UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) Policy Briefs

Over the last year, the data and statistical community has faced unprecedented disruptions in statistical operations and a spike in demand for data to monitor the effects of the global pandemic. Many National Statistical Offices adapted quickly to challenges raised by COVID-19, and many of them have played a major role in governments’ COVID-19 response. New partnerships have been crucial in responding to new data demands, helping National Statistical Offices introduce measures that are permanently changing the statistical production process in many countries. However, the pandemic has exacerbated critical funding gaps in national, regional, and global statistical offices, making the mobilization of international and domestic resources to support data for sustainable development more urgent than ever.

A full recovery from the pandemic crisis is not possible without addressing economic security and reducing inequality. Otherwise, people and families who already faced more insecurity are likely to be excluded from the benefits of recovery. This policy brief highlights inequality in the experience of economic security focusing on the risks to livelihoods and the protections against those risks as laid out by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In recognizing the right to “security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond one’s control”, the Universal Declaration highlights the crucial importance of economic security to everyone’s rights and well-being.

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the world of work, hitting labour markets that were already weak and fragile. This brief describes recent changes in the world of work and discusses their implications for the social contract. It contends that the deep, long-standing employment crisis is damaging the social and economic fabric and, without decisive action, it may weaken support for a renewed social contract. Giving all workers a voice and ensuring decent working conditions is the only way to break the cycle of growing economic insecurity and low trust in public institutions.

This policy brief reviews the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in Africa and presents the continent’s social protection responses. The crisis has hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest and laid bare structural shortcomings such as inadequate health, educational and technological infrastructure, limited social protection, gender inequality, large informal economies, lack of access to basic services, constrained fiscal policy space and a high risk of debt distress in many countries, making them particularly vulnerable to the lasting effects of the pandemic. African countries have realized the need to scale-up social protection programmes and measures to meet the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 crisis as well as to ensure preparedness for other unexpected future events. Thus, they have introduced or adapted over 200 social protection and labour market policies in response to the pandemic. Recognizing the ongoing efforts as well as the persistent gaps and challenges, the brief stresses the need for allocating adequate resources for social protection systems and programmes, aiming for universal coverage to adequately address the different risks and vulnerabilities that individuals face throughout the lifecycle. It also urges development partners to provide financing support to the poorest countries to help them create fiscal space for increased public spending for social protection that is sustainable and equitable through multilateral development co-operation as well as national and regional multi-sectoral partnerships.

COVID-19 is accelerating the pace of digital transformation. In so doing, it is opening the opportunities for advancing social progress and fostering social inclusion, while simultaneously exacerbating the risk of increased inequalities and exclusion of those who are not digitally connected.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread economic insecurity was linked to rising distrust and popular discontent, undermining governance and ultimately sustainable development. The current crisis has reminded us of the extent of insecurity embedded in today’s societies and, without concerted effort, could exacerbate societal and political instability. Investing in truly universal public services, including social protection, that confront today’s risks is a crucial policy priority to ensure economic security, rebuild trust and recover progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Fears related to economic insecurity are on the rise. Changes in the world of work, together with globalization and technological breakthroughs, have benefited many people but are also putting many others at disadvantage or at risk. These long-standing trends, which have raised aspirations but also fears, are compounded by evolving threats, including those brought about by climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governments are highly dependent on all data including official statistics, administrative data, open data and big data analytics for decision-making and actions to address the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. These data allow governments to set priorities and adjust their decisions quickly and effectively in response to rapidly evolving COVID-19 situations. Open data and big data analytics, particularly through Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms and data visualization tools, are empowering governments to predict virus mutations, track virus spread in real-time, and identify medications for treating COVID-19. Governments are using big data analytics to get prepared, react effectively, and develop both short-term and long-term strategies. Yet, increasing public concerns about data privacy and security put in jeopardy public trust in data collection, use and dissemination by government, business and relevant non-government institutions. To ensure effective use of open data and big data analytics for combatting COVID-19, it is necessary to strengthen data governance with regard to data collection, data partnership, data analysis, data dissemination, and protection of data privacy and data security.

Financing has emerged as a key challenge in SDG implementation. Yet, a recent study found that 79 out of 107 national sustainable development plans are not costed. Integrated national financing frameworks (INFFs) can help countries to close this gap. They help countries raise resources, enhance coherence of financing policies, and overcome short-termism in budgeting and the financial sector. INFFs can also help countries recover from COVID-19 (coronavirus) and its economic fallout, finance building back better, and manage risks. Interest in INFFs has grown exponentially since the concept was introduced in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda—around 60 countries have committed to design and implement integrated financing frameworks with support from the UN system.