A Revolution in Policy Mindset

Context: Governments and stakeholders need to focus on the imperative to build back better after the global pandemic while keeping an eye on sustainable development goals.

Steps taken by the countries to address the impact of the pandemic:

• Social protection: extending universal health care systems and strengthen social protection systems. 
• Access to finance: Innovating to help the most disadvantaged access financing and small and medium-sized enterprise credits. 
• Addressing discrimination: Countries have taken comprehensive approaches to discrimination, particularly related to gender-based violence. 
• Partnerships with the private sector have played a critical role in fostering creative solutions. 
• Shared response: Institutions such as the United Nations have mobilised to support a shared response to the crisis. 

Way Forward:

• Revolution in policy mindset: Inclusive and accountable governance systems, adaptive institutions based on accurate and regular data are needed.
• New strategies: Developing new strategies for green recovery and inclusive approaches to development. For example:

• South Korea announced a New Deal based on digitisation and decarbonisation. 
• India announced operating the largest solar power plant in the region. 
• China is creating more jobs in the renewable energy sector.
• Countries in the Pacific are focusing on blue recovery, to promote sustainable fisheries management. 

• Focus on well-being: Responses must be centered on the well-being of people, empowering them and advancing equality. 

• Driving change in the people-environment nexus to protect the health of people and natural resources is key to the future.