A Clash of Contagions The Impact of COVID-19 on Conflict in Nigeria, Colombia, and Afghanistan

COVID‑19 and efforts to contain it are exacerbating the underlying drivers of conflict which, left unchecked, have the potential to foment instability and violence in the future.

A Clash of Contagions: The Impact of COVID‑19 on Nigeria, Colombia, and Afghanistan is the culmination of a year-long, rigorous analysis by Mercy Corps based on semi-structured interviews and participatory workshops involving more than 600 individuals. The report identifies three primary pathways through which the pandemic and response measures are shaping conflict dynamics and processes, analyses the far-reaching implications of the research findings, and offers recommendations to donors, governments, policymakers, and practitioners.