Priorities for a fair recovery from COVID-19 in Latin America

Latin America has been hit the hardest by the pandemic within the developing world. This is evident from the sanitary and economic impact of the virus; labour income losses, high number of recorded deaths, and increase in gender, ethnic, and racial inequalities.
In the region, the pandemic has amplified a governance crisis. Countries in the region need to build the political consensus to adopt viable long-term reforms to promote an equitable recovery. Such policies include renewing fiscal policies, strengthening democratic processes and participation, ensuring transparency and accountability of public services, and effective regional cooperation.
Governments in the region must encourage inclusive economic growth and labour formalisation, strengthening and increasing coverage of social protection systems (especially for vulnerable groups), improving healthcare systems, and making vaccines available for all.
To strengthen and incentivise the creation of small enterprises, governments need to invest in better technological infrastructure and lower the barriers to formal entrepreneurship.