report September 10, 2021 Africa must produce its own vaccines WASHINGTON, DC – During the pandemic, wealthy countries led the way in rapidly developing and producing COVID-19 vaccines. The same countries then bought up and administered those vaccines to their own populations, and have even ordered boosters for already-vaccinated people. Meanwhile, many developing countries have not been able to deliver even one dose to most of their populations. ... By Brookings Institute, Op-Ed Brookings Institute
report September 10, 2021 Responding to risks of COVID debt distress Report by eminent experts offers recommendations to ensure governments emerging from debt distress can still invest in sustainable development.As many countries continue to face severe economic pressures from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the Consensus Building Institute (CBI) jointly convened the Roundtable on Responding to the Risks of COVID Debt Distress.The Roundtable convened eminent experts with direct experience in dealing with debt... By Brookings Institute, External Article Brookings Institute
report September 9, 2021 On space barons and global poverty On July 21, 2021, billionaire Jeff Bezos rocketed about 65 miles above the Earth’s crust. Another billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, did the same nine days before, but his vehicle could only climb to 53 miles—some do not consider that a space flight, really. Clearly, this was not the first time man ventured into space. However, in all earlier cases, explorers... By Brookings Institute, Post Brookings Institute
report September 8, 2021 Cash and the city: Digital COVID-19 social response in Kinshasa As COVID-19 spread across the world, governments responded with an unprecedented increase in social assistance measures. Policymakers had to shift their focus to urban areas, particularly slums, whose residents were hit the hardest by the pandemic and its economic impact. Social safety nets, traditionally targeting chronic poverty in rural areas, had to be reinvented overnight: The new objective was... By Brookings Institute, Post Brookings Institute
report September 8, 2021 Our last, best chance on climate The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that human existence is fragile and perilous. However, if we do not take action now against climate change, the damage could be even greater and more lasting than the effects of the pandemic. Decisions made now are crucial in shaping the future of people and the planet. We must not go back to the... By Brookings Institute, Climate Change Brookings Institute
report September 8, 2021 Debt service risks, Special Drawing Rights allocations, and development prospects On August 23, 2021, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) issued $650 billion equivalent in new Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to its members. The SDRs do not change any country’s net wealth—each country has a liability that exactly equals the new assets it has been issued—but they do represent a sizable injection of liquidity because the SDRs can be voluntarily... By Brookings Institute, Report Brookings Institute
report September 7, 2021 Why is blue-collar work still male-dominated? In the 20th century, women smashed glass ceilings across the world. But continued progress is not inevitable. Recent developments in the U.S. pose a stark warning: Abortion rights may be rolled back, and working-class women’s employment may be in jeopardy. In the U.S., female school leavers are stuck in poorly paid “pink collar” jobs: as social workers, secretaries, beauticians, retail... By Brookings Institute, Post Brookings Institute
report September 7, 2021 American leadership in advancing the sustainable development goals The sustainable development goals (SDGs) reflect a commitment to equity, justice, and environmental resilience. Across the country, Americans share this commitment as they build a transformative economic recovery out of COVID-19 that addresses the historic legacy of racial inequities and takes ambitious action on climate change. On Monday, September 20, the Center for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Foundation... By Brookings Institute, Event Brookings Institute
report September 3, 2021 Can national statistical offices shape the data revolution? In recent years, breakthrough technologies in artificial intelligence (AI) and the use of satellite imagery made it possible to disrupt the way we collect, process, and analyze data. Facilitated by the intersection of new statistical techniques and the availability of (big) data, it is now possible to create hypergranular estimates. National statistical offices (NSOs) could be at the forefront of... By Brookings Institute, Post Brookings Institute
report September 3, 2021 COVID-19 impacts on foreign direct investments in sub-Saharan Africa In June of this year, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) released its 2021 World Investment Report, in which it focuses on investing in a sustainable recovery from the pandemic. The report itself looks at how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted foreign direct investment globally and investment priorities for the recovery phase. The complex health and economic... By Brookings Institute, Post Brookings Institute
