COVID-19: UNDP Uganda staff unleash talent and creativity in turbulence

April 26, 2020

Bottles designed by Alvin (12) and Anabelle (9), children to Harriet Karusigarira a UNDP Staff Member.

By Michael Mubangizi & Henry Mukasa Nsubuga

Whether it was by inspiration generated by the lockdown imposed by the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic or not, the UNDP Uganda Country Office staff showcased talent, creativity and innovative abilities.

The staff were responding to an online challenge from the Resident Representative, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, to innovate something unique as a way of remaining motivated and in high spirits during the 35 days lockdown announced by government as part of the measures to suppress further transmission of the disease in Uganda. Consistent with other UN agencies, and Uganda government ministries, departments and agencies, UNDP staff now work from home.

The challenge coincided with the World Creativity and Innovation Day commemorated every 21st April to raise awareness of the role of creativity and innovation in all aspects of human development and inspire people to live a more creative life. Diverse as the definition of the concept presents, a myriad of submissions came in; such as poetry, drawings (fine art), verse texts, blogs, short videos and recipes, through which staff expressed themselves freely believing, truly, that, “Unstoppable Starts with U.”

The submissions have been curated into a mini-publication titled, Unstoppable Starts with U- A Compilation of creative poems, text and drawings from UNDP Uganda. Download mini-publication here

Both Resident Representative Ms. Elsie Attafuah, who herself penned down a blog, and her deputy, Ms. Sheila Ngatia, who shared a poem pointing to a life at the end of the Covid-19 tunnel, were amazed with what the staff could come up with in just one day.

“We can only say, this is talent in turbulence. We had no idea about what talents staff had until we decided to let go,” remarked Ms. Attafuah.

She told staff; “The talent, creativity and innovation you have exhibited are amazing, and so inspiring. It speaks to the many skills sets each one of us possesses."

Ms. Rose Wanyana brought in the first return, an artistic impression of the portrait of Mr. Achim Steiner, the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), while Ms. Sylvia Atugonza came through with a drawing of Ms. Attafuah carrying her son.

Most submissions were inspired by and speak into different aspects pertaining to the Covid-19 pandemic that has spread like a bushfire putting three quarters of the world in a lockdown.

Eying the post-Covid-19 era

They are also telling of the optimism in the post-Covid-19 era. Hence one of the poems compiled by Sheila Ngatia, the Deputy Resident Representative, reads:

When Covid-19 is done,

We shall bask in the sun; 

Wipe away the tears

Brought by all the fears.

A more fascinating message about the weighing scale, disruptions and opportunities presented by this global health crisis, was in Daniel Omondo McOmodo’s verse, thus:

It disrupted the world order and stimulated global cooperation and new innovations.

It limited human physical mobility and increased human virtual engagements.

 It stopped many social activities and created stronger family bonds.

It halted certain work and created new ways of work.

It closed places of worship and opened more people to worshippers of God at their homes.

It killed many human lives and led to healing of parts of planet earth.

COVID-19 can't defeat us

Others were telling off Covid-19, saying it will be overcome just like previous pandemics. As one example, a poem by Sosan Muwanika, a staff member, reads:

Reconsider your thoughts or you get defeated forever.

Please ask your friends such as Ebola and HIV/Aids

Of what happened to them.

You can't defeat us!

This is the second challenge the staff of the UNDP Uganda office are engaging in as part of duty of care and measures to stay connected while working from home. Ahead of Easter holidays, staff were requested to send short videos with Easter carols on a shared platform.

Thinking outside the box, or even removing the box entirely, has been cited as a pathway to new ways of doing things and finding novel solutions to individual and national or global development challenges.

A report on the Creative Economy (which includes audiovisual products, design, new media, performing arts, publishing and visual arts) authored jointly by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the UNDP titled, Widening Local Development Pathways points out that, “Creativity and innovation, at both the individual and group levels, have become the true wealth of nations in the 21st century.”

Like Ms. Eyllaf Gubara illustrated in her drawing, the Covid-19 pandemic is just but a segment in human life from which we shall transit, just like the various stages of a butte