Ahead of the 5 year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the World Bank is hosting a virtual event to  highlight why greening the response to the pandemic is critical and how we will support clients to do so. The event will include the launch of a new multi-donor trust fund to support countries accelerate efforts towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient recovery.

Date: December 10, 2020 

Time: 10:00 AM EST 

Link to recording: https://live.worldbank.org/greening-response-national-climate-sustainable-recovery

As countries respond to the immediate health concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, they will also need to focus on stimulus packages to stem its severe economic impact. As they do so, they have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set a foundation for a more sustainable and prosperous future. Ahead of the 5 year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the World Bank is hosting a virtual event to  highlight why greening the response to the pandemic is critical and how we will support clients to do so. The event will include the launch of a new multi-donor trust fund to support countries accelerate efforts towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient recovery.

To access the event's website please click here

Speakers:
* Mari Pangestu, Managing Director, Development Policy and Partnerships, World Bank / @Mari_Pangestu

* Bernice Van Bronkhorst, Global Director, Climate Change, World Bank

* Martin Jäger, State Secretary, Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany / @MJaegerT

* Helen Mountford, Vice President, Climate & Economics, World Resources Institute / @HMountford4

* John Roome, Regional Director, South Asia Sustainable Development, World Bank Group / @JohnARoome

* Marcello Estevão, Global Director, Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment, World Bank / @MarcelloEstevao

* Vel Gnanendran, Climate and Environment Director, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, United Kingdom / @VelavanG

* Louise Cord, Global Director, Social Development, World Bank Group / @LouiseCord

* Harald Waiglein, Director General for Economic Policy, Financial Markets and Customs Duties, Austria

Follow the event on Twitter #FastForwardClimateAction

How resilient are South Asia’s food supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic? Are there new opportunities to strengthen or expand regional value chains? How do governments and private companies in the region prepare food supply chains and trade policies for an economic recovery? This #OneSouthAsia webinar will explore these issues and answer your questions.

Date: November 23, 2020 

Time: 8:00 AM 

Link to recording: https://youtu.be/biAWT1api5M

Food prices have risen by more than 10 percent in South Asia this year, more than any other region. Trade policy responses such as eliminating tariffs and facilitating trade flows can help maintain access to essential food products. How resilient are South Asia’s food supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic? Are there new opportunities to strengthen or expand regional value chains? How do governments and private companies in the region prepare food supply chains and trade policies for an economic recovery? This #OneSouthAsia webinar will explore these issues and answer your questions.

Speakers

Will Martin
Senior research fellow with the International Food Policy Research Institute, @IFPRI

 Nazneen Ahmed
   Senior research fellow at the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies

Abid Qaiyum Suleri
Head of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute, @AbidSuleri

Cecile Fruman
Director, Regional Integration and Engagement, South Asia, @cfruman

As the COVID-19 pandemic is exposed fragilities in the global system and increasing the risk the Sustainable Development Goals might be out of reach for many, key development actors including the UN, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, African Union and European Commission come together to look at how coordinated country-level strategies could lead to more integrated programming, funding and implementation in support of governments’ development efforts.

Date: November 16, 2020 

Time: 9:00 AM 

Link to recording: http://webtv.un.org/watch/

Opening remarks by UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

A Sustainable Recovery for People and Planet brought together policymakers, youth leaders, civil society organizations and global experts to tackle this question during the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings, with its theme of a resilient recovery from the pandemic.

Date: October 14, 2020

Time: 12:00 PM 

Link to the recording: https://live.worldbank.org/sustainable-recovery-people-and-planet

How can the world recover from the coronavirus pandemic while also addressing climate change and biodiversity loss? A Sustainable Recovery for People and Planet brought together policymakers, youth leaders, civil society organizations and global experts to tackle this question during the World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings, with its theme of a resilient recovery from the pandemic. A young activist from Indonesia perhaps summed it up best when she described the potentially transformative impact of the pandemic: “If there is one thing COVID-19 has shown, it is we can no longer go back to business as usual,” said Melati Wijsen, a youth leader whose efforts have helped to reduce plastic waste on her home island of Bali. “In a post-pandemic world, “we have to accelerate the solutions we wish to see in our world today.”

Moderated by former CNN anchor Zain Verjee, the event focuses on the actions and investments needed today to unlock short term gains, such as jobs and economic growth, as well as deliver the longer-term benefits of resilience, decarbonization, cleaner air and water, healthier oceans, and more sustainable food and agriculture systems. “The big challenge is how do we build back greener and build back better in a new environment as we come out of the recovery,” said World Bank Group President David Malpass in his opening remarks. “People need to make the right investments now.”

Fiji Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum explained why such investments in resilience are critical. “For countries on the frontlines of climate change, like Fiji, building back better is a question of life or death.” In 2016, Cyclone Winston wiped out one-third of the value of Fiji's GDP within 36 hours. “We realized we had to build back better, and it paid off—the structures that were built back better have not been damaged in the seven cyclones we've had since then,” he said. With governments and institutions investing as much as $12 trillion in COVID-19 recovery, “this is an important moment now to reset our economies and build back in a way that tackles the climate and COVID crises together,” said Helen Mountford, Vice President, Climate & Economics, of the World Resources Institute. Costa Rica plans to link the climate and crisis challenges, using the country’s long-term decarbonization plan “as a centerpiece to address the COVID crisis and to recover better,” said María del Pilar Gonzalo, Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy.

The event addressed how a sustainable recovery can restore ecosystems, reverse biodiversity loss, create better food systems and jobs. “We are a country that has no choice but to go sustainable and all our policies are taking into consideration sustainability,” said Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Celso Correia. By introducing new methods of producing agriculture, “we are reducing also emissions but protecting the forestry.” Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO of the Global Environment Facility, said the recovery “is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to reset our relationship with nature and to scale up nature-based solutions that can help our forests and land to absorb carbon and protect biodiversity. Nobody can prosper on a sick planet. It's in our own self-interest to protect and invest in nature.”

The event also looked ahead to next year’s climate change meeting, COP26, along with the Convention on Biological Diversity, when new targets for the conservation, sustainable use, and sharing of benefits from biodiversity will be decided. “Ahead of COP26, let’s work together to make a green recovery a reality around the world, creating a prosperous and sustainable future for our children and grandchildren. We owe that to current and future generations,” said Alok Sharma, UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and COP26 President.

Speakers:
* David R. Malpass, President, World Bank Group. @DavidMalpassWBG
* Tania Ortiz Mena, CEO, IEnova Infraestructura Energetica
* Alok Sharma, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, UK, and COP26 President. @AlokSharma_RDG
* María del Pilar Garrido Gonzalo, Minister of Planning and Economic Policy, Republic of Costa Rica
* Diane Holdorf, Managing Director, World Business Council for Sustainable Development. @DianeBHoldorf
* Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and the Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications, Republic of Fiji. @FijiAG
* Celso Ismael Correia, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mozambique. @CelsoIsmaelCor1
* Helen Mountford, Vice President, Climate & Economics, World Resources Institute. @HMountford4

Host:
* Zain Verjee, Founder and CEO, Zain Verjee Group. @Zain_Verjee

This webinar series centers around the theme of inclusive and sustainable recovery, with initial sessions respectively focusing on supporting women's groups, vulnerable youth, and social entrepreneurs. While initial efforts have rightly focused on mitigating immediate impacts, we now need to focus on comprehensive support to rebuild local economies during and after COVID for longer-term economic recovery and resilience. 

Date: September 9, 2020

Time: 8:30 AM EST

Link to the recording: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/video/2020/09/09/local-economic-development-series-inclusive-and-sustainable-recovery-session-1

Overview: 

COVID-19 has had severe economic impacts on local economies and communities, particularly on the most vulnerable. The pandemic has disrupted supply chains and led to reverse migration, stagnant rural non-farm economies and devastating consequences for community/women groups, youth and informal workers. Extreme poverty is likely to persist at higher levels in 2021 and potentially beyond.

While initial efforts have rightly focused on mitigating immediate impacts, we now need to focus on comprehensive support to rebuild local economies during and after COVID for longer-term economic recovery and resilience. 

Join us for a series of webinars, as we discuss the future of local economic development (LED) in the COVID/post-COVID context. Our discussions will center around the theme of inclusive and sustainable recovery, with initial sessions respectively focusing on supporting women's groups, vulnerable youth, and social entrepreneurs.

Webinar #1: How can we support community/women groups for longer-term local economic recovery and resilience?

Community groups (SHGs, farmer groups, saving groups, etc.) are one of the important platforms for local economic development (LED).  Most of the community group members are women. Focusing on LED strategies is key to ensuring longer-term local economic recovery and resilience. Such approaches entail investing in entrepreneurship of community/women groups, linking community institutions to value chains, investing in productive infrastructure, supporting financial institutions, and developing public-private partnerships. This session will explore how community/women groups are coping up with COVID and discuss strategies to support women groups and collectives for the transition to economic institutions and longer-term local economic recovery.

Opening remarks:  Louise Cord, Global Director, Social Sustainability and Inclusion Global Practice, World Bank and Martien Van Nieuwkoop, Global Director, Agriculture, and Food Global Practice, World Bank

Fireside chat

Moderator: Parmesh Shah, Global Lead, Rural Livelihoods, and Agriculture Employment Global Solutions Group, World Bank.

•    Alka Upadhyaya, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India
•    Sybil Chidiac, Senior Program Officer, Gender Equality, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
•    Thomas de Hoop, Principal Economist at American Institutes for Research, Evidence Consortium on Women’s Groups
•    Vinay Kumar Vutukuru, Senior Agriculture Specialist, World Bank

Closing remarks: Susan Wong, Global Lead, Community Driven Development Global Solution Group, World Bank.

For more updates, follow us on Twitter @WBG_Inclusion

Prof. C. S. C. Sekhar tells TPCI that the absence of a holistic and integrated outlook on agriculture and rural development is the reason for the exodus of migrants in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. He points out how the paucity of labour will impact the incomes of farmers. He opines that a long-term plan for agriculture and rural development needs to be drawn up based upon the core objectives and resource constraints.

Click to Read

CSC Sekhar writes the Covid-19 crisis is likely to pose a serious challenge to agriculture and the rural economy. The impact could be different at different levels and across time horizons. Immediate supply-chain disruptions could translate into demand contraction later in the rural economy, which could have an adverse impact on economic growth. In the short run (before the lockdown ends), the problems are twofold. Farmers are unable to harvest and market Rabi crops (wheat, gram, mustard), and also fruits and vegetables. The second problem is agricultural labor (55% of total agricultural workers). This segment is unable to earn a living because of movement restrictions and lack of adequate income and safety nets. But the problems will not disappear after the lockdown.

Click to Read 

The goal of saving lives and livelihoods is possible with economic and public health policies tailored to the reality of developing countries, given that the pandemic crisis may hurt low- and middle-income countries disproportionately. For countries with older populations and higher incomes, more radical suppression measures may be optimal; while for poorer, younger countries, more moderate measures may be best.

Click to Read
 

Abstract: The world is experiencing the worst pandemic crisis in one hundred years. By mid-April 2020, more than 80 percent of countries around the world had imposed strict containment and mitigation measures to control the spread of the disease. The economic fallout from the pandemic has been immense, with dire consequences for poverty and welfare, particularly in developing countries. This Brief first documents the global economic contraction and its potential impact on developing countries regarding macroeconomic performance, poverty rates, and incomes of the poor and vulnerable. It then argues that the pandemic crisis may hurt low- and middle-income countries disproportionately because most of them lack the resources and capacity to deal with a systemic shock of this nature. Their large informal sectors, limited fiscal space, and poor governance make developing countries particularly vulnerable to the pandemic and the measures to contain it. Next, the Brief reviews recent epidemiological and macroeconomic modelling and evidence on the costs and benefits of different mitigation and suppression strategies. It explores how these cost-benefit considerations vary across countries at different income levels. The Brief argues that, having more limited resources and capabilities but also younger populations, developing countries face different trade-offs in their fight against COVID-19 than advanced countries do. For developing countries, the challenge is preserving lives and avoiding crushed livelihoods. Different trade-offs call for context-specific strategies. For countries with older populations and higher incomes, more radical suppression measures may be optimal; while for poorer, younger countries, more moderate measures may be best. Having different trade-offs, however, provides no grounds for complacency for developing countries. The Brief concludes that the goal of saving lives and livelihoods is possible with economic and public health policies tailored to the reality of developing countries. Since “smart” mitigation strategies (such as shielding the vulnerable and identifying and isolating the infected) pose substantial challenges for implementation, a combination of ingenuity for adaptation, renewed effort by national authorities, and support of the international community is needed. The lockdowns may be easing, but the fight against the pandemic has not been won yet. People and economies will remain vulnerable until a vaccine or treatment are developed. The challenge in the next few months will be to revive the economy while mitigating new waves of infection.

This collection of short essays provides a comprehensive overview of where we are and what we know about how COVID-19 is affecting food security and livelihoods at the six-month mark. More specifically, they provide a detailed look at policy responses across the globe and how effectively they are working, along with recommendations for further innovations.

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Extract: This e-book compiles a selection of entries from the IFPRI blog series on COVID-19. The pieces provide key insights and analysis on how the global pandemic is affecting global poverty and food security and nutrition, food trade and supply chains, gender, employment, and a variety of policy interventions, as well as reflections on how we can use these lessons to better prepare for future pandemics. These pieces draw on a combination of conceptual arguments, global and country-level simulation models, in-country surveys, case studies, and expert opinions. Together, they present a comprehensive picture of the current and potential impact of COVID-19 and the policy responses to the pandemic on global food and nutrition security.

The Covid-19 pandemic could cause the global export supply of food to decrease by 6-20 percent and global prices to increase by 2-6 percent on average. Escalating export restrictions would multiply the initial shock by a factor of 3, with world food prices rising by up to 18 percent on average.

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Abstract: This paper analyzes the impact of Covid-19 and uncooperative trade policies on world food markets. It quantifies the initial shock due to the pandemic under the assumption that products that are more labor-intensive in production are more affected through workers’ morbidity and containment policies. It then estimates how escalating export restrictions to shield domestic food markets could magnify the initial shock. The analysis shows that in the quarter following the outbreak of the pandemic, the global export supply of food could decrease between 6 and 20 percent and global prices increase between 2 and 6 percent on average. Escalating export restrictions would multiply the initial shock by a factor of 3, with world food prices rising by up to 18 percent on average. Import food dependent countries, which are in large majority developing and least developed countries, would be most affected.