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In 2019, a devastating earthquake struck Albania. It was estimated to be a 1-in-100 year event, causing significant damages and losses to the country. Just a few months later, the COVID-19 pandemic swept through the country. It presented immense difficulties for the Albanian economy which was still trying to recover from the earthquake. As the consequences from these events unfolded, many Albania businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) had to close or suspend their...

Djibril’s Story: Djibril lives in Ouagadougou, Burkina and owns a workshop that purchases moringa leaves from a nearby women’s organization. His workshop then fabricates the leaves into tea bags, powder, and so forth for sale in small retail shops. Until recently, the demand for moringa was growing across the country and had a promising prospect for export. Djibril secured a five-year loan with a local bank to upgrade his equipment and to increase his workshop’s productivity. But COVID-19 has...