COVID-19 data modeling featured in the Financial Times
Cooper/Smith was featured in an article in the Financial Times, “‘The pandemic is gaining momentum’: Africa prepares for a surge in infections” on July 19, 2020.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cooper/Smith has pivoted to helping African countries meet the crisis head-on through data-driven, tailored responses.
In one example, the organization has helped the country of Malawi build hyper-localized models that describe the overall ranking of areas in the country by economic vulnerability. These models, in conjunction with data analytics and digital products coordinated by the Ministry of Health and the Emergency Operations Center, have given the country an edge against the rapidly-evolving pandemic.
On July 19, 2020, Cooper/Smith was featured in a Financial Times article written by David Pilling, Africa Editor (please note, the article is part of the Financial Times’ paid content and requires a subscription to view).The article describes statistical models developed by Cooper/Smith that indicate how social distancing could stop millions of COVID-19 infections and save as many as 9,000 deaths in the country of Malawi alone. Link to previous Medium article that describes this work in detail.
Hannah Cooper Klein, Managing Director, was quoted:
“African countries don’t need to make a Sophie’s choice” between damaging lockdowns and “letting the epidemic run rampant.” Even in the absence of robust data, she says, there is enough information to tailor responses to specific communities.
About Cooper/Smith
When implemented correctly, data collection and analysis ensures that programs succeed and achieve actionable results. In international development, that means concrete improvements for those who need it most.
At Cooper/Smith, we use hard data to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of development programs worldwide.
Write to us at contact@coopersmith.org or visit www.coopersmith.org to learn more about our data-driven approach to health and development.
