Re-posted from IFPRI.ORG.
(Updated March 19, 2020)
The health and safety of our staff and their families, partners and stakeholders, and local communities is of the utmost importance for IFPRI. With the WHO classifying COVID-19 as a very high human health risk IFPRI is instituting the following guidelines:
Teleworking Arrangements
- IFPRI strongly recommends teleworking for all staff in the Washington, DC headquarters beginning March 16, 2020. There may be exceptions for certain staff to be in the office as necessary to maintain essential functions.
- IFPRI country offices are closely monitoring local circumstances and following guidance from local health officials on teleworking.
Travel Guidelines
- International travel: Effective immediately, and until further notice, all international business travel worldwide is suspended. All staff currently on international business travel are requested to make arrangements as soon as practicable to return to their workplace or home.
- Domestic travel: Domestic travel approval will be approved only for the purposes of conducting project activities where only small teams of people are involved and risks are minimal, or when for personal reasons. Where "hotspots" of virus incidence are identified within a country, work travel to such sites is not allowed.
- International and domestic travel for medical or personal reasons is allowed, however, staff traveling for such purposes will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days prior to re-entering the workplace.
Event Guidelines
- Effective immediately, and until further notice, all IFPRI sponsored events, meetings, visitor groups, and social gatherings with external participants are canceled, postponed, or held virtually.
Workplace Visitors
- Visits to most IFPRI offices, including Headquarters, are discontinued.
Health Guidelines
- Any staff member with a cold, flu, persistent cough, problems breathing, and/or fever should stay away from work, avoid travel, and seek medical assistance as necessary.
Field Work Guidelines
- IFPRI has developed guidelines to ensure the safety and health of survey teams in the field.
