UN agency warns that billions lack social protection as COVID-19 deepens economic hardship
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and international development stakeholders have called for stronger social protection systems to shield the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people from the economic and social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The call was made during the 2020 United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development at a virtual event titled “Half the World: The Many Faces of Social Protection.”
According to data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) cited at the event, approximately 55 per cent of the global population lacked access to social insurance or social assistance, leaving billions of people exposed to economic shocks.
Joining the discussion from Lagos, Nigerian Afropop singer Yemi Alade highlighted the challenges facing vulnerable workers, particularly young self-employed women who are often the sole providers for their families.
“We are here to talk about half the world, the half that wakes up every morning to go to work despite and because of the global pandemic,” Alade said.
She drew attention to women who risk their health to earn a living and provide for their dependants, urging governments and development partners to ensure that vulnerable populations are not excluded from social support programmes.
“Let’s not let billions of the world’s poorest, most vulnerable people fall through the cracks in our society,” she added.
UNDP Calls for Urgent Intervention
The event was hosted by UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner, who stressed the need for coordinated action among governments and development partners to strengthen social protection systems.
Steiner warned against becoming accustomed to worsening poverty, hunger and unemployment, arguing that the scale of the crisis required urgent and sustained intervention.
“We cannot afford to become inured to poverty, hunger and jobs figures that keep getting worse. We cannot sleepwalk into a new normal. Unprecedented action is needed, and it is needed now,” he said.
He pointed to initiatives in developing countries that provide financial assistance, supplementary income, food and nutrition support, as well as care services designed to help working women.
According to Steiner, innovative approaches would be necessary to avoid a fragmented global response in which access to social assistance, social insurance and care services varies significantly between countries and communities.
He urged development stakeholders to share fresh ideas and build more integrated systems capable of reaching people who are most at risk of poverty and economic exclusion.
Governments and Development Experts Join Discussion
The event also featured contributions from government officials and representatives of international development organisations.
Among the speakers were Togo’s Minister of Postal Affairs and Digital Economy, Cina Lawson; Reema Nanavaty, Director General of the Self Employed Women’s Association; and Houlin Zhao, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union.
Guy Standing, a professor at SOAS University of London and co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network, also participated, alongside Guy Ryder, then Director-General of the International Labour Organization, who delivered a video message.
The discussions centred on the importance of expanding social protection coverage, particularly for informal workers, self-employed people and households whose livelihoods are vulnerable to major economic disruptions.
The initiative underscored the need for governments and development partners to build accessible and sustainable support systems to help vulnerable populations withstand economic crises and protect their livelihoods.
