Recovery, Renewal, Resilience

Global distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine is essential to ensure that all lives are protected. As a result of vaccine shortfall, people in many parts of the world may need to wait up to three years to get the vaccine, during which time COVID-19 will continue to mutate and spread. In addition to protecting human life, global distribution of vaccines is required to protect the economy, which could be "deprived of up to 9.2 trillion dollars" if not (International Chamber of Commerce). Low and middle income countries are reliant on the work of COVAX to provide global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. However, mobilising the necessary support from donors is a challenge. "Greater public-private sector collaboration is required to ensure rapid and fair distribution". Many private sector companies are looking for ways to support the global vaccination effort but are unsure as to how exactly they can do this. The World Bank advises to consider:

• Aggregate funding to mobilize donors, e.g. introduce a pool fund or matching commitments, which can establish a coordinated approach from public and private donors and increase the number of and size of donations from diverse co-funders
• Establish "concessional financing" to support local businesses to develop and improve their service delivery and supply chains to better meet the needs of local vaccine programmes (e.g. small and medium sized businesses in disadvantaged sectors and locations)
• Introduce "results-based finance to improve accountability and outcomes per dollar spent on the vaccination support, as traditional grant funding is tied to inputs, not achievement of outcomes"

Engaging with art and culture can contribute to well-being, serenity and intellectual stimulation, and can help build resilience in the community. Consider:

• How to digitize as many cultural assets as possible to maintain public engagement with arts/culture
• That some organisations may have been negatively impacted financially and could benefit from operating online
• Providing national and local lists of available online arts and culture content
• Promotion of smaller independent venues, artists and collections

A number of countries and regions rely on a tourism industry to support cultural heritage and the arts. The closure of borders and internal movements within a country has disrupted tourist businesses such as accommodation facilities, travel agencies, tourist guides, service industries, and the arts. Consider how to:

• Encourage the enjoyment of cultural heritage in a way that is compatible with restrictions
• Create a dedicated website that lists all available arts and culture in the country or region such as Italy's "Culture does not stop" site
• Curate online exhibitions by gathering contributions from art historians, archaeologists, archivists, librarians, restorers, architects, authors, writers, actors, musicians, etc.
• Employ online guides or experts to provide 'tours' of cultural sites, museums, etc.
• Ensure content is regularly updated in the same way physical cultural experiences are

Universities have a positive impact on future regional growth of GDP per capita. In the UK, universities support community activity, work on an applied level with many smaller businesses, and students stimulate the local economy. Consider how to:

• Support existing university-business relationships and encourage new partnerships to benefit both parties
• Develop regional offices to help build local knowledge to identify and convey concerns of universities to national bodies. These may be co-located with other local partnerships and institutions
• Foster a bottom-up, local consensus across geographical areas that identifies the resources universities need from government
• Ensure that university cities are safe and secure places for students, and to be communicated as such
• Ensure that overseas students have access to health services as required

Local government should implement tax breaks for sectors that are most affected by the crisis such as tourism, restaurants and events.

Reference: Chief Resilience Officer, Italy