In the first year of the pandemic, HEARD conducted country studies on the impact of the COVID-19 containment strategies on sex workers of all genders in Madagascar, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The COVID-19 studies were embedded within HEARD’s longitudinal research on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young key populations in Southern Africa (Linking Policy to Programming Project).

HEARD is delighted to announce the first of a series of publications emerging from the COVID-19 country studies. Please click here for research in Mozambique which explores how national restrictions have impacted different sex worker groups and the actions taken by individuals, government and civil society to cushion these impacts. The paper provides a number of recommendations for strengthening sex worker support policy and programmes in the event of new restrictions and in future health emergencies.