How to protect the poor in the time of COVID-19?

VoxDevTalk

Published 06.05.20
Photo credit:
World Bank/Sambrian Mbaabu

How can governments in developing countries best ensure widespread and effective social protection in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Audio file

In locking down large segments of society, governments across the world have a responsibility to support the poorest and most vulnerable. This applies to both developed and developing countries alike. In this VoxDev talk, Clement Imbert and Kate Orkin discuss the tools available to policymakers in developing countries that best mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on society’s most vulnerable. These include job retention schemes, low interest credit, and unconditional cash transfers. Governments must ensure that nets are cast wide enough in these types of social protection programmes.