AFRICA’S GOVERNANCE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 | PRELIMINARY REPORT 2020 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Africa), office of the focal point. Ms. Kgotatso Semela, South Africa (Southern Africa), office of the focal point. Hon. Princess Gloria Akobundu, Nigeria (West Africa), CEO and national coordinator – national secretariat. Amb. Ashraf Rashed, Egypt (North Africa), chairperson of the NGC. Mr. Benard Konan, Cote d’Ivoire (West Africa), chairperson of the NGC. Prof. Babacar Gueye, Senegal (West Africa), chairperson of the NGC. Mr. Moustafa Ly, Senegal (West Africa), NGC/ focal point. Mr. Dax Sua, Liberia (West Africa) executive director: national secretariat. Hon. Baber Gano, Mali (West Africa), focal point. Mr. Bananeh Ehnenki, Chad (Central Africa), chairperson of the NGC. Prof. Michael Chege, Kenya (East Africa), Chairperson of the NGC. Mr Daniel Osiemo, Kenya (East Africa), executive director: national secretariat. Dr. Albert Byamugisha, Uganda (East Africa), chairperson of the NGC. Amb. Lineekela J. Mboti, Namibia (Southern Africa), focal point. Amb. Wifried Emvula, Namibia (Southern Africa), national secretariat/ chairperson of the NGC. Gen. Timothy Kazembe, Zambia (Southern Africa) chairperson of the NGC. Mr Vanny Hampondela, Zambia (Southern Africa), APRM national desk coordinator. Mr Khaled Benhamadi, Algeria (North Africa), focal point. This preliminary report on the governance response to COVID-19 by African Union member states was prepared under the overall leadership and guidance of Professor Eddy Maloka, chief executive officer of APRM. Technical oversight was provided by the APRM Panel of Eminent Persons chaired by Prof. Fatima Zohra Karadja, Algeria (North Africa) and. Ambassador Ombeni Sefue, Tanzania (East Africa), vice chairperson, APR Panel of Eminent Persons. The report was drafted by Dr McBride Nkhalamba, head, research and development division with contributions from Dr. Rachel Mukamunana, head country review coordination division, Mr. Jean Yves Adou, head monitoring and evaluation coordination division, Prof. Migai Akech, governance expert, Ms Nonkululeko Masoek, governance researcher, Dr. Misheck Mutize, senior credit rating technical expert, Ms Yvette Kapinga Ndanga, senior conflict prevention officer and Ms Sara Tawfik Hamouda, AU Agenda 2063 & SDG 2030 researcher. The findings also benefitted from the input of the APRM Task Force on Studies of the Governance Response to COVID-19 by African Union member states, which comprises the following country representatives: H.E. Omar Defallah, focal point and minister of APRM Chad (Central Africa), focal point. Ms. Yoliswa Makhasi, South Africa (Southern 7