The book integrates an interdisciplinary approach to understanding how to best mitigate the COVID-19 crisis as well as reduce future shocks to the African continent. It raises vital questions connecting the effects of lockdown measures, crisis causation, and shock impacts most countries faced over the last two-year period. The answers to these questions are not limited to economists and sociologists, instead, they magnify to include policymakers and everyday people. The nature of this book is to help piece together solutions for preparedness, a stronger understanding of sound development, and a united and resilient Pan-Africanism to best handle future shock events.
Giuseppe T. Cirella, Professor of Human Geography, works at the Faculty of Economics, University of Gdansk, Sopot, Poland, where he received a Doctor of Habilitation (Dr. Hab.) in Economics and Finance. He specializes in economic development, environmental social science, and sustainability. His interdisciplinary background also includes socio-political research throughout Eastern Europe, Africa, and China. After completing a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D.) at Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia, within the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering and Management, on developing a sustainability-based index, he founded the Polo Centre of Sustainability in Italy. Notably, he has held professorships and scientific positions at Saint Petersburg State University, Russia; Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, China; Life University, Cambodia; and Free University of Bozen, Italy. In his early career, he worked with the Canadian International Development Agency in Indonesia as well as with Radarsat International in Brazil. He is also on the editorial board of a number of internationally renowned academic peer-reviewed journals.