EDU Africa’s Framework for International Travel Risk Assessment

Every year, the EDU Africa team collaborates to produce our Academic Reflection Report. This report provides an opportunity for us to reflect, both as individuals and as a team, on various facets of our partnerships and work; it also invites us to consider our impact and ensure that our work remains aligned with our purpose of transformation. Importantly, it allows us to share a unique perspective on the realities and rewards of study abroad across sub-Saharan Africa.

The following feature is an article drawn from this year’s report. Written by Tafadzwa Muchopa, our Quality Assurance Director, whose background in Molecular Science and Public Health informs her meticulous approach, this piece outlines EDU Africa’s framework for international travel risk assessment. Grounded in context and lived experience, our approach navigates safety, health, and cultural nuances across the continent when assessing risks.

International travel inherently involves exposure to a wide range of risks. To manage and mitigate risk, we routinely conduct and update risk assessments of all our countries of operation; these are firmly grounded in the direct, lived experiences of our local teams and partners, avoiding speculative conjecture. We adhere to the following guidelines:

• Any risk assessment must be localized and contextual. Africa is a continent comprising 54 geographically dispersed countries; therefore, risks and disease threats are not uniform across the continent.
• Use reliable, local sources alongside government advisories and diverse stakeholders.
• Continuously monitor situational updates. 
• Focus on specific, site-level details, not generalizations.
• Verify data reliability and currency; use historical data cautiously.
• Acknowledge potential confirmation biases and uncertainties in findings.

Additionally, EDU Africa is committed to mitigating traveler apprehension and reducing anxiety by promoting informed decision-making. To this end, we encourage travelers to evaluate available information critically, ensuring a realistic assessment of the situation and distinguishing it from media sensationalism, particularly when conflicting data is present. Focusing on the most critical risk factors is essential.

We advise travelers to consider the following aspects as they consider the safety of intended travel destinations:

• Assess Stability: Check for history of unrest or protests (e.g., during elections or community disputes). For improved safety and risk mitigation, participating in political discussions, rallies, and demonstrations should be avoided while traveling.
• Identify Specific Threats: Research terrorism, kidnapping, and abduction in the location. Knowing the specific type of threat, such as its connection to armed robbery, helps determine the appropriate safety measures.
• Research Crime: Go beyond statistics to understand the type (e.g., opportunistic theft vs. targeted violence) and location. Instead of completely avoiding a destination, mitigation strategies can focus on avoiding specific areas or limiting activities such as night travel.

• Verify Transportation Safety: Assess roads, driving standards, and vehicle conditions. Avoid unverified public transport, night travel, and embarking on outdoor activities alone.
• Check Medical Access and Quality: Determine the availability, proximity, and standards of local, especially private, hospitals. Ensure adequate medical and travel insurance.
• Determine Utility Reliability: Assess the stability of power, water, and communication networks. Confirm backup power is in place, given persistent issues like loadshedding in many African nations.

• Respect Cultural Norms: Know and adhere to local dress codes and behaviors to avoid offending other individuals or communities.
• Maintain Discretion: Maintain discretion, particularly concerning public displays of affection or sexual identity, as some local cultures hold conservative views.
• Personal Profile: Be aware of how gender, ethnicity, religion, or LGBTQIA+ identity may be perceived.
• Know the Legal Landscape: Prioritize personal safety and legal protection by thoroughly understanding and adhering to local laws, particularly those concerning same-sex sexual activity.

• Respect Cultural Norms: Know and adhere to local dress codes and behaviors to avoid offending other individuals or communities.
• Maintain Discretion: Maintain discretion, particularly concerning public displays of affection or sexual identity, as some local cultures hold conservative views.
• Personal Profile: Be aware of how gender, ethnicity, religion, or LGBTQIA+ identity may be perceived.
• Know the Legal Landscape: Prioritize personal safety and legal protection by thoroughly understanding and adhering to local laws, particularly those concerning same-sex sexual activity.