This Evidence and Learning Initiative was a cooperation with the Prosperity Fund (PF). It helped to ensure that in the current context of COVID-19, changes to the existing PF portfolio (and investments in new ones) are informed by and contribute to the evidence base on how the pandemic is directly and indirectly (economically, politically, socially, environmentally) affecting economies of partner countries as well as the UK. The Learning Journey also gave the opportunity to reflect on and learn from the PF experience of combining primary purpose and secondary benefits, including elements of UK national interest, in the context of review and restructure of UK development policy and architecture.
The pandemic risks reversing progress made on more inclusive and sustainable growth patterns and slowing down international trade, with Middle-Income Countries (MICs) facing different levels of vulnerability due to their global and regional links and global supply chains, their resilience and their health systems. Growth prospects are highly uncertain and context-specific social analysis and local stakeholder consultation are required to understand the changing impacts on poverty and exclusion dynamics due to the pandemic and new restrictions, particularly for those working in high risk sectors (e.g. tourism, transport, services) and geographical areas (e.g. cross border traders). These steps are essential to inform gender and inclusion-sensitive economic policy and programme actions in affected countries.
There are increasing risks of reversing progress made on women’s economic empowerment, jobs creation and decent work agendas, and enterprises and business environment development. On the other side it is important to identify where there may be opportunities for formal and informal workers and businesses to diversify and transform livelihoods into activities less affected by the crisis and increase resilience. There are opportunities to make the most of technological developments, taking into account digital access, innovation and adaptation for poor and excluded groups.
The Learning Journey supports Cross-Government learning and evidence-based action to inform the Prosperity Fund’s (PF) response to the impacts of COVID-19 in MICs on mutual prosperity. It provides additional technical and virtual learning support to assist the Fund to adapt its portfolio to the changed context and impacts of COVID-19. It is based on three main pillars:
- Building Back Better (recovering more green, resilient and inclusive)
- Implications for “Secondary Benefits”
- Support for PF Global Better Health Programme
For more information about this Learning Journey, please contact Evert-jan Quak (IDS), Lead Researcher, at [email protected] or Paul Knipe (IDS), K4D Programme Manager at [email protected].
*Please note this Learning Journey is now closed*
Outputs
Emerging Issues Report 43
COVID-19, Global Value Chains, and the Impact on Gender: Evidence from the Garment and Electronics Sectors in Asia
Keir MacDonald
May 2021
K4D Helpdesk Report 976
Impacts of Trade Facilitation on Carbon Emissions
Brian Lucas
5 March 2021
K4D Helpdesk Report 975
Trade Facilitation for Environmental Goods and Services
Jacqueline Hicks
2 March 2021
Helpdesk Report 971
The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Colombia
Laura Bolton
26 February 2021
K4D Helpdesk Report 898
The Impact of Business Environment Reforms on Poverty, Gender and Inclusion
Keir Macdonald
4 January 2021
K4D Emerging Issues Report 39
Linking Business Environment Reform with Gender and Inclusion: A Study of Business Licensing Reform in Indonesia
Amrita Saha, Jodie Thorpe, Keir Macdonald and Kelbesa Megersa
January 2021
K4D Helpdesk Report 877
Factors influencing inclusive economic resilience in middle-income countries
George Herbert
24 September 2020
Download the slide deck
K4D Helpdesk Report 879
The Build Back Better agenda and COVID-19
Laura Bolton
20 September 2020
Helpdesk Report 874
The Covid-19 pandemic and the future of Global Value Chains (GVCs)
Evert-jan Quak
14 September 2020
Download the slide deck
Helpdesk Report 878
Projections of Demand and Estimates of Global Production of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Robin Richards
7 September 2020
Helpdesk Report 876
The Costs of Climate Change Adaptation in Middle-income Countries
Amanda Lenhardt
7 September 2020
Download the slide deck
Helpdesk Report 812
Mitigating the economic impacts of epidemics and financial crises: Focus on middle-income countries
Huma Haider
11 May 2020
Download the slide deck
Helpdesk Report 811
Impacts of Covid-19 on inclusive economic growth in middle-income countries
Brian Lucas
11 May 2020
Download the slide deck
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