Sub-Saharan Africa and other developing economies.
10. Sherillyn Raga, Senior Research Officer for ODI’s International Economic Development Group, is available to discuss the international donor response to the virus and the top countries at risk to the continued economic effect of the outbreak.

Should you wish to interview any of the above spokespeople please contact Charlotte Howes, Media Officer on +44 7808 791 265 or at [email protected].

About the Overseas Development Institute

ODI is an independent, global think tank, working for a sustainable and peaceful world in which every person thrives. We harness the power of evidence and ideas through research and partnership to confront challenges, develop solutions and create change.

In February before the pandemic was officially recognised, ODI researchers published a paper foreseeing the far-reaching economic impact of the Coronavirus on Africa and Asia, predicting a $4 billion loss in export revenue for sub-Saharan Africa alone. You can read the full report here.