East Asia & Pacific

Australia

 

• Government Information

  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) information and support | 23 March | Australian Government - Department of Social Services

  • $1.1 billion to support more mental health, medicare and domestic violence services | 29 March | Australian PM

  • Economic Response to the Coronavirus | Australian Government
     

• News Article

  • Coronavirus in Australia: Renters experiencing hardship will be protected by a relief model | 20 March | News.au

  • Federal Government offers $130b in coronavirus wage subsidies for businesses to pay workers | 30 March | ABC News

  • Economic Response to the Coronavirus | 31 March | Australian Government

  • More casual workers may be included in $130bn job keeper coronavirus scheme | 05 April | The Guardian

  • Coronavirus stimulus: JobKeeper loophole means casual staff may not get $1500 | 06 April | news.com

  • The poor bear the burden of the coronavirus downturn, but inequality is not inevitable in Australia | 13 April | The Guardian
     

• ​Multimedia

  • ​JobSeeker payments and the approaching unemployment cliff | 22 May | Asia & the Pacific Policy Society
     

• Report

  • ​Partnerships for recovery: Australia’s COVID-19 development response | 29 May | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia
     

Cambodia

• News Article 

  • World Bank approves $20M to fight virus in Kingdom | 05 April | Phnom Phen Post

  • Officials aid poor in virus fight | 13 April | The Phnom Penh Post

  • Domestic workers struggling to make ends meet | 16 June | Khmer Times

  • COVID-19 aid given to Cambodians abroad | 18 June | Khmer Times

  • Getting help quickly to the very poorest | 24 June | Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit

  •  83,000 poor households to receive food assistance from WFP | 26 June | Khmer Times

  • COVID-19 leads to possible food crisis in Cambodia | 29 June | Khmer Times
     

China

• Blog

  • China’s COVID-19 Pacific diplomacy | 27 May | Devpolicy
     

• Brief 

  • Issue Brief - Universal Basic Income – Findings from China & Implications for Responses in COVID-19 | April 2020 | UNDP
     

• Government Information

  • Govt policy moves from past week | 16 June | The State Council of the People's Republic of China
     

• News Article

  • China Focus: Job-hunting moves online to ease employment pressure amid epidemic | 20 March | XinHua News

  • China ups support to firms to ensure employment amid COVID-19 epidemic | 25 March | XinHua News

  • A slump exposes holes in China’s welfare state | 07 May | The Economist
     

Federated States of Micronesia

• Government Information
  • ATTENTION FSM CITIZENS STRANDED ABROAD: You Are Entitled to $1,000 Per Single Adult or $1,500 Per Family Application; Here’s How You Apply | 10 June | The National Government of the Federated States of Micronesia
  • ATTENTION FSM CITIZENS: Lost Your Job Due to COVID-19? Here’s How You Can Apply for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program | 17 June | The National Government of the Federated States of Micronesia
     

Guam

• News Article 

  • Coronavirus: Guam children get free Grab-N-Go meals starting Monday | 20 March | Pacific Daily News

 

Indonesia

• Blog 

  • Indonesia and COVID-19: KSBSI facilitates pre-employment card and SPMI assists returning migrant workers | 09 April | Asia Network on the Right to Social Protection

  • Life or livelihoods? Indonesia’s social policy response to COVID-19 | 01 May | Marco Schaefer

  • Adapting in the pandemic to provide water and sanitation to Indonesia’s rural poor | 02 June | The World Bank
     

• Brief

  • UN Women Indonesia COVID-19 Response | 11 June | United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
     

• News Article 

  • Social protection, food supply crucial to prevent unrest amid pandemic: Economists | 14 April | The Jakarta Post

  • Seniors left to face COVID-19 without social security | 26 April | The Jakarta Post

  • Indonesia: Health and social security in a pandemic | 04 May | Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
     

• Reports

  • Investing in People: Social Protection for Indonesia’s 2045 Vision | 20 May | World Bank Group
     

Japan

• News Article 

  • ¥200,000 cash payout eyed for households affected by virus | 03 April | The Japan News

  • Gov't to earmark ¥1 tril for reserve fund to fight coronavirus | 06 April | Japan Today

  • Japan offers $930 virus stimulus payment to all residents | 17 April | France 24

  • Declaring a National Emergency, Japan Responds with a Fully Universal 100,000 Yen ($930) Stimulus Check to All Citizens | 20 April | Basic Income Today

  • How to get the ¥100,000 coronavirus payout from the Japanese government | 21 April | The Japan Times

 

Fiji

• Blog
  • The Economic Impact of COVID-19 around the World: Remittances, Updated Growth and Poverty Projections, and the Reintroduction of Barter in Fiji | 21 May | Center for Global Development
     
• Op-Ed
  • Fiji civil society solidarity driving the COVID-19 humanitarian response | 04 June | Devpolicy

 

Maldives

• Brief
  • Rapid Livelihood Assessment: Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis in the Maldives | 28 May | United Nations Development Programme
     
• Government Information
  • ​Unofficial translation of the Statement delivered by His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, President of the Republic of Maldives, regarding the current outbreak of COVID-19 in the Maldives | 20 May | The President's Office of the Republic of Maldives

Malaysia

• Blog

  • Defending livelihoods in response to COVID-19 | 27 April | The World Bank 
     

• News Article 

  • Children and coronavirus: A social protection view | 25 March | Malay Mail
     

Myanmar

• Blog
  • LIFT and DSW announce USD9 million in COVID-19 cash support to mothers, pregnant women and social pension beneficiaries | 27 May | Livelihoods and Food Security Fund
  • Every action counts: How NGOs are supporting Myanmar’s displaced - Part 1 | 18 June | InterAction
     
• Government Information
  • Vice President U Henry Van Thio discusses post-COVID activities for PWDs | 09 June | President Office of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar
     
• News Article
  • ‘Leaving no one behind’ – Myanmar COVID19 Economic Recovery Plan | 30 April | Mizzima
  • Myanmar to provide social security benefits for workers amid Covid-19 shutdown | 30 April | The Star
  • Myanmar gov't provides social security benefits to COVID-19-affected workers | 26 May | XihuaNet
     
• Report
  • Coronavirus policy response needs and options for Myanmar | April 2020 | International Growth Centre
     

Nepal

• Brief
  • ​COVID-19 Socio-economic Survey Report - Humanitarian Response Team DCA Nepal Office | 17 June | DanChurchAid
     
• Multimedia
  • ​COVID-19 Pandemic and Migrant workers: the experience from Nepal | 24 June | International Labour Organization
     

New Zealand

• News Article

  • Working families, beneficiaries get boost from Government coronavirus package | 17 March | NZ Herald
     

• Op-Ed

  • Bigger payouts for Covid beneficiaries could end up benefitting everyone | May 2020 | The SpinOff

  • Covid 19 coronavirus: Who gains and who misses out on new $490 a week income subsidy | 26 May | NZ herald

  • Former Prime Minister of New Zealand has thrown her support a guaranteed minimum income | 26 June | Basic Income Today
     

• ​Website

  • ​Work and Income | New Zealand Government

 

Northern Mariana Islands

• Government Information 

  • PSS suspends meal distribution | 31 March | Saipan Tribune

 

Papua New Guinea

• Blog
  • How to spend K320m to support PNG agriculture, households and businesses | 18 June | Devpolicy
     
• Op-Ed
  • The impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods in Papua New Guinea | 12 June | Asia and the Pacific Policy Society
     
• Report
  • COVID-19 Multi-Sector Response Plan - Papua New Guinea Disaster Management Team (as of 21 May 2020) | 21 May | United Nations Country Team in Papua New Guinea
     

Phillippines

• Brief

  • BULLETIN: COACHING THROUGH CRISIS: Graduation in the Philippines during COVID-19 and beyond | April 2020 | BRAC
     

• News Article

  • PCCI proposes access to cash-transfer funds to provide relief for small firms | 18 March | Business world

  • A Philippine social protection and economic recovery plan | 22 March | Business World

  • Duterte gets powers to aid poor, health workers | 25 March | Inquirer.net

  • 18 million families to get cash aid under Philippines' coronavirus stimulus | 25 March | ABS-CBN News

  • PhilHealth to cover expenses of COVID-19 patients with unpaid contributions | 02 April | CNN Philippines

  • 4Ps beneficiaries in CV receive cash grants | 03 April | Philippines News

  • Philippines typhoon recovery, complicated by coronavirus concerns | 15 May | United Nations News

  • DSWD-11 to distribute SAP 2nd tranche this June | 25 June | Republic of the Philippines News Agency 
     

• Op-Ed

  • Ephemeral universalism in the social protection response to the COVID-19 lockdown in the Philippines | 26 June | International Institute of Social Sciences
     

• Reports

  • Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Situation Report 33 | 20 May | World Health Organization

 

South Korea

• Brief

  • Covid19: The experience of the National Pension Service of Korea (NPS) | June 2020 | National Pension Service of Korea
     

• News Article 

  • S. Korea to dole out relief cash fund based on health insurance | 03 April | The Korea Herald

  • ROK to Scale up Humanitarian Assistance over COVID-19 | 05 June | Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea

  • Emergency relief payments breathe life into domestic consumption | 12 June | Korea.net
     

• Op-Ed

  • South Korea’s Pension Fund to Adopt New Hiring Policy Amid Staff Exodus | 14 June | The Diplomat

  • South Korea Considering Universal Basic Income Post-COVID | 15 June | Basic Income Today
     

• Report 

  • Tackling COVID-19 Health, Quarantine and Economic Measures: Korean Experience | 31 March | The Government of the Republic of Korea
     

Timor Leste

• Government Information
  • Government initiates payment of monetary support to households in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic | 09 June | Government of Timor-Leste
     
• News Article
  • Governo inicia pagamento do apoio monetário aos agregados familiares no âmbito da pandemia de COVID-19 | 09 June | Government of Timor-Leste
     
• Op-Ed
  • Timor-Leste’s Coronavirus Response | 04 May | The Diplomat
     

Thailand

• Blog

  • The Thai economy: COVID-19, poverty, and social protection | 28 April | The World Bank
     

• News Article 

  • Govt plans more stimulus, monetary policy flexibility | 03 April | Bangkok Post

  • Covid-19 benefit boost sought | 07 May | Bangkok Post

  • Thailand ranks 8th for protecting children’s rights under pressure due to COVID-19 | 02 June | Pattaya Mail
     

Vietnam

• Brief

  • Income security during public health emergencies: the COVID-19 poverty trap in Vietnam | June 2020 | British Medical Journal Global Health
     

• News Article 

  • Meeting reviews implementation of social policies | 25 March | Viet Nam News

  • Government ready to sacrifice economic growth to protect public health: PM | 03 April | Viet Nam News

  • Coronavirus: How 'overreaction' made Vietnam a virus success | 15 May | BBC News
     

Regional

• Blog 

  • The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific: A Round-Up of Analysis from the Past Week | 08 April | Center for Global Development

  • Flattening the curve of COVID-19 | 13 April | United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

  • A “New Deal” for Informal Workers in Asia | 30 April | International Monetary Fund

  • How to protect Asia’s rapidly aging population from COVID-19 | April 2020 | Asia Development Blog

  • The need for universal basic income | 06 May | United Nations Development Programme

  • Women are key to an effective COVID-19 Pacific response | 20 May | Devpolicy

  • Women’s Unpaid and Underpaid Work in the Times of COVID-19 | 01 June | United Nations Women

  • Blog | Poverty and the pandemic in the Pacific | 15 June | Development Policy Centre
     

• Brief 

  • COVID-19 and the world of work: Social protection responses in Asia-Pacific | 25 March | ILO Social Protection Department

  • The Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Developing Asia | March 2020 | Asian Development Bank

  • COVID-19 and employment in the tourism sector: Impact and response in Asia and the Pacific | 24 April | International Labour Organization

  • COVID-19 in Emerging Asia: Regional socio-economic implications and policy priorities | 27 April | Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

  • COVID-19 Pandemic: A Brief Analysis of the Impacts on Employment, Government’s Initial Responses and Trade Union’s Actions in the Asian and Pacific Region | 05 May | International Trade Union Confederation

  • COVID-19 RESPONSE IOM Regional Office for Asia Pacific Situation Report 9 | 18 May | International Organization for Migration

  • The COVID-19 Outbreak and Gender: Regional Analysis and Recommendations from Asia and the Pacific | 19 May | CARE International

  • Socio-Economic Response to COVID-19 : ESCAP Framework | 20 May | United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

  • UNHCR Asia and the Pacific COVID-19 External Update | 27 May | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  • COVID-19 Emergency response Asia-Pacific Situation Report | 29 May | Plan International

  • COVID-19: Opportunities for Resilient Recovery | 29 May | United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

  • Asia and the Pacific: Weekly Regional Humanitarian Snapshot (26 May- 1June 2020) | 02 June | United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

  • UNHCR Asia and the Pacific COVID-19 External Update | 03 June | United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

  • ADRA Asia Regional COVID 19 Situation Report No. 09 - as of June 5, 2020 | 05 June | Adventist Development and Relief Agency International

  • COVID-19 Emergency Response: Asia-Pacific Situation Report | 12 June | Plan International

  • COVID-19 ADRA Asia COVID-19 - Situation Report #12 | 26 June | Adventist Development and Relief Agency
     

• Government Information

  • Partnering with our neighbours to respond to COVID-19 | 29 May | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ausatralia
     

• News Article

  • COVID-19 – the Pacific response: 20 May | 20 May | Asia & the Pacific Policy Society
  • Asia-Pacific nations commit the whole region to ‘defeat’ COVID-19 | 21 May | United Nations News
  • FAO warns multiple impact of viruses, plagues and economic damage will fuel hunger in Asia and the Pacific | 28 May | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • Scaling up social protection can build resilience to COVID-19 | 01 June | United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction
  • FAO calls for more innovative policies in Asia-Pacific to ensure food security and nutrition in the wake of COVID-19 | 22 June | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
     

• Op-Ed

  • Banned Travel Due to COVID-19 Could See Millions of Pacific Workers Slide Into Poverty: Report | 21 May | Global Citizen

  • Managing the Coronavirus: What the World Can Learn From Asia-Pacific Responses | 22 May | The Diplomat

  • End stigma and discrimination against migrant workers and their children during COVID-19 pandemic | 09 June | United Nations Children's Fund
     

• Report 

  • ​COVID-19 in Emerging Asia: Regional socio-economic implications and policy priorities | 27 April | Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development

  • Asian Development Outlook 2020: What drives innovation in Asia? | April 2020 | Asian Development Bank

  • East Asia and Pacific in the Time of COVID-19 | April 2020 | World Bank

  • COVID-19 Global Health Emergency Response - Asia-Pacific Region Situation Report | 12 May | World Vision

  • Pacific Humanitarian Team: COVID-19 Response Plan | 12 May | United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

  • Fast-Tracking the SDGs: Driving Asia-Pacific Transformations | 19 May | Asian Development Bank, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme

  • Fast-Tracking the SDGs: Driving Asia-Pacific Transformations | 20 May | United Nations Development Programme, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Asia Development Bank

  • UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Region - Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation Report No. 7 | 22 May | United Nations Children's Fund

  • COVID-19 Pacific Island Response Matrix | 02 June | Australian National University
     

• Statement

  • Joint Statement of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development – Mitigating impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups in ASEAN | 18 June | Association of Southeast Asian Nations

  • Keep the well-being of children of East Asia and Pacific at the centre of COVID-19 response and recovery | June 2020 | United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
     

• Website 

  • COVID-19 Economic Impact Assessment Template | 28 March | Asian Development Bank / ERCD

  • Asia Pacific COVID-19: Humanitarian Data Portal | 28 May | United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs