COVID-19 and the Least Developed Countries
Covid-19 (coronavirus) threatens to have devastating consequences in least developed countries (LDCs). Health systems may be unable to cope with a precipitous increase in infections and these countries lack the resources to cope with the socioeconomic consequences of lockdowns around the world. Unless bold policy actions are taken by the international community achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline will likely slip out of reach.
Income Support Programs and COVID-19 in Developing Countries
COVID-19 in Africa
Protecting Lives and Economies
Anywhere between 300000 and 3.3 million African people could lose their lives as a direct result of COVID-19 depending on the intervention measures taken to stop the spread. Africa is particularly susceptible because 56 percent of the urban population is concentrated in overcrowded and poorly serviced slum dwellings (excluding North Africa) and only 34 percent of the households have access to basic hand washing facilities. Even if the spread of COVID-19 is suppressed in Africa its economic damage will be unavoidable. The impact on African economies could be the slowing of growth to 1.8 percent in the best case scenario or a contraction of 2.6 per cent in the worst case. This has the potential to push 29 million people into extreme poverty. To protect and build towards our shared prosperity at least a $100 billion fiscal stimulus is needed to immediately address the urgent healthcare needs provide safety net for the most vulnerable protect jobs and support economic activity where possible.
Recovering from COVID-19
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has exposed inadequacies in health systems worldwide. As countries plan for recovery attention should be paid not only to the strengthening of health systems at the national level but also at the global level through investing in global public goods for health. International solidarity and multilateral support are needed to forge a stronger global health system. They are a vital part of the crisis recovery process to build a future resilient against epidemics pandemics and other health challenges in a globalized world.
COVID-19 and Conflict
This brief addresses the importance of women’s full equal and meaningful participation to an effective pandemic response and to peacemaking efforts and how the women peace and security (WPS) agenda can provide a critical framework for inclusive decision-making and sustainable solutions. While efforts to flatten the pandemic’s curve unfold around the globe violent conflict remains a deadly reality for far too many people. In March 2020 the UN Secretary-General called for a global ceasefire to allow the world to address COVID-19 (coronavirus). Since the outbreak of the pandemic women have been at the forefront of effective COVID-19 prevention and response efforts—from frontline service delivery to the highest levels of decision-making. With women’s participation central to achieving sustainable solutions the pandemic has brought into sharp relief how critical the WPS agenda is to inclusive and effective decision-making. This brief recognizes the vital role of women’s civil society organizations in mobilizing support for an urgent cessation of hostilities inclusive ceasefire processes and comprehensive peace talks. It also provides a preliminary analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on women’s participation in ceasefires and peace processes and offers a series of recommendations including on “building back better”.
COVID-19 Poses Grievous Economic Challenge to Landlocked Developing Countries
The Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is increasing the risks of a balance of payments crisis a food crisis and a debt crisis in landlocked developing countries (LLDC). A few LLDCs—with extremely high levels of external debt owed to private creditors—are particularly vulnerable. The unfolding multiple crisis may trigger instability violence and conflict in many LLDCs particularly in countries that have been mired in conflicts and civil wars in recent years. » High levels of income inequality in LLDCs may undermine their ability to implement effective stimulus measures to support the most vulnerable segments of their population. Timely international support is helping LLDCs avoid an immediate crisis but a long-term rescue and recovery plan is needed to steer their economies towards meaningful structural changes.
COVID-19 Impact on e-commerce: Post-pandemic COVID-19 Economic Recovery
Harnessing E-commerce for the UNECE Transition Economies
This publication highlights key policy areas that need attention if e-commerce is to sustainably recover from the impact of the pandemic. Among many policy areas trade facilitation and logistics are major facilitators of e-commerce. In the context of Covid-19 the need for greater trade facilitation for faster movement of goods across borders including essential goods such as medicine and food has become apparent. This report contributes to greater understanding of the policy options for advancing e-commerce and therefore to greater digitalization of the member States.
COVID-19 and E-commerce
Impact on Businesses and Policy Responses
Since the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic UNCTAD has played a critical role in raising awareness on the opportunities emerging from the crisis through increasing the uptake of e-commerce and digital solutions. At the same time UNCTAD has voiced concerns about the risk of rising digital inequalities particularly in least developed countries (LDCs). The 2020 eCommerce Week organised virtually by UNCTAD and partners of the eTrade for all initiative provided a unique platform convening a wide range of stakeholders to assess implications of the crisis and explore in-depth key digital issues in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a follow-up UNCTAD assessed the impact on e-commerce businesses across developing countries and LDCs to understand the magnitude of the impact identify key trends and challenges faced by e-commerce businesses as well public and private policy responses to cope with the crisis. This paper is based on the results of a survey that investigates the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce businesses from early March to the end of July 2020. It focuses on 23 countries mainly LDCs in Africa and Asia-Pacific. The countries have all benefitted from UNCTAD’s e-commerce capacity building programmes either through an eTrade Readiness Assessment (eT Ready) or a national e-commerce strategy. 257 representatives of e-commerce businesses out of 699 invited responded to the survey and shared their experience following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses have been divided into two groups: companies selling at least parts of their goods or services online and third-party online marketplaces. The responses from the private sector were complemented by public sector responses from 12 countries elaborating on measures taken during the COVID-19 crisis to support e-commerce as well as to use e-commerce for economic recovery efforts. The key findings of this paper are presented below.
COVID-19 and E-commerce
A Global Review
This publication assesses the impact of COVID-19 on e-commerce and digital trade. While the pandemic caused a sharp deceleration in economic activity it also led to a rapid acceleration of e-commerce. With restrictions on movement and other public health interventions in place digital solutions have become essential to continued delivery of economic and social activities. And as the digital economy and e-commerce play an increased role in Sustainable Development stakeholders at all levels have a responsibility to ensure that these technologies play a positive and powerful role in national and international recovery efforts. Indeed those that can harness the potential of e-commerce will be better placed to benefit from global markets for their goods and services while those that fail to do so risk falling behind. Thus the critical global policy challenge that emerges from this study is that greater efforts are needed to help reduce inequalities in e-trade readiness that currently prevail amongst countries.
COVID-19 and Fiscal Policy
Digital Connectivity during COVID-19
Children’s digital access – or lack thereof – during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has significantly determined whether children can continue their education seek information stay in touch with friends and family and enjoy digital entertainment. With over 1.5 billion children across 190 countries confined to their homes active video games or dance videos may also be their best chance to exercise. The rationale for closing digital divides has never been starker or more urgent. During the COVID-19 pandemic access to accurate health information is particularly important especially for children living in resource-poor communities where access to health care and services may be limited. For these and other reasons global efforts are under way to expand and support children’s digital access and engagement both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 and Human Development
Assessing the Crisis, Envisioning the Recovery
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is unleashing a human development crisis. On some dimensions of human development conditions today are equivalent to levels of deprivation last seen in the mid-1980s. But the crisis is hitting hard on all of human development’s constitutive elements: income (with the largest contraction in economic activity since the Great Depression) health (directly causing a death toll over 300000 and indirectly leading potentially to an additional 6000 child deaths every day from preventable causes over the next 6 months) and education (with effective out-of-school rates – meaning accounting for the inability to access the internet – in primary education expected to drop to the levels of actual rates of the mid-1980s levels). This not counting less visible indirect effects including increased domestic violence yet to be fully documented. The pandemic was superimposed on unresolved tensions between people and technology between people and the planet between the haves and the have-nots. These tensions were already shaping a new generation of inequalities— pertaining to enhanced capabilities the new necessities of the 21st century as defined in the 2019 Human Development Report. But the response to the crisis can shape how those tensions are addressed and whether inequalities in human development are reduced. This note takes a capabilities approach to document the severity of the unfolding human development crisis. Such an approach implies an evaluative framework to assess the crisis and shape the policy response that emphasizes the potential for people to be and do what they aspire in life as opposed to material resources or economic activity. To assess the crisis the note draws from original simulations that are based on an adjusted Human Development Index— with the education dimension modified to reflect the effects of school closures and mitigation measures—and that incorporate current projections of gross national income (GNI) per capita for 2020.
COVID-19 and Sovereign Debt
Without aggressive policy action the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic could turn into a protracted debt crisis for many developing countries. The note puts forward concrete proposals to expand on the G20 bilateral debt moratorium and to facilitate investments in recovery and the SDGs including for highly-indebted middle-income countries that request a standstill and by bringing in other creditors. Time gained by the standstill must be used to develop sustainable solutions to the debt challenges of developing countries—to ‘build back better’. Such debt relief should be part of broader financing and recovery strategies that take SDG investment needs into consideration for example through country-led Integrated national financing frameworks. This is also the the time to also address long-standing gaps in the international financial architecture for sovereign debt.
COVID-19 and Transforming Tourism
COVID-19: The Norwegian model
From March 2020 to June 2022 Arnoldo Frigessi had a full agenda every day. The professor in statistics at the University of Oslo (UiO) and Oslo University Hospital was one of the scientists who worked for the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s (NIPH) modelling team for COVID-19. Day and night.
COVID-19 impact on business
COVID-19: el modelo noruego
Entre marzo de 2020 y junio de 2022 Arnoldo Frigessi no tuvo ni un minuto libre. Profesor de Estadística de la Universidad de Oslo (UiO) y del Hospital Universitario de la misma ciudad este científico fue contratado por el Instituto Noruego de Salud Pública (NIPH) para colaborar con el equipo de modelización de la pandemia. Día y noche.
COVID-19 Crisis in North Africa
The Impact and Mitigation Responses
North African economies are hardly hit by COVID-19 (coronavirus) induced by the lockdown measures which had negative impact on the supply and demand sides and the drastic reduction of world demand fueling a drop in North Africa exports. Spurred by the 50% drop in oil prices and the lockdown Algeria’s GDP could fall between -4.5% to -5.8% in 2020. Morocco and Tunisia whose economies have been severely hit by the drop in tourism and demand from the EU may experience a GDP growth respectively of -3.7% and -5%. Overall North Africa will see its growth decline to -1.8% for 2020 while its full-time equivalent employment loss may reach 5 million in 2020. Economic recovery of the sub region is expected to start in 2021 assuming there is no relapse of the pandemic. The recovery expected for 2021 is conditioned on the success mitigation measures currently being implemented by governments. Some countries of the sub region with marked dependency on tourism-related activities (transports catering hotels etc.) will see their recovery path delayed as the containment measures will last for longer periods. With strong and probably long-lasting impact on employment and health the pandemic could compromise the results achieved by the sub-region in the recent years in the area of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) leading to higher levels of poverty and inequality.
COVID-19 pandemic and illicit drugs
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic no clear evidence has emerged of a significant decrease in the supply of drugs at the global level including in Italy even after the quarantine was extended to the entire country.
COVID-19 in an Urban World
The remarkable growth of cities in recent decades has intensified a number of humanity’s most pressing challenges. It has also presented many of our greatest opportunities to protect people prosperity and planet. COVID-19 (coronavirus) has laid bare – and indeed heightened – both these challenges and these opportunities. With an estimated 90 percent of all reported COVID-19 cases urban areas have become the epicentre of the pandemic. In the near term for many cities the COVID-19 health crisis has expanded to a crisis of urban access urban equity urban finance safety joblessness public services infrastructure and transport all of which are dis-proportionally affecting the most vulnerable in society.
Impact of COVID-19 in Africa
It is too early to know the full impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on Africa. To date the experience has been varied. There are causes for concern but also reasons for hope. Early estimates were pessimistic regarding the pandemic’s impact on the continent. But the relatively low numbers of COVID-19 cases reported thus far have raised hopes that African countries may be spared the worst of the pandemic. While the virus is present in all African countries most countries have recorded fewer than 1000 cases. The African Union acted swiftly endorsing a joint continental strategy in February and complementing efforts by Member States and Regional Economic Communities by providing a public health platform. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
Education During COVID-19 and Beyond
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 per cent of the world’s student population up to 99 per cent in low and lower-middle income countries. Learning losses also threaten to extend beyond this generation and erase decades of progress not least in support of girls and young women’s educational access and retention. Some 23.8 million additional children and youth (from pre-primary to tertiary) may drop out or not have access to school next year due to the pandemic’s economic impact alone.
COVID-19 and the Care Economy
This brief presents emerging evidence on the impact of the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic on the care economy. Complementing a separate UN Women brief on COVID-19 and economic recovery this brief highlights key measures needed to address the increase in unpaid care work as a result of the pandemic ensure adequate compensation and decent working conditions for paid care workers and enable the participation of paid and unpaid caregivers in the policy decisions that affect them. It makes recommendations to be considered by all stakeholders from governments to international organizations and the private sector with examples of actions already taken. In addition to considering the immediate impacts of the pandemic on care systems it shines a light on the opportunity to “build back better” through sustained investments in gender-responsive social protection and care systems.
COVID-19 and Women’s Leadership
This brief shines a light on the critical role of women’s leadership in responding to COVID-19 (coronavirus) and preparing for a more equitable recovery. Across the globe women are at the helm of institutions carrying out effective and inclusive COVID-19 responses from the highest levels of decision-making to frontline service delivery. At the same time the brief recognizes pre-existing and new constraints to women’s participation and leadership and advocates for measures to facilitate women’s influence over decision-making processes. It makes recommendations to be considered by national regional and international policymakers. In addition to considering the pandemic’s immediate impacts on women’s political participation the brief demonstrates the opportunity to “build back better” by including and supporting women and the organizations and networks that represent them in the decision-making processes that will ultimately shape the post-pandemic future.
COVID-19 pandemic and gender aspects
The year 2020 marks two important landmarks in gender equality achievement: the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action and the 20th year of implementing Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security. Unfortunately the Covid-19 pandemic caused cancellation and postponement of many important international meetings including a shortened version of the 64th session of the Commission on the Status of Women but it is also risking to heavily jeopardize the progress made over recent years.
COVID-19 and Universal Health Coverage
In the space of nine months COVID-19 (coronavirus) has spread to more than 190 countries with over 30 million cases reported. Over one million lives have been lost. The pandemic has laid bare long-ignored risks including inadequate health systems gaps in social protection and structural inequalities. It has also brought home the importance of basic public health and strong health systems and emergency preparedness as well as the resilience of a population in the face of a new virus or pandemic lending ever greater urgency to the quest for universal health coverage (UHC). Health is a fundamental human right and universal health coverage is a critical tool for achieving health for all. Universal health coverage is defined as a situation where all individuals and communities receive the health services they need without undue financial hardship. However at least half of the world’s population still do not have full coverage of essential health services and over 800 million people spend at least 10 per cent of their household budgets to pay for health. It will be important to remove as much as possible financial barriers to accessing health services. This is challenging during an economic recession but COVID-19 has shown that effective epidemic control benefits the economy. It has also exposed the down sides of financing health coverage primarily through wage-based contributions. In the context of a global economic crisis where unemployment increases and where entitlement to services is linked to such contributions access to health services is reduced at the time people need it the most.
Focus: Byblos et la COVID-19
Fondée il y a quelque 8 900 ans Byblos au Liban est l’une des plus anciennes villes au monde qui a été continuellement habitée.
Close-Up: Byblos and COVID-19
Byblos in Lebanon is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world founded some 8900 years ago.
Covid-19 Impacts on the Forest Sector in Countries in the Western Balkans
With a focus on Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia
This report summarizes the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the forest sector of countries in the Western Balkans (WB) (Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Montenegro North Macedonia and Serbia) during the first three quarters of 2020. It focuses on production export import consumption prices and employment of the main wood products: roundwood sawnwood wood-based panels wooden furniture paper and paperboards. It also covers recovery measures implemented by Western Balkan governments. This report employs economic indicators for the period January-September 2020 alongside data from various sources such as official statistics international data bases (COMTRADE EUROSTAT FAO UNECE) domestic organizations as well as interviews with forest products companies of all sizes which were used for their views on the impact of COVID-19.
Waste Management during the COVID-19 Pandemic
From Response to Recovery
The report reviews the existing practices of healthcare waste management under the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and to identify best available or appropriate waste management practices that are operationally and technically in line with local conditions. The report considers various approaches identifies best practices and technologies and provides recommendations for policy-makers and practitioners to improve waste management during the COVID-19. Drawing insight from numerous consultations the report gives particular attention to developing countries and cities which may already lack adequate waste management.
Development Policy and Multilateralism after COVID-19
Committee for Development Policy (CDP) - Policy Note
This Policy Note assembles analysis by members of the UN Committee for Development Policy and their co-authors on different angles of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis and the challenges and opportunities it presents for development policy and multilateralism. The document addresses among other issues: new ways of designing the relationship between governments and private actors that puts public interest at the center; principles and concrete ideas for a multilateral response to COVID-19 as well as for a new multilateralism going forward; and how to respond to COVID-19 in a context of severe inequalities including gender-based inequalities.
COVID-19: Lockdown Exit Strategies for Africa
In the current context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic policymakers are confronted with decisions that may prove to be among the most difficult of their careers. To contain the COVID-19 pandemic unprecedented measures are being taken globally. In Africa at least 42 countries have imposed partial or full lockdowns on the movements and activities of their people. Experience around the world suggests that such interventions effectively suppress the spread of COVID-19. The lockdowns however pose considerable economic costs that in turn threaten lives put livelihoods at risk and exacerbate poverty. Consequently there is great interest in exit strategies for the COVID-19 lockdowns that preserve lives while protecting livelihoods. The challenge is that critical decision-making in these times is fraught with uncertainty. The present report sets out some of the exit strategies being proposed and tried around the world and outlines the risks involved for African countries.
United Nations Comprehensive Response to COVID-19
Saving Lives, Protecting Societies, Recovering Better
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is more than a health crisis; it is an economic crisis a humanitarian crisis a security crisis and a human rights crisis. This crisis has highlighted severe fragilities and inequalities within and among nations. Coming out of this crisis will require a whole-of-society whole-of-government and whole-of-the-world approach driven by compassion and solidarity. The Response sets out what we can and must do to deliver a global response that leaves no-one behind reduce our vulnerability to future pandemics build resilience to future shocks - above all climate change and overcome the severe and systemic inequalities exposed by the pandemic. It promotes three pillars of operation - delivery of a large-scale coordinated and comprehensive health response; adoption of policies that address the devastating socioeconomic humanitarian and human rights aspects of the crisis; and a recovery process that builds back better.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Women
This policy brief focuses on the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and the issues affecting women such as economic impacts health unpaid care work gender-based violence - exploring how women and girls’ lives are changing in the face of COVID-19 and outlining suggested priority measures to accompany both the immediate response and longer-term recovery efforts. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
Impact of COVID-19 on SDG Progress
COVID-19 (coronavirus) is having a devastating impact on all 17 Goals and threatening the achievements already made in many areas. While the virus has impacted everyone it is the poorest and most vulnerable who are affected disproportionally by the pandemic. To recover from the COVID-19 pandemic we must put people at the centre of the response to achieve more equitable and resilient outcomes for all. The SDGs and the Paris Agreement are our compass to a transformative recovery that reduces the risk of future crises and brings the inclusive and sustainable development.
Cyber-crime during the COVID-19 pandemic
The pandemic of COVID-19 and the imposed lockdown has led to more people to be confined at home with many more hours to spend online each day and increasingly relying on the Internet to access services they normally obtain offline.
The World of Work and COVID-19
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has turned the world of work upside down. It is having a dramatic effect on the jobs livelihoods and well-being of workers and their families and on enterprises across the globe particularly the small and medium sized. While certain sectors and industries have successfully moved online pointing the way towards exciting innovations in the world of work millions of workers have lost their livelihoods and many more – especially women who are concentrated in highly exposed sectors – remain at risk. This policy brief presents the stark consequences of COVID-19 in an already precarious world of work and provides practical options to recover better.
Addressing the Economic Fallout of COVID-19
This brief presents emerging evidence of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic’s impact on women’s economic empowerment. Complementing a separate UN Women policy brief on “COVID-19 and the care economy” it considers the immediate gendered economic impacts including widening socioeconomic divides and shifting national and international priorities for the allocation of resources as well as the long-term implications for women’s employment and livelihoods. The brief makes recommendations to be considered by all stakeholders from governments to international organizations the private sector and civil society organizations in order to guarantee the economic rights of women during the public health crisis and in plans for recovery and resilience. Drawing on the latest available research and data the brief highlights examples of action already being taken.
COVID-19 and Women’s Rights Organizations
A Disability-Inclusive Response to COVID-19
The global crisis of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is deepening pre-existing inequalities exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting that work on disability inclusion is imperative. People with disabilities—one billion people—are one of the most excluded groups in our society and are among the hardest hit in this crisis in terms of fatalities. This Policy Brief highlights the impact of COVID-19 on persons with disabilities and in doing so outlines key actions and recommendations to make the response and recovery inclusive of persons with disabilities. While the brief contains specific recommendations focusing on key sectors it identifies four overarching areas of action that are applicable for all. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
COVID-19 and People on the Move
COVID-19 (coronavirus) leaves few lives and places untouched. But its impact is harshest for those groups who were already in vulnerable situations before the crisis. This is particularly true for many people on the move such as migrants in irregular situations migrant workers with precarious livelihoods or working in the informal economy victims of trafficking in persons as well as people fleeing their homes because of persecution war violence human rights violations or disaster whether within their own countries — internally displaced persons (IDPs) — or across international borders — refugees and asylum-seekers. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Children
Children are not the face of this pandemic. But they risk being among its biggest victims. While they have thankfully been largely spared from the direct health effects of COVID-19 (coronavirus) - at least to date – the crisis is having a profound effect on their wellbeing. All children of all ages and in all countries are being affected in particular by the socio-economic impacts and in some cases by mitigation measures that may inadvertently do more harm than good. This is a universal crisis and for some children the impact will be lifelong. Moreover the harmful effects of this pandemic will not be distributed equally. They are expected to be most damaging for children in the poorest countries and in the poorest neighbourhoods and for those in already disadvantaged or vulnerable situations. Now is the time to step up international solidarity for children and humanity— and to lay the foundations for a deeper transformation of the way we nurture and invest in our world’s youngest generation. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
COVID-19: Reaffirming State-People Governance Relationships
This policy brief discusses the role of effective governance and in particular the role of the relationship between the state and people in building countries’ resiliency and in responding to and managing nation-wide crises such as the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
COVID-19 en México: un perfil sociodemográfico
Para explicar la evolución de la pandemia de enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) en México deben tomarse en consideración entre otros aspectos como las condiciones de salud de la población previas a la pandemia caracterizadas por una alta prevalencia de enfermedades crónicas; la existencia de regiones y grupos sociales altamente vulnerables por su condición socioeconómica y la capacidad de respuesta institucional para el cuidado de la salud antes y durante la pandemia. El objetivo central de este trabajo es describir la distribución territorial de la pandemia y las características de la población que más ha padecido sus efectos en particular aquellos que han fallecido a causa de la enfermedad así como algunas de las características de las instituciones de salud en México.
COVID-19: Missing More Than a Classroom
Brasil: Efectos del COVID-19 y recuperación
En este artículo se examinan los efectos de la enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) en la población y la economía del Brasil su elevada mortalidad por cada 100.000 habitantes y su lenta estabilización. Se hace una breve comparación con lo que ocurre en un país similar de América Latina la Argentina donde los resultados en términos de mortalidad por cada 100.000 habitantes fueron mejores y en Francia donde la recuperación fue más marcada. También se evalúa la eficiencia en los gastos y se observa que la comparación tampoco es favorable para el Brasil. Por último se aborda el problema del financiamiento y se argumenta que solo la Argentina recurrió a la compra de bonos del tesoro por el banco central del país la política adoptada en la mayoría de los países ricos que tienen una moneda y un banco central propios (no es el caso de Francia).
The Monetary Policy Response to Covid-19
Focus: Biblos en tiempos del COVID-19
Biblos en el Líbano es una de las ciudades continuamente habitadas más antiguas del mundo fundada hace unos 8.900 años.
COVID-19: How are Countries Preparing to Mitigate the Learning Loss as Schools Reopen?
Some countries are starting to reopen schools as others develop plans to do so following widespread and extended closures due to COVID-19 (coronavirus). Using data from two surveys and 164 countries this research brief describes the educational strategies countries are putting into place or plan to in order to mitigate learning impacts of extended school closures particularly for the most vulnerable children. In addition it highlights emerging good practices.
The Social Challenge in Times of COVID-19
Special Report COVID-19 No. 3
This Special Report is the third in this series on the evolution and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has severe health effects and serious implications for economic growth and social development. It has arrived in Latin America and the Caribbean in a context of low growth —as analysed in the previous special reports on the subject— and above all of marked inequality and vulnerability with growing poverty and extreme poverty weakening of social cohesion and expressions of social discontent. Quarantines and physical distancing measures which are needed to stop the rapid spread of the coronavirus and save lives are leading to job losses (11.6 million more unemployed in 2020 compared to 2019) and reducing personal and household labour income. The loss of income is primarily affecting the broad strata of the population that are living in or vulnerable to poverty and people working in activities that are more exposed to layoffs and pay cuts and in general those in precarious employment. In view of the major persistent gaps that the pandemic has widened ECLAC reiterates that it is time to implement universal redistributive and solidarity-based policies with a rights-based approach to ensure that no one is left behind.
COVID-19 and Maritime Transport: Impact and Responses
Transport and Trade Facilitation Series, No. 15
The report describes and analyses the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on the maritime supply chain. It also identifies response measures adopted and sets out a list of lessons learned and good practices in resilience building and disruption management.
El desafío social en tiempos del COVID-19
Informe Especial COVID-19 No. 3
Este Informe Especial es el tercero de una serie que elaborará la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) sobre la evolución y los efectos de la pandemia del COVID-19 (coronavirus) en América Latina y el Caribe. En esta edición se actualizan las cifras macroeconómicas derivadas de la crisis sanitaria global y se miden sus diferentes impactos socioeconómicos que evidencian un aumento de la pobreza la pobreza extrema y reflejan la matriz de la desigualdad en la región. Ante las grandes brechas históricas que la pandemia ha agravado la CEPAL reitera que es el momento de implementar políticas universales redistributivas y solidarias con enfoque de derechos para no dejar a nadie atrás. Las respuestas en materia de protección social deben articular las medidas de corto plazo necesarias para atender las manifestaciones más agudas de la emergencia (garantía universal de ingresos acceso universal a las pruebas y a la atención médica a los servicios básicos y a la vivienda a la alimentación adecuada y a la educación) con otras de mediano y largo plazo (salud universal estrategias de inclusión laboral en el período de la recuperación) orientadas a garantizar el ejercicio de los derechos de las personas mediante el fortalecimiento del Estado de bienestar y la provisión universal de protección social.
PREVENTION: Violence against Women and Girls & COVID-19
This brief provides background information on the root causes and risk factors that explain why violence against women occurs in the first place. It highlights how the context of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is exacerbating those factors and the impact it is having on rates of violence against women and the ability to undertake evidence-based prevention work in the current context. It outlines the guiding principles for prevention activities and provides indicative interventions that can be undertaken during social distancing. The brief draws from the prevention field and evidence-based frameworks. It is a living document that will benefit from the vast and evolving knowledge of a wide range of experts who are supporting solutions to end violence against women and girls across countries and contexts.
Achieving SDGs in the Wake of COVID-19
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis has revealed some fundamental development challenges that countries face and could be converted into an opportunity for recovering better if much of the resources aimed at recovery are directed toward promoting the SDGs. Establishment of robust universal healthcare and social protection systems should be taken as immediate goals and efforts should be made to build upon the emergency measures taken during the COVID-19 crisis so as to reach these goals.
COVID-19 Подготовка и реагирование в пенитенциарных учреждениях
Руководящие принципы
The information in this package is intended to support prison administrators and staff. It has been developed to ensure the safety and security of staff prisoners and the public in the efforts to prevent COVID-19 (coronavirus) from entering the prison and mitigate the impact in case of an outbreak. Addressing COVID-19 requires critical preparedness and a prepared response particularly within places of detention (prisons). Prison staff play a crucial role in contributing to the effort of preventing the spread of the disease promoting safer prison environments and responding to outbreaks in a timely and effective manner. All efforts must be taken to keep COVID-19 out of the prisons. Preventative measures will most likely result in significant disruptions to ordinary prison routines and require the administration to make difficult decisions that may restrict or limit prison operations and activities. Responding to a COVID-19 outbreak once the virus has spread in the prison is a significant challenge – particularly in overcrowded conditions. The package provides communication tools with clear and concise information and visuals.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous peoples in many regions have a long history of devastation from epidemics brought by colonizers from the arrival of the first Europeans in the Americas who brought smallpox and influenza to a measles outbreak among the Yanonami of Brazil and Southern Venezuela in the 1950s/60s that nearly decimated the tribe (Pringle 2015). COVID-19 (coronavirus) presents a new threat to the health and survival of indigenous peoples. Indigenous peoples in nearly all countries fall into the most “vulnerable” health category. They have significantly higher rates of communicable and non-communicable diseases than their non-indigenous counterparts high mortality rates and lower life expectancies. Contributing factors that increase the potential for high mortality rates caused by COVID-19 in indigenous communities include mal – and under-nutrition poor access to sanitation lack of clean water and inadequate medical services. Additionally indigenous peoples often experience widespread stigma and discrimination in healthcare settings such as stereotyping and a lack of quality in the care provided thus compromising standards of care and discouraging them from accessing health care if and when available.
COVID-19 and Violence Against Women and Girls
This brief presents emerging evidence of the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic on violence against women and girls (VAWG). The brief advocates for measures that prevent and respond to VAWG in the current circumstances of lockdown as well as for investments that ensure the safety of women and girls in longer-term recovery plans. It makes recommendations to be considered by all sectors of society from governments and multilateral institutions to civil society organizations private companies and donors with examples of actions already taken. In addition to providing the latest research and data on VAWG in the context of the public health crisis the brief considers the social and economic implications of this “shadow pandemic” which at present are on track to endure long after the immediate health threat posed by COVID-19 has passed.
Brazil: The effects of COVID-19 and recovery
This article analyses the effects of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Brazil’s population and economy including its high mortality rate per 100000 inhabitants and its slow stabilization. A brief comparison is made with what is happening in a similar Latin American country Argentina where the results in terms of mortality per 100000 inhabitants have been better and in France where the recovery has been more robust. The article also assesses the efficiency of expenditures and notes that the comparison is also not favourable for Brazil. Lastly it addresses the problem of financing and argues that only Argentina resorted to treasury bond purchases by the central bank the policy adopted in most rich countries that have their own currency and central bank (which France does not have).
Le COVID-19 et l’économie du soin
The Impact of COVID-19 on Older Persons
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is causing untold fear and suffering for older people across the world. As of 26 April the virus itself has already taken the lives of some 193710 people and fatality rates for those over 80 years of age are five times the global average. As the virus spreads rapidly to developing countries likely overwhelming health and social protection systems the mortality rate for older persons could climb even higher. This policy brief elaborates on the impacts and identifies both immediate and longer-term policy and programmatic responses needed across key priorities for action. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
Digital Contact Tracing and Surveillance during COVID-19
The response to COVID-19 (coronavirus) has seen an unprecedented rapid scaling up of technologies to support digital contact tracing and surveillance. The consequent collation and use of personally identifiable data may however pose significant risks to children’s rights. This is compounded by the greater number and more varied players making decisions about how data including children’s data are used and how related risks are assessed and handled. This means that we need to establish clear governance processes for these tools and the data collection process and engage with a broader set of government and industry partners to ensure that children’s rights are not overlooked.
Protecting and Mobilizing Youth in COVID-19 Responses
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has resulted in severe economic and social impacts around the world. Young people are particularly vulnerable to the disruptions the pandemic has caused and many are now at risk of being left behind in education economic opportunities and health and well-being during a crucial stage of their life development. Young people are more likely to be unemployed or to be in precarious job contracts and working arrangements and thus lack adequate social protection. At the same time young people are responding to the crisis through public health promotion volunteering and innovation. Young people will form a key element in an inclusive recovery and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during this Decade of Action. However the response and recovery must be done in a way that protects the human rights of all youth.
Digital Contact Tracing and Surveillance during COVID-19
Balancing the need to collect data to support good decision-making versus the need to protect children from harm created through the collection of the data has never been more challenging than in the context of the global COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The response to the pandemic has seen an unprecedented rapid scaling up of technologies to support digital contact tracing and surveillance. As the pandemic progresses we are also likely to see the emergence of more applications that link datasets as we seek to better understand the secondary impacts of the pandemic on children and their families. This working paper explores the implications for privacy as the linking of datasets increases the likelihood that children will be identifiable and consequently the opportunities for (sensitive) data profiling. It also frequently involves making data available to a broader set of users or data managers. While it is recognized that reuse of unidentifiable data could potentially serve future public health responses and research the nature of access to and use of the data now and in future necessitate accountability transparency and clear governance processes. It requires that these be in place from the outset. These are needed to ensure that data privacy is protected to the greatest degree possible and that the limitations to the use of these data are clearly articulated.
COVID-19 y la economía de los cuidados
Informality, social protection and welfare during the COVID-19 crisis in four Latin American countries
We compare the effects of labour market shocks and social policy responses on people’s welfare following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina Brazil Chile and Uruguay. We assess the role of formal and informal sector labour incomes and social transfers in the changes observed in the distribution of income and welfare. We worked with harmonized household survey microdata and performed a microdecomposition analysis by income source. In all four countries the loss of earnings was the main mechanism behind the loss of income and developments in the informal sector were crucial in explaining the rise in poverty. The effects of transfer incomes on welfare varied by country in terms of both the size of their impact and their consequences for equity.
Focused section: Perspectives on COVID-19 and international production: Introduction to the focused section: COVID-19 and international production
The global economy is in the midst of a severe crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The immediate impact on international production is dramatic. Projections in the World Investment Report 2020 (WIR2020) show a decline in FDI of up to 40 per cent this year with no recovery expected until 2022 (Figure 1).
The Socio-Economic Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ideas for Policy Action: Volume 2 - Country Notes
To promote a collective reflection that offers guidance for the response to the COVID-19 health crisis and its economic and social effects on our societies. The UNDP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean launched the series of documents compiled in this book. The second volume is a compilation of country-specific analyzes that address the particular situation faced by some economies in the region. UNDP offers this book as an input to the current public policy debate under the conviction that solutions based on evidence experience and reasoned political intuition will be essential to moderate the shock and build forward better.
COVID-19 Preparedness and Response in Places of Detention
Operational Toolbox
The information in this package is intended to support prison administrators and staff. It has been developed to ensure the safety and security of staff prisoners and the public in the efforts to prevent COVID-19 (coronavirus) from entering the prison and mitigate the impact in case of an outbreak. Addressing COVID-19 requires critical preparedness and a prepared response particularly within places of detention (prisons). Prison staff play a crucial role in contributing to the effort of preventing the spread of the disease promoting safer prison environments and responding to outbreaks in a timely and effective manner. All efforts must be taken to keep COVID-19 out of the prisons. Preventative measures will most likely result in significant disruptions to ordinary prison routines and require the administration to make difficult decisions that may restrict or limit prison operations and activities. Responding to a COVID-19 outbreak once the virus has spread in the prison is a significant challenge – particularly in overcrowded conditions. The package provides communication tools with clear and concise information and visuals.
The Socio-Economic Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Ideas for Policy Action: Volume 1 - Cross-sectional Visions
To promote a collective reflection that offers guidance for the response to the COVID-19 health crisis and its economic and social effects on our societies. The UNDP Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean launched the series of documents compiled in this book. The first volume reflects on aspects of the problem common to all countries UNDP offers this book as an input to the current public policy debate under the conviction that solutions based on evidence experience and reasoned political intuition will be essential to moderate the shock and build forward better.
Covid-19 A Threat to Progress Against Child Marriage
Over the next decade up to 10 million more girls will be at risk of becoming child brides as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the pandemic profoundly affects the everyday lives of girls – including their physical and mental health their education and the economic circumstances of their families and communities – these changes put girls at higher risk of becoming child brides. The actual number of girls who have been married since the beginning of the crisis is unknown as most marriages are not registered and many girls live with a partner in an informal union. Still pre-COVID data can be used to predict the impact of the crisis on child marriage in the near future examining existing patterns and demographics of child marriage as well as historical information on the effects of educational disruption economic shocks and programme efficacy on this harmful practice. In bringing such estimates into focus this publication demonstrates that urgent action is needed for a COVID-19 response strategy that extends beyond health and prioritizes a broader set of rights for children.
Sectors and Businesses Facing COVID-19: Emergency and Reactivation
Special Report COVID-19 No. 4
This Special Report is the fourth in this series on the evolution and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America and the Caribbean. The economic crisis generated by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is having a major impact on the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and is hitting a productive and business structure with weaknesses that have been building up for decades. Before the pandemic the region’s production structure already showed great structural heterogeneity that seriously limited its economic development possibilities. The pandemic makes these weaknesses more evident and amplifies economic social and environmental tensions. In the arena of production it is urgent to mitigate capacity destruction without neglecting the need for a sustained increase in productivity the generation of productive linkages and increased learning and the generation and dissemination of innovations. In this context manufacturing is of strategic importance and must play a leading role in the growth process and in changing the productive matrix. This requires policies to change the production structure. In other words incentives other than those that currently prevail for private companies together with the State to make the necessary investments to diversify the economic structure ensure a continuous and stable growth process and avoid social and environmental setbacks.
COVID-19 and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
This brief highlights emerging evidence of the impact of the recent global pandemic of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on violence against women and girls. It makes recommendations to be considered by all sectors of society from governments to international organizations and to civil society organizations in order to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls at the onset during and after the public health crisis with examples of actions already taken. It also considers the economic impact of the pandemic and its implications for violence against women and girls in the long-term. It is a living document that draws upon the knowledge and experience of a wide range of experts who support solutions to end violence against women and girls attentive to the country context in which the crisis is occurring
The Long-term Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty
The Impact of COVID-19 on South-East Asia
Continuing Learning for the Most Vulnerable During COVID-19
COVID-19 preparación y respuesta en lugares de detención
Herramientas prácticas
La información en este paquete está destinada a apoyar a los administradores y al personal de la prisión. Ha sido desarrollado para garantizar la seguridad del personal los presos y el público en los esfuerzos de evitar que el COVID-19 (coronavirus) ingrese a la prisión y mitigar el impacto en caso de un brote. Se deben hacer todos los esfuerzos para mantener el COVID-19 fuera de las prisiones. Las medidas preventivas muy probablemente resulten en alteraciones significativas de las rutinas ordinarias de la prisión y requerirán que la administración tome decisiones difíciles que pueden restringir o limitar las operaciones y actividades de la prisión. Responder a un brote de COVID-19 una vez que el virus se ha propagado en la prisión es un desafío importante particularmente en condiciones de hacinamiento. El paquete proporciona herramientas de comunicación con información y elementos visuales claros y concisos.
COVID-19 preparação e resposta em locais de detenção
Ferramentas operacionais
The information in this package is intended to support prison administrators and staff. It has been developed to ensure the safety and security of staff prisoners and the public in the efforts to prevent COVID-19 (coronavirus) from entering the prison and mitigate the impact in case of an outbreak. Addressing COVID-19 requires critical preparedness and a prepared response particularly within places of detention (prisons). Prison staff play a crucial role in contributing to the effort of preventing the spread of the disease promoting safer prison environments and responding to outbreaks in a timely and effective manner. All efforts must be taken to keep COVID-19 out of the prisons. Preventative measures will most likely result in significant disruptions to ordinary prison routines and require the administration to make difficult decisions that may restrict or limit prison operations and activities. Responding to a COVID-19 outbreak once the virus has spread in the prison is a significant challenge – particularly in overcrowded conditions. The package provides communication tools with clear and concise information and visuals.
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Arab Region
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has exposed serious fault lines and vulnerabilities in societies institutions and economies all around the world. The Arab region home to 436 million people initially kept transmission and mortality rates lower than the global average but more recent trends are cause for concern especially in light of fragmented health care and insufficient primary care in many countries. The pandemic has also magnified many decades-long challenges. These include violence and conflict; inequalities; unemployment; poverty; inadequate social safety nets; human rights concerns; insufficiently responsive institutions and governance systems; and an economic model that has not yet met the aspirations of all. The response to the COVID-19 crisis can also be used to address some of the long-standing structural weaknesses in the region notably to build back better in line with the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development through stronger support to local authorities while strengthening democracy safeguarding human rights and achieving and sustaining peace.
Impact of COVID-19: Perspective from Voluntary National Reviews
COVID-19 (coronavirus) is having a profound effect on the socioeconomic development of countries and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development undermining SDG progress and exacerbating already existing inequalities and exclusion. A variety of mitigation measures are being put in place through great efforts and at great cost to address the impact of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of future crises especially for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries. It is important to work in an emergency mode to respond to the health impact but also to keep the focus on the longer term building resilience and using the 2030 Agenda as a roadmap. Multilateralism and global solidarity are essential to build back better by responding to COVID-19 in a way that supports the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs bolsters results and addresses gaps in sustainable development.
Women’s economic autonomy during the COVID-19 pandemic
This article is a contribution to the debate on the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on gender inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean with a focus on women’s economic autonomy. Through a review of the contributions of feminist economics and an analysis of the empirical evidence it identifies a deterioration in the indicators associated with women’s incomes and their participation in the labour market. The sexual division of labour is deepening in the region endangering the scant progress made regarding women’s economic autonomy in the pre-crisis years. It warns about gender biases in crisis mitigation policies and reflects on the importance of redistributing time resources and power to move towards a new style of development based on gender equality and sustainability.
Partner and domestic violence during the COVID-19 crisis
The global spread of COVID-19 has dramatically impacted our lives. In an effort to contain the virus governments across the globe have resorted to social distancing home lockdowns and isolation policies. However such measures can have a negative impact on people’s mental well-being put pressure on their relationships and cause stress thus potentially contributing to an increase in violence and aggression within households. A recent review of the psychological impact of quarantine measures confirms that isolation can produce several negative emotional effects such as post-traumatic stress syndrome emotion regulation problems depression and increased feelings of stress. Experiencing stress and powerlessness is associated with an increased risk of violent victimization. Perpetrator and victims often know each other. The combination of stress-inducing factors due to the lockdown and potentially living together with a perpetrator of violence may trigger an increase and worsening of various forms of violence within the household.
Debt and COVID-19: A Global Response in Solidarity
Since the global financial crisis of 2008 public external debt in many developing countries has increased. The increasing indebtedness reflected the funding required to finance domestic investment-savings gaps. It was also encouraged by the long period of unusually low international interest rates and unprecedented levels of global liquidity associated with quantitative easing. Developing countries including least developed countries (LDCs) increased access to commercial financing. Lending by non-Paris Club official creditors also increased. The negative economic social and financial impacts will likely outlast the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and hit hardest poor developing and highly indebted countries. Beyond dealing with the immediate pandemic additional resources will also be needed to stimulate demand regenerate jobs and restore supply capacity to pre-crisis levels let alone to achieve the SDGs. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
Focus: Changement climatique, patrimoine mondial, COVID-19 et tourisme
Le changement climatique est la menace qui se développe le plus rapidement pour le patrimoine mondial. Des canaux de Venise en Italie aux forêts de la région sauvage de Tasmanie en Australie le patrimoine mondial est en danger.
The COVID-19 Crisis: What Explains Cross-country Differences in the Pandemic’s Short-term Economic Impact?
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trade and Development
Transitioning to a New Normal
The report fosters understanding of the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on trade and development and reflects on actions that can propel us to the future we want. It provides up-to-date data and analysis on the impact of COVID-19 on trade and development; identifies sustained trends to characterize the "new normal"; and provides policy recommendations to build a more resilient inclusive and sustainable future.
Violence Against Women and Girls Data Collection during COVID-19
This is a living document that summarizes principles and recommendations to those planning to embark on data collection on the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on violence against women and girls (VAWG). It was informed by the needs and challenges identified by colleagues in regional and country offices and has benefited from their input. It responds to the difficulties of adhering to methodological ethical and safety principles in the context of the physical distancing and staying at home measures imposed in many countries.
Protecting and Supporting Vulnerable Groups Through the Covid-19 Crisis
Covid-19 is hitting vulnerable people the hardest. This is already devastating in high-income countries with comprehensive and effective health and welfare systems but it may well be catastrophic in those without and especially in low-income and least developed countries. How exactly are interventions to address the novel coronavirus pandemic—by governments and non-state actors—affecting vulnerable groups? This report presents the main trends effectiveness and unintended consequences of policies and other interventions brought to light by a recent survey carried out by UNRISD. It also discusses good practices as well as what more could be done to protect and support vulnerable groups now and going forward. Taken together these unique insights can help inform the design of future policies and interventions to leave no one behind in addressing this pandemic as well as public health crises to come.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Trade and Development
Lessons Learned
This report aims at documenting and assessing shifts that the COVID-19 crisis has triggered in economies societies and cooperation in UNCTAD’s core areas of work: the integrated treatment of trade and development and interrelated issues in the areas of finance technology investment and sustainable development. It will provide lessons learned from this crisis and policy recommendations on what is needed to promote a resilient inclusive and sustainable recovery and dealing better with future challenges.
COVID-19 préparation et intervention dans les lieux de détention
Boîte à Outils
Les informations contenues dans ce dossier sont destinées à aider les administrateurs et le personnel des prisons. Il a été élaboré pour garantir la sécurité du personnel des détenus et du public dans le cadre des efforts visant à empêcher l’entrée de COVID-19 (coronavirus) dans la prison et à en atténuer l’impact en cas d’épidémie. La lutte contre COVID-19 nécessite une préparation et une réponse adaptées en particulier dans les lieux de détention (prisons). Le personnel pénitentiaire joue un rôle crucial en contribuant à l’effort de prévention de la propagation de la maladie en promouvant des environnements pénitentiaires plus sûrs et en répondant aux épidémies de manière opportune et efficace. Les mesures préventives entraîneront très probablement des perturbations importantes dans les routines ordinaires des prisons et obligeront l’administration à prendre des décisions difficiles qui pourraient restreindre ou limiter les opérations et les activités des prisons. Répondre à une épidémie de COVID-19 une fois que le virus s’est propagé dans la prison est un défi important en particulier dans des conditions de surpopulation.
COVID-19 and the Need for Action on Mental Health
Although the COVID-19 (coronavirus) crisis is in the first instance a physical health crisis it has the seeds of a major mental health crisis as well if action is not taken. Good mental health is critical to the functioning of society at the best of times. It must be front and centre of every country’s response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The mental health and wellbeing of whole societies have been severely impacted by this crisis and are priorities to be addressed urgently. Rapid implementation of recommended actions will be essential to ensure people and societies are better protected from the mental health impact of COVID-19. The e-book for this policy brief has been converted into an accessible format for the visually impaired and people with print reading disabilities. It is fully compatible with leading screen-reader technologies such as JAWS and NVDA.
Protecting Children from Violence in the Time of COVID-19
Disruptions in Prevention and Response Services
Violence is an all-too-real part of life for children around the globe – regardless of their economic circumstances and sociocultural background – with both immediate and long-term consequences. Available data indicate that children’s experience of violence is widespread taking different forms: About half the world’s children are subjected to corporal punishment at home; roughly 3 in 4 children between the ages of 2 and 4 years receive violent discipline by parents and other primary caregivers; half of students aged 13 to 15 experience peer violence in and around school; and 1 in 3 adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 have been victims of intimate partner violence. As daily lives and communities are upended by COVID-19 concern is mounting that violence against children may increase. Children with a history of abuse may find themselves even more vulnerable both at home and online and may experience more frequent and severe acts of violence. Others may be victimized for the first time. Children’s exposure to increased protection risks as a result of the coronavirus crisis may occur through a number of pathways. The pandemic could result in loss of parental care due to death illness or separation thereby placing children at heightened risk for violence neglect and exploitation.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Food Security and Nutrition
The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is a health and human crisis threatening the food security and nutrition of millions of people around the world. Hundreds of millions of people were already suffering from hunger and malnutrition before the virus hit and unless immediate action is taken we could see a global food emergency. In the longer term the combined effects of COVID-19 itself as well as corresponding mitigation measures and the emerging global recession could without large-scale coordinated action disrupt the functioning of food systems. Such disruption can result in consequences for health and nutrition of a severity and scale unseen for more than half a century.
The young people of Mali: Key players against COVID-19
The world is shaken by an unprecedented health crisis. Its multiple ravages are echoing all over the world and the media seem to revel in it as information concerning the situation becomes vital. Needless to say Covid-19 made its appearance at the end of 2019 in Wuhan the capital of the province of Hubei in China and at the start of 2020 continued to spread in an overpowering and dominant way not only characterized by its speed but also in its capacity of adaptation across all continents of the world. China has been overwhelmed. In France there are no longer yellow vest protests. Italy no longer sings and the art world present in the country has closed its doors. It would seem that America in tears suddenly forgot its superpower. The virus rapidly spread also in Latin America with more than 11 thousand cases in 24 hours in Brazil. All of this to show the very serious impact that Covid-19 has provoked on daily life around the world. In fact on March 11 it qualified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) exceeding the number of 100 infected countries to all areas of the globe.
Sectores y empresas frente al COVID-19: emergencia y reactivación
Informe Especial COVID-19 No. 4
En este cuarto Informe Especial elaborado por la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) sobre la evolución y los efectos de la pandemia de la COVID-19 (coronavirus) en América Latina y el Caribe el análisis se centra en los efectos de la pandemia en la estructura productiva y empresarial de los países de la región cuyas debilidades se han originado a lo largo de décadas y que se ha visto fuertemente golpeada por la actual coyuntura. Antes de la pandemia la estructura productiva de la región presentaba una gran heterogeneidad estructural que limitaba seriamente las posibilidades de desarrollo económico. La pandemia ha vuelto más evidente estas debilidades y ha amplificado las tensiones económicas sociales y ambientales. En el ámbito productivo la coyuntura plantea la urgencia de mitigar la destrucción de las capacidades sin olvidar la necesidad de aumentar de manera sostenida la productividad generar encadenamientos productivos e incrementar el aprendizaje y la generación y difusión de innovaciones. En este contexto la industria adquiere una importancia estratégica y un rol protagónico en el proceso de crecimiento y en el cambio de la matriz productiva. Para ello se requieren políticas para modificar la estructura productiva es decir incentivos distintos de los que prevalecen en la actualidad para que las empresas privadas junto con el Estado realicen las inversiones necesarias para diversificar la estructura económica garantizar un proceso continuo y estable de crecimiento y evitar retrocesos sociales y ambientales.
The Politics of Economic Insecurity in the COVID-19 Era
Coronagraben: Culture and Social Distancing in Times of COVID-19
Social distancing measures have been introduced in many countries in response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. The rate of compliance to these measures has varied substantially. This research paper studies how cultural differences can explain this variance using data on mobility in Swiss cantons between January and May 2020. We find that mobility declined after the outbreak but significantly less in the German-speaking region. Contrary to the evidence in the literature we find that within the Swiss context higher generalized trust in others is strongly associated with lower reductions in individual mobility. We attribute these results to the German-speaking cantons having a combination of not only high interpersonal trust but also conservative political attitudes which may have altered the trade-off between the chance of contracting the virus and the costs associated with significant alterations of daily activities.
Effective Blended Finance in the Era of COVID-19 Recovery
Achieving the SDGs through the COVID-19 Response and Recovery
The impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) on SDG achievement will only be known with certainty in the months to come but assessments for 2020 are bleak. If responses are ad hoc underfunded and without a view to long-term goals decades of progress stand to be reversed. However as countries begin to move towards recovery coherent and comprehensive actions can place the world on a robust trajectory towards achieving sustainable development. The channels through which the impacts will unfold are being identified and indicate that pre-pandemic progress on many SDGs can mitigate impacts. Building upon this insight this brief suggests that the multilateral system can be pivotal in supporting three strategic priorities during the response and recovery that can set a course for achieving the SDGs—maintaining progress already made; enabling universal access to an expanded set of quality essential services; and reversing the degradation of nature.
Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Women Migrant Workers
The COVID-19 crisis in Latin America in historical perspective
This essay compares the COVID-19 crisis in Latin America with two long-lasting crises (the Great Depression and the debt crisis) and two more recent and shorter ones (the 1997 Asian crisis and the 2008–2009 North Atlantic crisis). The analysis indicates that almost all external shocks whether associated with external financing the terms of trade trade volumes or remittances have been weaker during the current crisis. What has mainly been lacking is international financial cooperation. The severity of the crisis has therefore been due more to domestic factors: the fact that the region was the global epicentre of the pandemic for several months and that the crisis has come on top of five years of poor economic performance and three decades of slow growth. For this reason the region needs to change its development patterns on top of implementing policies to overcome the crisis.