This project examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic challenges accompanying it on criminal governance in cities. It analyzes how gangs and other non-state armed groups operating in illicit economies have altered their activities in light of the new circumstances in areas of criminal governance, and how governments and civil society have responded.

Case studies

The case studies in this project are Tumaco (Colombia), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town (South Africa), and San Salvador (El Salvador).

Criminal governance

Criminal governance is defined as instances in which armed criminal groups set and enforce rules, provide security and other basic services – such as water, electricity, or internet access – in an urban area, which may be a part (or the whole) of an informal settlement or a neighborhood.

Methodology

The project uses a comparative methodology, drawing from semi-structured interviews feeding into the five separate case studies. The data is then synthesized in a final report that analyzes and summarizes the main trends. A fuller description of the methodology can be found in the final report.