Politicians, policy makers and public servants have never faced a situation like this. They immediately need policies that really work. Best practices can serve as an inspiration, a starting point and a proof of concept.
Virtual court hearings during Covid-19
To replace in-person court hearings during the coronavirus crisis, video conferencing allows involved parties to go through with court proceedings.
Support helpline for residents
To support people with mental health issues during the coronavirus crisis, the City of Ostrów Wielkopolski has launched a support hotline.
Bientina Instagram contest
An Italian municipality engages its youth in an Instagram challenge on how to stay positive at home.
A city’s job platform to create a pool of municipal workers
To be prepared for a shortage of employees in its services due to Covid-19 related sick leave, the City of Uppsala set up its own job platform.
Collective responses to global health emergencies
A platform invites local and regional governments of all sizes to share their initiatives tackling Covid-19 and other health emergencies.
Expanding bike lanes to prevent coronavirus spread
In the Colombian capital of Bogotá, bike lanes were temporarily opened to avoid crowds in times of social distancing.
A government’s hackathon to tackle challenges in developing countries
With the #SmartDevelopmentHack, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development aims to support the development of digital solutions to overcome Covid-19-related challenges in developing countries. The best solutions receive funding to increase their impact in the long term.
Pre-testing security protocols at airports and hotels
Spain is testing their new security measures at airports and hotels with a group of German tourists before the official reopening its borders.
Government loans for small businesses
To support businesses with fewer than 500 employees, the city of New York offers a loan-based Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Providing information for voluntary services
To allow for smooth and un-bureacratic administrative support for voluntary services, the regional government of Rhineland-Palatine has set up an information initiative.
Digital infrastructure for homeschooling
The city of Vienna provides free laptops and a digital learning platform for students in need.
Support and information in foreign languages
A multi-lingual information campaign keeps people with migration background in the loop about the COVID-19 outbreak.