DevDispatch Recommends: September 2021 Publications
These September picks amplify how much the COVID-19 pandemic has penetrated and affected almost, if not all aspects of our lives, from trade, social protection, the global development goals, economic and forest recovery. We hope you find a publication that resonates in your line of work.
Happy Reading!
World Social Protection Report 2020–22
By ILO
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the world to take stock of the fairness of its policies and systems, including social protection. The report examines the global progress of social protection systems over the past decade, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reveals that although progress has been made, it is not nearly enough. As of 2020, only 46.9% of the global population were effectively covered by at least one social protection benefit, and only 30.6% of the working-age population are legally covered by comprehensive social security systems.
The report reveals five key messages:
1.The pandemic has exposed deep-seated inequalities and significant gaps in social protection coverage, comprehensiveness and adequacy across all countries.
2. Socio-economic recovery remains uncertain and enhanced social protection spending will continue to be crucial.
3. Countries are at a crossroads with regard to the trajectory of their social protection systems
4.COVID-19 provoked an unparalleled social protection policy response. Establishing universal social protection and realizing the human right to social security for all is the cornerstone of a human-centred approach to obtaining social justice.
The report is 318 pages long. Practitioners within the policy and social services space will benefit from this lengthy but worthwhile resource.
Review of forest and landscape restoration in Africa 2021
By FAO
Africa is home to the Congo basin, the second largest rainforest in the world and boasts significant forest ecosystems contributing towards essentials including food, fuel, shelter and freshwater. The report highlights concerns around the degradation and fragmentation of these key resources noting that every year, Africa loses 3 percent of GDP as a result of degradation, forest and land restoration. Above all, the report takes stock of the continent’s efforts towards restoration.
Some key success factors identified towards fruitful restoration include engaging key stakeholders on the ground including those living in rural areas who rely on forests and trees for food and energy. Access to finance is also essential in rural communities, who continue to use the environment beyond its capacity in the absence of alternative means for survival. Sharing experiences, lessons and successes is also cited as a key factor in providing inspiration as well as models for communities to replicate, scale up and multiply forest restoration efforts. The report also encourages communities to move away from isolated interventions and shift towards partnerships and collaboration as a way to connect different projects and efforts.
At 83 pages, the report is a quick read recommended for land and forestry policymakers, community leaders and officials.
Trade and Development Report 2021: From Recovery To Resilience: The Development dimension
By UNCTAD
The 2021 Trade and Development Report examines the current state of the global economy and its ability to bounce back following the unforeseen impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on economies. In a positive spin, global growth is expected to hit 5.3% in 2021, the fastest growth in almost half a century, with some countries restoring and in other cases surpassing their 2019 output level by the end of 2021.
The report also breaks down regional trends on recovery noting that in Africa, the pandemic brought about an unprecedented recession of 3.4% which wiped out years of development gains, and the continent is expected to grow by 3.2% in 2021. These developments threaten realisation of the SDGs.
The 89 pager is a great pick for financiers, fiscal policymakers and economists.
2021 Goalkeepers Report: Innovation and Inequity
By The Gates Foundation
The goalkeepers report keeps track of progress made towards achieving the sustainable development goals, zoning in on the first six including no poverty, zero hunger, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, good health and well-being. The report notes that despite the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development goals, innovation has played a key role in buffering some of those effects.
On poverty, the publication reports that an additional 31 million people around the world have been pushed into extreme poverty as a result of COVID-19 with the most vulnerable hit the hardest and likely to be the slowest to recover. With regards to education, it is noted that the pandemic has exacerbated education inequalities amongst marginalised groups and vaccination levels amongst children have also reduced significantly.
In conclusion, the report highlights and commends three innovative changemakers namely Strive Masiyiwa for his efforts in mobilising PPE, testing kits, and ventilators for Zimbabwean Citizens, Efe Osaren’s interventions to ensure safe childbirth amongst black mothers, and hosting virtual birthing classes to empower women through knowledge in America. Last but not least, Kuldeep Aryal is recognised for his efforts in using open source design to create medical supplies including face shields, goggles, handwashing stations and oxygen concentrators, for communities in Bangladesh.
The brief report offers 63 pages worth of valuable knowledge for health practitioners and policy makers.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
OECD Economic Outlook, Interim Report: Keeping the Recovery on Track
By OECD
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
OECD’s Economic Outlook Interim Report for September notes that economic growth has improved this year owing to strong policy backing. It also states that Global GDP has now surpassed its pre-pandemic level, but output and employment gaps remain in many countries, particularly in emerging-market and developing economies where vaccination rates are low. The 21 pager presents charts and tables breaking down output, wages and employment, as well as manufacturing and consumer price inflation in different countries.
The report notes that uneven global recovery is set to continue, fiscal policy support should be contingent on the state of the economy, macroeconomic policy support needs to be accompanied by effective and well-targeted structural reforms and clear forward guidance is needed to help maintain monetary policy accommodation.
This report is a recommended resource for economists.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Malawi Economic Monitor, December 2020 : Doing More with Less - Improving Service Delivery in Energy and Water
By the World Bank
The pandemic has induced a sharp recession in many countries across the globe. Malawi’s economy has been heavily affected, with growth projected at 1.0 percent in 2020, down from earlier projections of 4.8 percent. With population growth around 3.0 percent, this represents a 2.0 percent contraction in per capita GDP. Political stability has returned following the June 2020 Presidential elections, which should support investment. However, global and domestic factors emanating from the pandemic are affecting Malawi’s economy, including: 1) disruption in global value chains and trade and logistics; 2) decrease in tourism; and 3) decrease in remittances. This has combined with social distancing policies and behavior to also reduce domestic demand. The Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) provides an analysis of economic and structural development issues in Malawi. The publication intends to foster better-informed policy analysis and debate regarding the key challenges that Malawi faces in its endeavor to achieve high rates of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
The Mobile Gender Gap Report 2021
By GSMA
With digital transformation taking shape around the world, access to mobile phones and the internet continue to prove to be the gate key into the new digital era. Mobile phones are the primary way for most of the population to access the internet in low and middle income countries. More and more people are getting connected everyday however there is a noticeable gender gap as women are getting left behind due to various reasons such as lower incomes, lower literacy rates. Even women who have experienced similar levels of education and income too. Men are still less likely to own a mobile phone.
This report reviews the barriers women face in adopting the internet and owning a mobile phone compared to the barriers faced by men. This topic is of importance as the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need to be digitally connected for work, education and social wellbeing. There is a clear need to focus on gender equality when reaching women at an organisational and policy level.
This report lays out recommendations for mobile operators, internet companies, policymakers and regulators as well as the development community at large, and should be a quick read for all at only 63 pages.
Global SDG Accountability Report
By the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network.
This report serves to ascertain the level of accountability for the Sustainable Development Goals at a subnational, national and international level. Information gathered from the SDG Accountability Survey serves as the basis of this report by collecting reflections and inputs from stakeholders around the world.
Split into four sections the report looks at:
1. The foundations of the 2030 Agenda – which explains and contextualises the SDGs;
2. A snapshot of SDG accountability – which outlines the challenges being faced by stakeholders in implementing the SDGs especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
3. Building a Global Multistakeholder Movement for SDG Accountability – which focuses on case studies of different stakeholders and their role in accountability and how they can improve accountability
4. Recommendations to Advance Accountability for the SDGs & the 2030 Agenda – which summarises the findings of the report and provides recommendations for specific stakeholders.
This report is an asset for the media, parliamentarians and national human rights institutions. It’s 101 pages but is organised such that it can be read in sections relevant to the information you are looking for.
The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Education, Livelihoods & Food Security Status: Policy Implications For Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
By P. Tamasiga, A.T. Guta, H. Onyeaka, H. Nkoutchou and M.S. Kalane.
Sub-Saharan countries were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 as they were already experiencing weak health care systems, low financing for testing and very few resources for response measures. This data-driven report outlines the key trends of the COVID-19 pandemic by region, highlighting case trajectories, lockdown and containment measures, economic impacts, education impacts and health impacts. South Africa still accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths followed by Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Along with containing COVID-19, Central Africa is still facing the additional challenges of pre-existing health concerns, especially malaria.
The policy implications are focussed on supply chains, trade and market access, food and agricultural production, misinformation and the media, health, education and strategic communication. Sub-Saharan Africa has already been deemed to be the most at risk for food insecurity and this is expected to increase 2.5 fold.
Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021
By WHO
This report looks into how effective the strategies planned for 2016-2021 have been in the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Progress has indeed been made despite the disruption of the global pandemic but in the same breath, there are still many targets that have not been reached. The number of new HIV infections has fallen by 23% to its lowest rate since 2010 with 1.7 million new infections in 2019 however this is far from the target of only 500 000 new infections.
Stigma and lack of resources to implement people-centred policies and services still remain the largest hindrance. COVID-19 severely affected the ability for people to get tested easily. This report analyses the success and shortfalls of each WHO region. The report recommends that the only way to try and get back on track is for governments to collaborate their efforts into universal health care systems beneficial for the most vulnerable.
This report is targeted at anyone who works with marginalised communities of people infected by HIV, hepatitis or any STIs and is also a good read for health care workers and policy makers. It is moderately long at 108 pages.
Mainstreaming gender in urban public transport
By Stockholm Environment Institute
Africa is the fastest urbanizing continent, yet walking still remains the most affordable mode of transport in urban areas. This is due to a lack of service provision. There is also a large gender inequality problem when it comes to transport both in operation and in use. This report seeks to shed light on the under researched matter of women’s participation in transport decision making and their use of public transport systems.
The report uses the case studies of Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala by interviewing all members of society from taxi drivers to policy makers in the ministries of transport and transport planners. The report identifies accessibility and safety of public transport systems, sexual assault and harassment, lack of integrated and gender sensitive urban planning and underrepresentation as larger barriers towards gene=der mainstreaming in transport.
This report is the perfect short read for city and transport planners at only 40 pages.
Terrorism in the Sahel Facts and Figures
By NATO Strategic Direction- South, ACSRT
The fight against terrorism in the Sahel is still a major issue that deserves attention as the number of terrorist attacks has increased by 18.5% in 2020. This report analyses current and past data to show a conclusive analysis on the rate of terrorism. The largest threats come from the following terrorist groups Boko Haram, ISGS, JNIM and ISWAP and the most affected countries are Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
This analysis is taken in the form of quantitative analysis with a lot of informative graphs and infographics as well as qualitatively by looking at the types of attacks. The report concludes that 2020 has been the most intense year in terms of terrorism in the Sahel.
This report is target to all members defence ministries and counter-terrorism organisations. It is a very brief read with only 37 pages.