“It is the greatest test that we have faced since the formation of the United Nations, one that requires all actors -governments, academia, businesses, employers and workers’ organizations, civil society organizations, communities and individuals- to act in solidarity in new, creative, and deliberate ways for the common good” – “Shared responsibility, global solidarity” – United Nations March 2020
While most attention is currently focussed on the short term challenges of getting to grips with the Covid-19 pandemic, it may also be helpful to think about this in the context of the longer term objectives of Agenda 2030 as set out in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. As the chart below (from the UN’s recent report on the socio-economic impacts of Covid-19 quoted above) shows, all of the goals will be impacted in some way by the disease and the response to it. Making significant progress on the goals will also enable humanity to be better able to cope with similar challenges in the future.
The report looks at the impact on the goals and also considers how best to respond to the crisis in ways which will support the goals. Recommendations include: significant economic stimulus measures (aimed in particular at poorer countries and those most vulnerable), resisting protectionist temptations and protecting connectivity, supporting businesses (in particular SMEs), making supply chains more resilient, protecting human rights, supporting decent work and education and prioritizing social cohesion.
The report emphasises the importance of partnerships at all levels (in different places, within and between countries, between research organisations, between public, private and third sectors) in responding to the short term crisis and the longer term implications. Indeed there may be ways of working more collaboratively and with greater solidarity, to respond to the pandemic, that stand us in good stead for the longer term. It will certainly help highlight shared interests and priorities.
The world will not feel the same or be the same after the crisis. We will face the choice of trying to turn the clock back or to go for something better to make us less vulnerable in the future. The 2030 Agenda and the SDGs provide the framework for building a better future.
Click to access sg_report_socio-economic_impact_of_covid19.pdf
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