Photo: World Bank / Sambrian Mbaabu
UNDP Eurasia/Karen Cirillo | The coronavirus outbreak has had a severe impact on economies across the world.
Humanitarian Response and Socio-Economic Impacts
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is attacking societies at their core, claiming the lives and the livelihoods of people. The potential long-term effects to the global economy and to those of individual countries will be substantial.
The United Nations and its global network of regional, sub-regional, and country offices working for peace, human rights, sustainable development, and humanitarian action (supported by established coordination mechanisms) will work with partners to ensure first and foremost that lives are saved, livelihoods are restored, and that the global economy and the people we serve emerge stronger from this crisis.
Projects Supporting Response to the Pandemic
Procurement Notices
Find contracting opportunities in Procurement Notices aggregated by United Nations Development Business from various international financial institutions. Projects financed in response to the pandemic include procurement of a wide array of goods and works including medications, medical supplies, construction of handwashing facilities, public awareness campaigns, information technology equipment, technology to monitor the Covid-19 vaccine stock, and other related projects.
Contract Awards
Contract Awards for implementation of projects financed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic allow subscribers to stay informed and monitor trends in their respective fields. Contract Awards include information that can assist businesses with identifying potential business partnerships and subcontracting opportunities.
Help Fight Against COVID-19
The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has ceased active fundraising, but donations to support WHO and its partners’ response efforts to COVID-19 and other health emergencies can still be made via the WHO Foundation. Contributions will directly support countries and communities with the greatest need to prevent, detect, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
United Nations Global Compact Response to COVID-19
As the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, the United Nations Global Compact is calling on business leaders everywhere to unite to support workers, communities and companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and providing guidance and support to companies everywhere.
United Nations Comprehensive Response to Covid-19
The COVID-19 pandemic is more than a health crisis; it is an economic crisis, a humanitarian crisis, a security crisis, and a human rights crisis. This crisis has highlighted severe fragilities and inequalities within and among nations. The UN Secretary-General has launched the 2021 update of the UN Comprehensive Response to COVID-19.
COVID-19 and the world of work | Country policy responses
During the initial phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, a number of countries and their social partners have implemented decisive measures to combat the spread of the disease, while ameliorating its pernicious effect on the economy and labour market.
Policy Brief: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19
We are facing a global health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the United Nations — one that is killing people, spreading human suffering, and upending people’s lives.
Policy Brief: The Impact of COVID-19 on Women
The year 2020, marking the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, was intended to be ground-breaking for gender equality. Instead, with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic even the limited gains made in the past decades are at risk of being rolled back.
UN: “Great finance divide” amid COVID-19 poses major setback for sustainable development
With spiking global food and fuel prices, UN fears conflict in Ukraine dramatically worsens the economic outlook and the risk of widespread debt crises.
Financing for Sustainable Development Report 2022
Developing countries still have to regain lost ground from the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, the 2022 Financing for Sustainable Development Report identifies a “great finance divide” – the inability of poorer countries to raise sufficient resources and borrow affordably for investment.
UN Business Guide on COVID-19
Business can play a vital role in response and recovery efforts in countries affected by COVID-19 first by protecting their staff, community and clients by prioritizing containment and following the recommendations of the national health authorities and WHO to contain the virus.
World Economic Outlook 2023
Global growth is projected to fall from an estimated 3.4 percent in 2022 to 2.9 percent in 2023, then rise to 3.1 percent in 2024. The forecast for 2023 is 0.2 percentage point higher than predicted in the October 2022 World Economic Outlook (WEO) but below the historical (2000–19) average of 3.8 percent.
Latest From Multilateral Development Banks
WBG’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
The World Bank Group is taking broad, fast action to help developing countries strengthen their pandemic response, increase disease surveillance, improve public health interventions, and help the private sector continue to operate and sustain jobs. The WBG committed over $200 billion, an unprecedented level of financial support, to public and private sector clients to fight the impacts of the pandemic.
COVID-19: ADB's Response
The Asian Development Bank is supporting its developing members in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic through finance, knowledge, and partnerships. See ADB’s business outreach efforts as well as data and guidance related to the sovereign operations procurement of goods, works, non-consulting and consulting services in response to COVID-19.
IDB Group in Response to Covid-19
The Inter-American Development Bank not only provides financial support to its member countries, but also provides them with knowledge and technical advice to help design and implement effective public policies. Resources can be found here not only from the IDB Group, but also from institutions at the forefront of the global fight against the virus.
AFDB's COVID-19 Response to Date
To support economic recovery, the African Development Bank has launched initiatives to help mitigate the economic and social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on livelihoods and African economies.
EBRD and the Coronavirus Pandemic
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development committed all our activity in 2020-21, worth €21 billion, to help their regions counter the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. EBRD shareholders approved response and recovery measures that significantly enhanced their original Solidarity Package.
CABEI Against COVID-19
In response to the global pandemic, Central American Bank for Economic Integration launches the Emergency Support and Preparedness Program for COVID-19 and economic reactivation of US$3.06 billion.
UNCTAD — Analysis and Resources
Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on trade and development: Lessons learned
VIEW REPORT
COVID-19 and International Sale of Goods: Contractual devices for commercial risk allocation and loss prevention
VIEW REPORT
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on trade and development: transitioning to a new normal
VIEW REPORT
Scaling up Voluntary Sustainability Standards through Sustainability Public Procurement and Trade Policy
VIEW POLICY
The Covid-19 Shock to Developing Countries
VIEW REPORT
Port Responsiveness in the fight against the “invisible” threat: COVID-19
VIEW REPORT
Investment Policy Monitor, No.35
VIEW REPORT
The coronavirus shock: a story of another global crisis foretold
VIEW REPORT
Global trade impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Epidemic
VIEW REPORTAdditional Resources
UN Coronavirus Portal
Be sure to get your facts from reliable sources. The UN offices, field missions, agencies, funds and programmes are providing new information as it becomes available.
COVID-19 Coverage from UN News
This page brings together information, guidance and news from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations regarding COVID-19 pandemic.