A combination of enhanced social protection investment, government guarantees to catalyse liquidity support for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) and the establishment of a shelter for victims of gender based violence will be key to helping to ensure that Anguilla can weather the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These actions are among the several recommendations contained in a new UN report on the Human and Economic Impact (HEAT) of the COVID-19 pandemic. The new report models a series of possible impacts on economic growth, poverty and government finances and identifies and examines a range of relevant interventions that could help mitigate these effects.
The HEAT assessment report is the first in a series of publications from the United Nations Sub-Regional Team in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean which form part of the combined offer from the UN system to support counties in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme, UNICEF and UN Women, the new HEAT report series will cover 8 Eastern Caribbean islands, providing deep insights, strategic recommendations and a framework to promote relief and resilience.
The report for Anguilla concludes that while Government’s swift response has limited the domestic spread of the virus, projected declines in economic growth and increases in unemployment will contribute to decreases of as much as EC$66 million in public revenue as well as a projected increase in poverty of 5%. The report contains a range of other fiscal, regulatory and social policy proposals aimed at accelerating post-COVID-19 recovery and mitigating any lost progress toward Anguilla’s achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals.
The series will be released over the coming weeks, in parallel with the wider response of the UN under the 8-pillar Multi-Sectoral Response Plan (MRP) which is designed to foster international solidarity and to help mobilize financial resources to meet the needs of Barbados and Eastern Caribbean. These HEAT reports fall under the Economic Recovery and Livelihoods pillar, which is led by UNDP. The other key pillars include Health and Wellness, Food and Nutrition Security and Standards, Education, Social Protection, Gender Based Violence and, Violence Against Children, Human Rights and Logistics and Supply.
To download the full report, visit: www.bb.undp.org