COVID-19

Statement on COVID-19 by Under-Secretary-General Liu Zhenmin

A global pandemic is a time of tough choices. The policy decisions taken now will shape the fate of millions and define the future of nations. How to save people’s lives without destroying their livelihoods? Where to allocate scarce resources? How to protect those who do not have the means to protect themselves? UN experts are working round the clock to help decision makers navigate these tough choices and prevent the world from sliding into a dangerous depression. Watch this space for the latest research, analysis and policy advice from UN DESA, an effort to support and complement the United Nations Secretary-General’s initiatives in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Responding to COVID-19 and Recovering Better is a compilation volume of UN DESA’s special policy brief series on the economic and social impact of COVID-19, which aims to complement and support the Secretary-General’s initiatives in response to COVID-19. It presents detailed analysis and solid evidence needed for effective decision-making on a number of critical social and economic issues - including designing inclusive stimulus packages; preventing a global debt crisis; supporting countries in special situations; protecting the most vulnerable groups of people; strengthening the role of science, technology and institutions for an effective response; and working together to build back better and achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Policy Brief 106: Reducing poverty and inequality in rural areas: key to inclusive development
 

Policy Brief 107: Social protection in rural areas: achieving universal access for all
 

Policy Brief 108: Trust in public institutions: Trends and implications for economic security
 

Policy Brief 103: Transformational partnerships and partnership platforms
 

Policy Brief 104: In situ urbanization key to leaving no one behind
 

Policy Brief 105: Circular agriculture for sustainable rural development
 

Policy Brief 100: Effective blended finance in the era of COVID-19 recovery
 

Policy Brief 101: Challenges and Opportunities for Indigenous Peoples’ Sustainability
 

Policy Brief 102: Population, food security, nutrition and sustainable development
 

Policy Brief 97: COVID-19 and Beyond: Scaling up Private Investment for Sustainable Development
 

Policy Brief 98: Risk-informed finance
 

Policy Brief 99: Why does corporate sustainability reporting matter to rebuilding better?
 

Policy Brief 94: A changing world of work: implications for the social contract
 

Policy Brief 95: What triggers economic insecurity and who is most at risk?
 

Policy Brief 96: COVID-19: How the data and statistical community stepped up to the new challenges
 

Policy Brief 91: The politics of economic insecurity in the COVID-19 era
 

Policy Brief 92: Leveraging digital technologies for social inclusion
 

Policy Brief 93: Social policy and social protection measures to build Africa better post-COVID-19
 

Policy Brief 88: Financing sustainable forest management: a key component of sustainable COVID-19 recovery
 

Policy Brief 89: Strengthening Data Governance for Effective Use of Open Data and Big Data Analytics for Combating COVID-19
 

Policy Brief 90: A new global deal must promote economic security
 

Policy Brief 85: Impact of COVID-19: perspective from Voluntary National Reviews
 

Policy Brief 86: The long-term impact of COVID-19 on poverty
 

Policy Brief 87: Integrated national financing frameworks—a framework to build back better
 

Policy Brief 82: COVID-19 and a primer on shock-responsive social protection systems
 

Policy Brief 83: Recovering from COVID-19: the importance of investing in global public goods for health
 

Policy Brief 84: Achieving SDGs in the wake of COVID-19: Scenarios for policymakers
 

Policy Brief 78: Achieving the SDGs through the COVID-19 response and recovery
 

Policy Brief 79: The role of public service and public servants during the COVID-19 pandemic
 

Policy Brief 80: Forests: at the heart of a green recovery from COVID-19 pandemic
 

WESP June 2020 Briefing: A full-blown employment crisis in emerging economies
 

Policy Brief 76: COVID-19 poses grievous economic challenge to landlocked developing countries
 

Policy Brief 77: How can investors move from greenwashing to SDG-enabling
 

Policy Brief 73: The impact of COVID-19 on sport, physical activity and well-being and its effects on social development
 

Policy Brief 74: Resilient institutions in times of crisis: transparency, accountability and participation at the national level key to effective response to COVID-19
 

Policy Brief 75: COVID-19: Reaffirming State-People Governance Relationships
 

Policy Brief 70: The Impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous Peoples
 

Policy Brief 71: COVID-19 pandemic deals a huge blow to the manufacturing exports from LDCs
 

Policy Brief 72: COVID-19 and sovereign debt
 

Policy brief 67: Protecting and mobilizing youth in COVID-19 responses
 

Policy Brief 68: COVID-19 and Older Persons: A Defining Moment for an Informed, Inclusive and Targeted Response
 

Policy brief 69: The COVID-19 crisis through the disability and gender lens
 

World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) mid-2020 report
 

Policy Brief 65: “Responses to the COVID-19 catastrophe could turn the tide on inequality”
 

WESP May 2020 Briefing: The pandemic crisis will worsen global inequality
 

Policy Brief 60: “Commodity-dependent economies face mounting economic challenge as the pandemic ravages developed countries”
 

Policy Brief 61: “COVID-19: Embracing digital government during the pandemic and beyond”
 

Policy Brief 62: "The COVID-19 pandemic: a wake-up call for better cooperation at the science-policy-society interface"
 

April monthly briefing on the world economy: “COVID-19: disrupting lives, economies and societies”

Policy Brief 58: “Addressing the social crisis through fiscal stimulus plans”

Policy Brief 59: “Corona crisis causes turmoil in financial markets”

Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2020

Join UN DESA’s Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs Maria-Francesca Spatolisano, Fabrizio Hochschild-Drummond, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on the Preparations for the Commemoration of the United Nations 75th Anniversary, and UN DESA experts for the second UN DESA Webinar on COVID-19: Strengthening Science and Technology and Addressing Inequalities on 6 May 2020, from 10 am to 12 noon EDT. You can watch a recording of this event on Facebook, at: https://www.facebook.com/joinundesa/videos/232320921359751 Access the presentation here.

UN Chief Economist Elliott Harris and other experts from UN DESA have shared the main findings of three new briefing papers on the social, economic and financial impacts of COVID-19, as well as public policy recommendations. The online webinar took place on Thursday, 9 April 2020. You can watch a recording of this event on Facebook, at: https://www.facebook.com/joinundesa/videos/2506983762950816/ Access the presentation here.

Which Economic Stimulus Works? By Joseph E. Stiglitz and Hamid Rashid
 

“Intensified debt relief could save economies, prevent defaults”
 

“Data tells the story on how COVID-19 is changing the world”
 

United Nations' web site on Covid-19

The United Nations is closely monitoring the situation with the COVID-19 outbreak in New York City, as well as the region where staff live – New York State, New Jersey, and Connecticut. This page features important information that is specific to the UN Headquarters and to the locations near the HQ. It is focused on staff and their families, but includes advice for staff of delegations, as well. It will be regularly updated as changes occur in the HQ and in the region.

WHO website on the coronavirus

This page brings together information and guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations regarding the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that was first reported in Wuhan, China, on 31 December 2019. Please visit this page for daily updates. WHO is working closely with global experts, governments and partners to rapidly expand scientific knowledge on this new virus, to track the spread and virulence of the virus.

COVID-19 Outbreak and Persons with Disabilities

Immediate response is needed that addresses the specific needs of persons with disabilities to maintain their health, safety, dignity, and independence in the community throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and related health emergencies.

Insights by CDP members on the COVID-19 crisis

COVID-19 is a global emergency that demands global cooperation. The UN Committe for Development Policy brings together some of the world's leading experts on various aspects of development to offer advice on the way out of this crisis.

COVID-19 response - Web portal for the statistical community

National and international statistical organizations need to take immediate action to ensure the continuity of key statistical compilation activities and the continued availability of data to inform emergency mitigation actions by governments and all sectors of society

Scientists, experts and policy makers addressing the COVID-19 crisis around the world

COVID-19 is a global emergency that demands global cooperation. The UN Committee for Development Policy brings together some of the world’s leading experts on various aspects of development to offer advice on the way out of this crisis.

COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples

COVID-19 is a reminder that humanity is only as safe as its most vulnerable groups. The pandemic?poses?a grave?health threat to Indigenous Peoples around the world. We have to ensure these services and facilities are provided in indigenous languages, and as appropriate to the specific situation of indigenous peoples.