The present document named “COVID19: A guideline on navigating the pandemic with a special focus on the education sector” has been conceptualized keeping in view of the prevailing covid19 crisis which has spared none including non-profit sector. The practice of “social distancing” is posing a multitude of challenges to the NGOs as their outreach to the beneficiaries is being compromised significantly – consequently, forcing them to reconsider the existing way of operations.
CSR team at Genpact (GSIF) has been always proactive and demonstrated exceptional dedication towards any social cause that demands attention. Continuing with same energy and vigor, the GSIF (Genpact Social Impact Fellowship) team at Genpact spearheaded a document which elaborates upon the host of challenges that the present covid19 situation poses primarily to the education (and related) sector and sundry possible solutions to these challenges. The scope of our research for this document is limited to the role of NPOs largely – what actions they might resort to (be it independent or in conjunction with the government).
Employing thematic approach, the article broadly divides the challenges under two major themes – Operational Processes and Program Continuity. In addition to these two themes, the research team also identified Mental Health concerns as a vital theme which deserves attention. While the first two themes bring to the fore the challenges encompassing programmatic and organizational/administrative issues, the latter one highlights the probable impending mental health and wellbeing issues that might engulf the employees, beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
Further, each theme carries sub-themes which categorizes the probable solutions into immediate approach (relief), mid-term approach (restore) and long-term approach (re-invent). As was expected, much of the research yielded solutions directed towards immediate relief with little emphasis on mid-term or long-term solutions. Additionally, the document also brings to light some of the best practices that are followed currently by some NPOs and can be replicated on similar lines by other NPOs too.
It is expected that this article will give light to numerous ideas available out within social sector – primarily on usage of technology-based solution. Albeit, this is a time of hardship, but having a positive connotation to it; this hardship is a blessing in disguise. Social sector always shirked using technology as part of its systems, but this is the right time for this sector to leverage technology and tame it to the best of usage.
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