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.

Learn More about Learning and Adapting During COVID-19 | A Series of Webinars

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

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Tracking COVID-19's Impact on Food Security in Senegal

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We’re Listening: Reaching Communities in Nigeria with NTD Treatments Amid COVID-19

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Capacity Building Under Lockdown: Findings from a Virtual Learning in Zambia

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Adapting in a Pandemic: Simple Innovations for Big Impact in Trachoma Elimination

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Teacher Training in the Philippines during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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An Expert Interview with Dr. Aissata Fofana

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COVID-19 is Showing Us How Market Systems Can Help Build Resilience

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The Honduras Model Police Precinct Project Helps to Offset the Impacts of COVID-19

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Understanding the Impact of COVID-19 in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

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Fighting COVID-19 in the Philippines

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Samoa Project Offers Lessons for Improving Learning during COVID-19 Pandemic

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Shining a Spotlight on Adolescent Mental Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

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Expanding Affordable & Reliable Electricity Services in Ethiopia

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Powering sub-Saharan Africa’s COVID-19 Response through Off-grid Energy

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USAID ReachHealth Project Expanded to Support the COVID-19 Emergency Response in the Philippines

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Philippine University Joins Local Response to COVID-19

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Rapid Response Helps Cambodian Students Learn at Home while Schools are Closed

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USAID/Senegal Governance Activity Demonstrates Value of Multi-Sectoral Collaboration in Response to COVID-19

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COVID-19 in Somalia: Leveraging Finance to help Somali Businesses in the Face of Crisis

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Sub-Saharan Africa Must Remain Vigilant

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Mitigating the Impacts of COVID-19 in Secure Settings: Lessons from Belize

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Collaboration through Crisis: COVID-19 Learnings from Global Health Leaders in Nine Countries

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Visualizing COVID-19 Vulnerability: When Chronic Disease Prevention Matters

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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.