3.7 Expert panel discussions and closing remarks

Go back to the OC Social protection responses to COVID-19 [Task force]

3.7.1 - Expert panel discussion 1: Implications of the COVID-19 crisis for the future of adaptive and shock-responsive social protection

This panel discussed what needs to be done to ensure that social protection programmes and systems are better prepared and ready to respond to systematic crises and shocks in the future – acknowledging the unprecedented role social protection has played in this crisis. Speakers argued that the countries best positioned to respond were those with stronger systems – meaning that building core programmes that work together across social insurance and assistance is a fundamental ‘step zero’. These programmes might be further improved if they use the crisis as an opportunity to address gaps (in terms of coverage, adequacy, comprehensiveness, etc.) and strengthen delivery systems, capacity and overall ‘preparedness’ – based on an understanding of the typical shocks countries are vulnerable to. Social protection is ultimately about addressing poverty and vulnerability, no matter how this emerges, and this includes building resilience to – and responding to covariate shocks alongside other sectors with this mandate!

Speakers: Thomas Bowen, Clare O'Brien, Patricia Miarisoa Rakotonirina, Bapak Maliki, Francesca Bastagli

Moderator: Rodolfo Beazley

Recordings:

Link to the recording

Link to the recording in Spanish

Link to the recording in French

3.7.2 - Expert panel discussion 2: Implications of the COVID-19 crisis for universal social protection

This panel focused on ways to sustain the social protection responses that have emerged during this crisis in the long term. It also stressed the stark differences across countries and regions - lower-income countries invested far less resources, countries lacking social protection systems were unable to respond at scale and in a timely manner, etc. In this sense, COVID-19 has been a ‘big revealer’. Speakers debated about how to best ensure equitable access to comprehensive risk coverage for the entire population through a coherent system in the future with a particular focus on those who have been consistently ‘left out’ - informal workers. A fruitful discussion ensued about how this system could be financed, with a strong call to avoid “stumbling through this crisis, leaving ourselves exposed and unprepared for future shocks”, and to fight the temptation to fall into an austerity trap by embracing more sustainable and equitable domestic financing for social protection.

Speakers: Michal Rutkowski, Shahrashoub Razavi, Natalia Winder Rossi, Rachel Moussié, Juan M. Villa

Moderator: Fabio Veras Soares