The Impact of COVID-19 on Inclusive Development and Governance: Rapid and Post-Pandemic Assessment in the CLMV

Home
Research Centres

Development Economics and Trade

The Impact of COVID-19 on Inclusive Development and Governance: Rapid and Post-Pandemic Assessment in the CLMV

Project Description

In close coordination with local governments and organizations, the project will identify gender-sensitive policies and good practices from the macro to micro level that will support the recovery process and improve resilience among vulnerable women workers and micro, small, and medium enterprises. It will facilitate policy dialogue and coordination among researchers, policymakers, private sector actors, civil society, and women’s organizations in the response and recovery phases. Finally, it will enhance the capacity of the implementing consortium members to create partnerships, cooperation, and learning at the regional level with international dialogues, comparative research activities, and by engaging regional organizations.

Project Objective

The objectives are to:

(1) assess the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on socio-economic wellbeing of women, vulnerable groups (informal included) and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, focusing on women-led establishments; (2) examine policy measures and support for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient recovery; and (3) improve policy dialogue between researchers, private sector, women business associations, civil society organisations and policymakers in the Mekong subregion with empirical evidence generated under the project.

To achieve these objectives, our research questions are:

Pillar 1

Macro-economic responses

- RQ1: To what extent fiscal and monetary policies the government can/should adapt and adopt to respond and mitigate risks posed by Covid-19? To what extent are these policies gender sensitive?

- RQ2: How does the gender-sensitive and inclusive economy pathway look like in the Greater Mekong Subregion countries?

- RQ3: What is the impact of COVID-19 on cross-border trade and investment? And how does it affect supply chains (domestic, regional and/or global)?

Pillar 2

Social protection and MSMEs

- RQ1: How does the Covid-19 pandemic affect micro, small and medium enterprises?

- RQ2: What is the impact of COVID-19 on women’s employment, income, labour mobility and unpaid care work?

- RQ3: What are the options for immediate employment and social policy responses in supporting workers, mostly female and informal, and MSMEs in the fight against COVID-19?

Pillar 3

Governance and coordination

- RQ1: What is the existing coordination mechanism in the implementation of the policy responses by the government?

- RQ2: What are the gender mainstreaming mechanisms that are put in place by the government in the pandemic time?

- RQ3: What is the impact of COVID-19 on democratic governance and political participation in the light of upcoming elections in November 2020? (Specific for Myanmar)

Gender Analysis and Strategy

Considering the tremendous social and economic impact Covid-19 has on women and girls, gender-sensitive analysis is at the top of project priority. In hoping to understand such impacts and to be able to provide a gender-sensitive policy recommendations, gender-disaggregated analysis is incorporated as much as the framework and data allows. Table below summarizes the Gender Analysis and Strategy.

Research Process	Analysis and Strategy
Research Analysis	Gender-disaggregated measurements and indicators (non-exhaustive list) Fiscal and Monetary Policy Unpaid Care Work Labour/Export Market Income and Employment Business Food Security Education & Health Remittances Social Protection Coping Strategy
Research Implementation	Ensuring gender representation of research teams (at least 50% are female) Technical assistance provided by gender advisor at all level Engagement with relevant stakeholders specialized in gender

Targeted Audience

To make sure that the answers to these questions are responding to the current issues and needs, we seeks involvement and cooperation from relevant stakeholders, both governmental and non-governmental. The prioritized government ministries include Economy and Finance; Commerce; Labour and Vocational Training; Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries; and Women’s Affairs. Local association and organisations such as informal economy association, labour association, trade unions, and women association are also targeted.

Project Leader