The IPC-IG participated in a webinar on social protection responses to COVID-19

By IPC-IG

 International Forum on innovation in agri-food systems to achieve SDGs

 

 

On 9 July, Research Coordinator Fábio Veras (IPC-IG) participated in the “International Forum on innovation in agri-food systems to achieve SDGs” as a speaker in the webinar “Innovation on social protection in response to COVID-19 in the NENA region: building on best practices cases”. The forum was organised by FAO, together with the FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa (NENA), the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other international organisations.

Veras provided an overview of the social protection responses to COVID-19 around the world and in the NENA region specifically, starting with the role of social protection systems in the context of the pandemic and their relevance, especially in informal sectors, in supporting households to afford basic needs while allowing them to comply with containment measures; ensuring access to health care and adequate treatment; stabilising economies; and preserving solidarity and social cohesion.

He also presented key features of shock-responsive social protection systems, a global overview of the growing number of measures being announced and implemented, and how governments are using digital means for registration and payment of beneficiaries.

Some key questions were brought up, such as how these innovations can contribute to strengthening existing social protection systems; how to speed up the eligibility verification processes; and how to face challenges such as digital exclusion and reaching coverage in remote areas.