The Covid-19 crisis: Portal or dead end? - Eurodad Policy Forum 2021 Opening Webinar

The prolonged Covid-19 crisis has exacerbated inequalities between countries, social groups as well as gender inequality. The pandemic continues to strain the capacities of many countries, particularly of those with already high levels of debt at the start of the pandemic, those most vulnerable to climate change, and those with weak health systems and public investment in social safety nets. This has made the discussion about a post-Covid, climate- and gender-just and equitable world more complex.

Whether in the form of the Debt Servicing Sustainability Initiative (DSSI), the Common Framework for Debt Treatments, the Inclusive Framework on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (also taking note of the recent EU directive which aimed to increase company transparency and reduce tax dodging) , the Bretton Woods Institutions’ Green, Resilient and Inclusive Recovery proposals, or the (ongoing negotiations of the) COP26 outcome, the global response shows a lack of ambition to tackle the root causes of the ongoing debt crisis, illicit financial flows and inadequate development and climate finance.

Taking place back-to-back with COP26 and soon after G20, the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF, the G20 Summit, UNCTAD 15 and the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, this webinar is meant to take stock of the situation and be a call to action for the next year and beyond.

At the Forum we will consider the questions:

• How will low and middle income countries secure the financial resources needed to ensure a just and sustainable post-Covid-19 world? What lessons from previous crises can be learned to better address the current situation?
• How is the debt crisis affecting climate and development finance? What are the alternatives?
• Why has the global response been so weak? What opportunities exist/can be created to address the financial dimensions of the multiple crises?
• What global governance do we need?

Speakers:

• Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, UNAIDS
• Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator, Asian Peoples' Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD)
• Manon Aubry, Member of the European Parliament
• Hannah Brejnholt, Oxfam IBIS, Chair of Eurodad

This opening webinar will take place on 22 November, 14:00-15:30 Central European Time (CET) / 13:00-14:30 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) / 08:00-09:30 Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Interpretation will be available in Spanish and French.