Innovation and sound policies are critical to protect people during the crisis

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class="field-content"><ul><li><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/annette-dixon" hreflang="en">Annette Dixon</a></li><li><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/hana-brixi" hreflang="en">Hana Brixi</a></li></ul></span></span>|<span class="views-field views-field-field-date"><span class="field-content"><time datetime="2020-06-16T12:00:00Z">June 16, 2020</time> </span></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="views-element-container langswitcher block block-views block-views-blockalso-available-in-block-1 clearfix" id="block-views-block-also-available-in-block-1-2"> <h2 class="block-title">This page in:</h2> <div class="form-group"><div class="langswitcher test view view-also-available-in view-id-also_available_in view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-3bbe3ae2c15778760489e535af3ab04218a5f0bc874ac09b3456f3ec73c111af"> <div class="view-content"> <div class="item-list"> <ul> <li><div class="views-field 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Photo: © Diego F, Dussán/World Bank" class="lazyload img-responsive" data-src="/sites/default/files/styles/hero/public/2020-06/School%20Children%20.jpg"/> </div> </div> </figure> </div></div> </div> </div> <div class="hero-copyright"> <div class="container"> <div class="row"><div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <div class="body__inner"> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="section"> <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <div class="body__inner padded-bot"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--html-area paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="field field--name-field-html-area field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field--item"><p>The coronavirus (COVID-19) has unleashed a global health emergency and an unprecedented economic crisis. <span class="shareable-quote"><a data-customlink="tl" class="use-ajax" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=In+addition+to+the+loss+of+life+and+income%2C+the+pandemic+threatens+human+capital%2C+as+many+people+are+out+of+work%2C+essential+services+disrupted%2C+food+supplies+affected%2C+and+schools+closed.&url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/innovation-and-sound-policies-are-critical-protect-people-during-crisis/?cid=SHR_BlogSiteTweetable_EN_EXT&via=worldbank">In addition to the loss of life and income, the pandemic threatens human capital, as many people are out of work, essential services disrupted, food supplies affected, and schools closed. <i class="fa fa-twitter icon"></i></a></span></p> <p>Without rapid, decisive, and coordinated action, the crisis threatens to pose a huge setback to hard-won gains in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://worldbank.org/humancapital">human capital</a>. For example, if essential health services are reduced by around 45% for 6 months, that is proportionately similar to the impact of the ebola pandemic, it could result in over a million child deaths and over 50,000 additional maternal deaths in low- and middle-income countries.</p> <p>A grim picture is also emerging for losses to learning. <span class="shareable-quote"><a data-customlink="tl" class="use-ajax" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The+latest+research+shows+that+when+schools+are+closed+for+4+months%2C+COVID-19+may+mean+the+long-term+loss+of+half+a+year+of+schooling%2C+adjusted+for+quality.&url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/innovation-and-sound-policies-are-critical-protect-people-during-crisis/?cid=SHR_BlogSiteTweetable_EN_EXT&via=worldbank">The latest research shows that when schools are closed for 4 months, COVID-19 may mean the long-term loss of half a year of schooling, adjusted for quality. <i class="fa fa-twitter icon"></i></a></span> This brings the average learning that students in developing countries achieve in their lifetime to less than 7.5 years, causing future productivity losses with lasting consequences.</p> <blockquote> <h3>In addition to the loss of life and income, the pandemic threatens human capital, as many people are out of work, essential services disrupted, food supplies affected, and schools closed.</h3> </blockquote> <p><span class="shareable-quote"><a data-customlink="tl" class="use-ajax" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=For+women+and+girls%2C+who+tend+to+bear+the+brunt+of+care+work+and+household+chores%2C+the+pandemic+may+exacerbate+gender-based+violence+as+well+as+the+prevalence+of+child+marriage+and+adolescent+pregnancy&url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/innovation-and-sound-policies-are-critical-protect-people-during-crisis/?cid=SHR_BlogSiteTweetable_EN_EXT&via=worldbank">For women and girls, who tend to bear the brunt of care work and household chores, the pandemic may exacerbate gender-based violence as well as the prevalence of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy <i class="fa fa-twitter icon"></i></a></span> – which further reduce their opportunity for learning and economic empowerment.</p> <p>These profound impacts of the crisis underscore the urgency of ensuring continuity and universal coverage of essential services, including health, water, nutrition, early child development, learning, adaptive social safety nets and community engagement, so that countries can quickly and effectively mitigate the effects of the shock, while laying the groundwork for future resilience.</p> <p>Looking forward, our <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/human-capital/publication/protecting-people-and-economies-in-the-covid-19-era">new report</a> shows that the crisis provides an opportunity to build back stronger systems for people and economies, by reprioritizing policies, strengthening institutions, and facilitating behavioral change for more flexible shock response, resilience and quality in service delivery, and economic inclusion.</p> <blockquote> <h3>Looking forward, our new report shows that the crisis provides an opportunity to build back stronger systems for people and economies.</h3> </blockquote> <p>To enrich understanding of what works, we set out to explore effective and innovative approaches <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://live.worldbank.org/protecting-people-through-innovation-good-policy-during-covid">at our recent forum</a>. Leaders from Bangladesh, Estonia, Ireland, Peru, and Sierra Leone shared experiences that show promise in terms of effectiveness and innovation in response to the multi-faceted impacts of the crisis. A few clear themes emerged: </p> <h4><strong>1. Containing the pandemic may require painful measures, but the crisis also presents an opportunity for leaps forward in services to protect, build and employ human capital, such as:</strong></h4> <ul><li>Improving financial and digital inclusion – examples include digital cash payments to reach households in Peru, taking a “mobile first” approach in Sierra Leone, mobile financial accounts in Bangladesh, and the foundations for a digital society in Estonia and elsewhere</li> <li>Investing in the next generation by expanding programs and support for child development, learning, health, and psychosocial services</li> <li>Innovating through both old and new technologies to improve service delivery, such as providing distance learning through the internet, as well as through radio programs as in Sierra Leone, under the principle of inclusion for all students.</li> </ul><h4><strong>2. Urgent measures to protect people and economies need to align with long-term development and human capital objectives.</strong></h4> <ul><li>Protecting human capital for the long term requires urgent measures, and countries, such as Bangladesh, Peru and Sierra Leone, are prioritizing continued learning throughout the crisis.</li> <li>Policies and programs must adapt to improve access and quality of services in the crisis and for the future, as also seen through community service delivery and microfinance in Bangladesh.</li> </ul><h4><strong>3. Inclusive and empathetic leadership, communication, and good governance can help manage the crisis and recovery.</strong></h4> <h4><strong>4. Taking a whole-of-society approach to build citizens’ trust and ensure essential service delivery.</strong></h4> <h4><strong>5. Prioritizing spending within a limited fiscal space and undertaking reforms under the key guiding principles of transparency, coherence, and broad-based inclusion.</strong></h4> <p>The examples are just a snapshot of the many innovations that are taking place in countries across the globe as they respond to the pandemic. These innovations often arise locally, in public-private partnerships and through the involvement of citizens and communities.</p> <p><span class="shareable-quote"><a data-customlink="tl" class="use-ajax" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Countries+need+stronger+and+more+resilient+systems%2C+and+the+road+to+recovery+will+be+long+and+challenging.&url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/innovation-and-sound-policies-are-critical-protect-people-during-crisis/?cid=SHR_BlogSiteTweetable_EN_EXT&via=worldbank">Countries need stronger and more resilient systems, and the road to recovery will be long and challenging. <i class="fa fa-twitter icon"></i></a></span> Fiscal space will be limited and the cost of inaction detrimental for future prosperity.</p> <p>The often difficult structural and governance reforms that countries have been considering for years, have now become vital. They have also become more feasible.</p> <p><span class="shareable-quote"><a data-customlink="tl" class="use-ajax" target="_blank" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=When+governments+gain+citizens%E2%80%99+trust+through+their+response+to+the+pandemic%2C+countries+will+have+a+unique+window+for+reforms.&url=https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/innovation-and-sound-policies-are-critical-protect-people-during-crisis/?cid=SHR_BlogSiteTweetable_EN_EXT&via=worldbank">When governments gain citizens’ trust through their response to the pandemic, countries will have a unique window for reforms. <i class="fa fa-twitter icon"></i></a></span> The international community must redouble effort in supporting such reforms and making smart investments in human capital.</p> <h4>RELATED</h4> <p><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://www.worldbank.org/en/who-we-are/news/coronavirus-covid19">The World Bank Group and COVID-19</a></p> 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field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Topics</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/search?f[0]=topic:287&f[1]=language:en">Education</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/search?f[0]=topic:295&f[1]=language:en">Gender</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/search?f[0]=topic:297&f[1]=language:en">Health</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/search?f[0]=topic:303&f[1]=language:en">Poverty</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field--label">Series</div> <div class="field--items"> <div class="field--item"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/search?f[0]=series:881&f[1]=language:en">COVID-19 (coronavirus)</a></div> <div class="field--item"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/search?f[0]=series:603&f[1]=language:en">Human Capital</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> </div> <div class="section lightgreybg padded"> <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1"> <div class="body__inner"><div class="views-element-container form-group"><div class="view view-eva view-authors view-id-authors view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-eae8a05081855416dea29483feaa74fae62fc39e245431729a04e3a3f581043f"> <header> <h2>Authors</h2> </header> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-field-authors"><div class="field-content"> <div data-history-node-id="2761" class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="views-element-container form-group"><div class="view view-eva view-blogger-teaser-display view-id-blogger_teaser_display view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-898c79e5e7bcc65e9e68fcb37b706468bca25c8eeb3880fc14706edaa2df2c97"> <div class="views-row"><div class="author"> <div class="author__inner clearfix"> <div class="author__image"> <a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/annette-dixon" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/web/20220630171827im_/https://blogs.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/styles/blogger_profile_image/public/2019-09/annette%20photo%20220x220.jpg" width="172" height="172" alt="アネット・ディクソン" class="img-responsive"/> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-dixon-241278175/" class="social linkedin" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/annette-dixon-241278175/</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://twitter.com/intent/follow?screen_name=adixon_wb" class="social twitter" target="_blank">twitter.com/intent/<span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="395f565555564e064a5a4b5c5c57665758545c0479585d50415657">[email protected]</span>_wb</a> </div> <div class="author__caption"> <h3><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/annette-dixon" hreflang="en">Annette Dixon</a></h3> <p>Vice President, World Bank Group Human Resources</p> <div class="author__link"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/annette-dixon">More Blogs By Annette</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div></div> <div class="views-row"><div class="views-field views-field-field-authors"><div class="field-content"> <div data-history-node-id="4672" class="layout layout--onecol"> <div class="layout__region layout__region--content"> <div class="views-element-container form-group"><div class="view view-eva view-blogger-teaser-display view-id-blogger_teaser_display view-display-id-entity_view_1 js-view-dom-id-cd8a90e0ca87b81799403e5574f10c0609551cdbba5a847eb05781dbcd5bfd02"> <div class="views-row"><div class="author"> <div class="author__inner clearfix"> <div class="author__image"> <a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/hana-brixi" hreflang="en"><img loading="lazy" src="/web/20220630171827im_/https://blogs.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/styles/blogger_profile_image/public/2021-08/Hana%20Brixi%20portrait.jpg" width="172" height="172" alt="picture of Hana Brixi" class="img-responsive"/> </a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20220630171827/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-brixi-91001719/" class="social linkedin" target="_blank">https://www.linkedin.com/in/hana-brixi-91001719/</a> </div> <div class="author__caption"> <h3><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/hana-brixi" hreflang="en">Hana Brixi</a></h3> <p>Global Director, Gender</p> <div class="author__link"><a href="/web/20220630171827/https://blogs.worldbank.org/team/hana-brixi">More Blogs By Hana</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> 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