ECOSOC Informal Briefing - Joining Forces: Effective Policy Solutions for Covid-19 Response

ECOSOC Informal Briefing – Watch live on UN Webcast (http://webtv.un.org) on Monday, 11 May at 10 a.m. EDT

"At this time of great uncertainty and global disruption, it is clear we need a coordinated international effort in the spirit of multilateralism."  ECOSOC President, H.E. Ambassador Mona Juul. 

The President of the Economic and Social Council, H.E. Ambassador Mona Juul, is convening an informal ECOSOC Briefing on “Joining Forces: Effective Policy Solutions for Covid-19 Response” on 11 May 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on a virtual platform.

The briefing will bring together the leadership and expertise of the wider UN system, including the normative and analytical work of the UN specialized agencies, to discuss policy solutions that countries can use to combat the pandemic, preserve advances made and get back on track towards the SDGs.

This briefing will have as a framework the recommendations contained in the report of the Secretary-General.  It will have the format of a roundtable with short interventions of heads of UN entities.  It will be organized with the virtual participation of the Member States and other stakeholders.

SOURCE: UN ECOSOC EVENTS

THE STATE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA LAUNCHES A GLOBAL FOOD BANK TO FIGHT THE CORONAVIRUS

Nina Womack of Let’s Be Whole preparing a food bank in Los Angele

To fight against the COVID-19 epidemic, the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) is proud to bring a new program called the SOAD Global Food Bank. The initiative is coordinated by Nina Womack, Member of the Parliament of the SOAD in the United States, and includes other Members of Parliament as well as Ambassadors from the USA, Haïti, Honduras, Panama, Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, South Africa, Uganda, and Italy.

Gemma Vecchio distributing food in Italy

Various members of SOAD already were operating food insecurity programs in their different countries and they have now decided to coordinate their efforts to act on an international scale. That is why they are requesting governments, food companies, NGOs, and individuals to help them help the world through these efforts.

“Public health officials recognize there’s a higher risk of food insecurity among people of color caused by structural racism and discrimination. Our mission is to offer solutions by connecting these vulnerable populations to existing food and nutrition hubs during this crisis. The right to adequate, nutritious food is a human rights issue, therefore, SOAD is committed to ensuring that the African diaspora is sustainable and fed,” said Nina Womack who runs a food bank in Los Angeles, California.

Food distribution in Panama

“The quarantine was designed by and for people working in offices who can work from home remotely and still receive their regular salaries. But for many others, the situation is different. Quarantine means no work, no money, hence no food. So in Africa, the health crisis could lead to a deeper food crisis,” said Louis-Georges Tin, the Prime Minister of the SOAD.

The People of African Descent in the world are particularly exposed to this problem. Figures show that black populations in the United States are 6 times more likely to die from Covid-19. But though we do not have the details, the situation is probably very difficult also for African migrants in Europe or Black landless peasants in Latin America. “The COVID-19 situation has affected our nation’s health and economic well-being in different forms and degrees,” explained SOAD MP, Melvin Brown from Panama. That is why the State of the African Diaspora is working in cooperation with different partners around the world to prevent the crisis from getting even worse for People of African Descent.

ABOUT SOAD:
The State of the African Diaspora was formed in 2018 during the Summit of the African Union to reinforce Africa through the Diaspora, and the Diaspora through Africa.

For more information and how you can help, please contact nina@letsbewhole.com or call (877) 594-1292. Visit the SOAD organization online at www.stateofafricandiaspora.com.

Webinar: Topic: Assessing Governments, UN, AU in the Fight Against Covid-19 w/The Lady B Bless Humanitarian Foundation, General Manager Elizabeth "Zionita" Ofori

GO GHANA INTERNATIONAL - G.G.I COVID-19 Webinar
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Topic: Assessing Governments, UN, AU in the Fight Against Covid-19

Join as @Go Ghana International-GGI on FaceBook

Date: Thursday 7th, May 2020
Time: 11:00 GMT

webinar “Integrating the 2030 Agenda into national plans and strategies: Considering COVID-19 response and recovery”,

You are invited to join the webinar “Integrating the 2030 Agenda into national plans and strategies: Considering COVID-19 response and recovery”, which will take place on Tuesday, 12 May and Thursday, 14 May, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. EDT.

The draft program for the webinar.

Integrating the 2030 Agenda into national plans and strategies:
Considering COVID-19 response and recovery

Although countries have made significant progress in translating the 2030 Agenda into national
policy frameworks, major gaps and challenges remain. In this regard, the 2030 Agenda calls on
countries to “develop as soon as practicable ambitious national responses to the overall
implementation of this Agenda. These can support the transition to the SDGs and build on
existing planning instruments, such as national development and sustainable development
strategies, as appropriate”

The gaps and challenges of integrating the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs into national policy
frameworks are leading to renewed interest in national development planning. Major
development challenges that countries are confronting, from the climate crisis and rising
inequalities to rapid technological change and protracted conflicts have also placed added
pressure on the need for innovative and integrated solutions. New and emerging challenges such
as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic are also affecting societies and economies at their
core, reversing development gains.

The aim of the webinar is to identify good practices and approaches for the integration of the
2030 Agenda into national development plans, national sustainable development strategies, and
related instruments, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the capacity
of countries to implement the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development.

PART 1
12 May 2020
9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (EST)

Introduction
Mr. Alexander Trepelkov, Officer-in-Charge, Division for Sustainable Development Goals,
DESA
Moderator: Mr. Amson Sibanda, Chief, National Strategies and Capacity Building
Branch, Division for Sustainable Development Goals, DESA
Topic 1: National planning – responding to changing circumstances
Topic 2: Integration at the country level: good practices and lessons learned, including
COVID-19 response measures

PART 2
14 May 2020
9:00 – 11:00 a.m. (EST)

Introduction
Mr. Amson Sibanda, Chief, National Strategies and Capacity Building Branch, Division
for Sustainable Development Goals, DESA
Moderator: Mr. Darren Swanson, Director, Novel Futures Corporation
Topic 3: Exploring interlinkages – informing plans and strategies
Topic 4: Institutions for integration and planning – key lessons learned

Please register here by 11 May: https://tinyurl.com/SDGsintegration
Connection details will be shared with registered participants.

Youth Webinar invitation: ‘’Sustaining Economy, Public Health and Environment for the future of humanity’’ in a current global pandemic

We are pleased to announce a youth Webinar jointly organized by Youth For Environment Education And Development Foundation (YFEED Foundation) and United Nations Major Group for Children and Youth (UN MGCY) entitled ‘’Sustaining Economy, Public Health and Environment for the future of humanity’’ in a current global pandemic. This online webinar will last One Hour and sixty minutes (1:30 hrs) and will start at 7:00 AM, Eastern Standard Time (EST) / 4:45 PM, Nepal Standard Time (NPT) on Thursday, 07 May 2020. 

Register online here: http://forms.gle/BnmcvKReHsCLNzMVA and check your email inbox for more details.

This webinar primarily targets youth from the Asia-Pacific countries, although all are welcome to attend during this scheduled time. Please kindly check the webinar’s event page for subsequent updates, including the full speaker’s list:

http://www.facebook.com/yfeed.org

For more information, you can contact: yfeed.org@gmail.com

Stay safe and sound. We shall overcome soon.