Post-COVID world: Recommendations to governments and multilateral organisations

The 3rd Southern Voice Research Conference (9-11 November 2021) brought together think tank experts from around the globe to discuss current and future policy issues related to sustainable development, the UN 2030 Agenda and post-pandemic challenges. 

Titled “Shaping an equitable post-COVID world: the role of Global South think tanks”, this third edition harnessed the collective knowledge of our vast network of Southern scholars, charting a path towards a post-COVID-19 recovery that leaves no one behind.

The experts at the conference made the following recommendations to governments and multilateral organisations: 

Sustainability in technology, finance, and capacity building are necessary for a green recovery. Establishing a robust climate fund and extending debt services can help low-income countries to recover sustainably. International trading rules and climate rules need to go hand in hand. They urged leaders to focus on sustainable, cost-effective, environmentally friendly development policies. 

Vulnerable populations: Governments and multilateral organisations must invest more in health and education to ensure more gender balance in the job market. Public policy strategies need to address social problems with a particular focus on the most vulnerable populations, such as women and children. These strategies should aim to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, prepare the world for future emergencies and, in turn, address long-term problems such as poverty and its impact on the development of children and adolescents.

Trade and institutions: Multilateral institutions, development banks, and private institutions must work closely with governments. They should focus on public expenditure as well as investment and target multiplier sectors like education and infrastructure. It will improve the economy in the future. Quality and flexible institutions are also integral for sustainable long term growth and will speed up responses to major crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Vaccine equity: Innovative partnerships are essential to ensure the availability of vaccines for countries that do not have the financial capability to purchase the vaccines they need. Governments should explore mechanisms to raise funds for vaccination campaigns. It may involve notable investments such as vaccine bonds to involve the private sector and individuals. Decisionmakers must prioritise investments in health systems and research and development now to prepare for a future pandemic. The member states of the OECD and G-20 should commit to raising the global vaccines supply and assisting countries with low-income populations and weak health systems. 

Migration: Destination countries need to work closely with origin countries and discuss their skill needs, present and future, so that incoming migrant workers are adequately prepared. It is urgent to create international legal services for migrants, who often face deportation without any rights. Alienation, deprivation and human trafficking are just a few of the issues that point to the need for a robust legal migration process. Migrants should be seen as partners in development, leading to mutual economic gains for both the Global North and South. The WTO, the ILO, the Abu Dhabi Dialogue, the Colombo Process, the IOM/ICM need to come together. They should work out a general Memorandum of Cooperation to create legal and safe overseas employment pathways that also contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).   

Food security: Governments and multilateral institutions must ensure food security, especially for low-income families and other vulnerable groups in Global South countries. They need to design comprehensive economic safety nets for informal workers, particularly in the farming sector. 

Throughout the conference, the panellists agreed that it is time to rethink how we measure development and the success of developing countries—just using indicators such as the GDP is not enough anymore. Other markers, such as the level of happiness, health, and sustainable lifestyle, can also serve as guidance. 

As Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir (Director – OECD Development Centre) rightly said: 

“We are at a crucial moment, with the opportunity to embark on a more just and sustainable model, emphasising the resilience of communities. How we approach shared challenges will be an important task for all of us”.

Read also the Call for Action by the member think tanks of Southern Voice.