AFRICA’S GOVERNANCE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 | PRELIMINARY REPORT 2020 implement individually and/or collectively to achieve the following: curb the spread of the virus, mitigate its effects, and prepare for a response in the event of a disaster such as this in the future. with the CEO of the APRM Secretariat, Professor Eddy Maloka, who has spared no effort to carefully supervise the technical production of this report despite the difficult situation marked by the total lockdown imposed in South Africa. My thanks also go to all my fellow members of APRM Panel of Eminent Persons who, through their very relevant comments, have improved the quality of this report. Finally, I would like to thank the members of the working group from selected APRM member countries for their support in drafting this report. I invite member states to take ownership of the recommendations contained in this report and implement them effectively. This report will also be included in all the knowledge products developed by the AU organs and governments of member states on this subject in order to guide decision-making for the response and to guide reforms in governance in Africa. The report is addressed primarily to AU organs, the REC’s, Pillar of the AU, and the governments of the member states. Secondly, the report is addressed to the general public, particularly to academia/ researchers and all those who are interested in governance in general. Finally, I would like to thank all those who contributed to the preparation of this report, starting Prof. Fatima Zohra Karadja Chairperson of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons 6