The pandemic has forced more than 100 million people into poverty and more than four billion have little or no social support, healthcare or income protection “when they so urgently need it”, he informed the annual International Monetary Fund () and World Bank event. “The () are at a real risk of failure. Solidarity is missing in action and a sense of injustice is spreading – creating a breeding ground for violence and conflict”, the UN chief said in his keynote speech. “People living in fragile and conflict-affected States are suffering most of all. We must fulfil the commitments we have made to change course”, he added.

Donning ‘crisis prevention lens’

Mr. Guterres welcomed the IMF’s , which he described as “a critical step to applying a crisis prevention lens” to the complex and multidimensional risks arising from the pandemic and its recovery, particularly for nations emerging from crisis and conflict.   “Fragility and conflict can only be addressed by macroeconomic policies that promote inclusive growth and resilience, centred on a transition to stability and the ”, he said.

‘Moral outrage’

Turning to vaccine inequality (inequity?), the UN chief called it “a moral outrage that is condemning the world to millions more deaths and prolonging an economic slowdown that could cost trillions of dollars, hitting the poorest countries hardest of all”. He upheld the need for a “bold collective push” to end the pandemic, and deliver a sustainable, inclusive global recovery – with a global vaccination plan that reaches everyone, everywhere.  Meanwhile, he recalled that as part of the World Health Organization’s () – designed to get vaccines into the arms of 40 per cent of the world by year’s end and 70 per cent by mid-2022 – countries affected by crisis would require “targeted” investments in local vaccine mechanisms and capacities for quick and fair delivery as wells as to strengthen health systems and help prevent future pandemics.

Recovery that benefits all

The top UN Official saw three areas for a recovery that benefits everyone, including the most fragile States, beginning with scaling up investments in short-term crisis relief and long-term recovery. “The G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into next year and expanded to include middle-income countries” along with a comprehensive strategy on reforming the international debt architecture, he said. “No country should be forced to choose between servicing its debt and serving its people”. Secondly, Mr. Guterres advocated for supporting crisis-affected Governments by significantly investing in universal social protection by 2030 and re-skilling and up-skilling programmes. The aims to create 400 million new jobs in the green and care economy by 2030, and to extend social protection to the four billion still left unprotected. And finally, to achieve an urgent breakthrough, the international community must “lead from the front” by working in close solidarity across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus towards common goals. “There is room to strengthen our joint work in prevention and peacebuilding, for example, by facilitating exchanges, sharing analytics and seeking entry points to support inclusive national priorities”,  the UN chief elaborated. 

Time to act

In closing, he spelled out: “Now is the time for action”. “With greater engagement and collaboration, we can support the most fragile States affected by conflict and crisis towards a better, more peaceful and prosperous future”.

The pandemic has forced more than 100 million people into poverty and more than four billion have little or no social support, healthcare or income protection “when they so urgently need it”, he informed the annual International Monetary Fund () and World Bank event. “The () are at a real risk of failure. Solidarity is missing in action and a sense of injustice is spreading – creating a breeding ground for violence and conflict”, the UN chief said in his keynote speech. “People living in fragile and conflict-affected States are suffering most of all. We must fulfil the commitments we have made to change course”, he added.

Donning ‘crisis prevention lens’

Mr. Guterres welcomed the IMF’s , which he described as “a critical step to applying a crisis prevention lens” to the complex and multidimensional risks arising from the pandemic and its recovery, particularly for nations emerging from crisis and conflict.   “Fragility and conflict can only be addressed by macroeconomic policies that promote inclusive growth and resilience, centred on a transition to stability and the ”, he said.

‘Moral outrage’

Turning to vaccine inequality (inequity?), the UN chief called it “a moral outrage that is condemning the world to millions more deaths and prolonging an economic slowdown that could cost trillions of dollars, hitting the poorest countries hardest of all”. He upheld the need for a “bold collective push” to end the pandemic, and deliver a sustainable, inclusive global recovery – with a global vaccination plan that reaches everyone, everywhere.  Meanwhile, he recalled that as part of the World Health Organization’s () – designed to get vaccines into the arms of 40 per cent of the world by year’s end and 70 per cent by mid-2022 – countries affected by crisis would require “targeted” investments in local vaccine mechanisms and capacities for quick and fair delivery as wells as to strengthen health systems and help prevent future pandemics.

Recovery that benefits all

The top UN Official saw three areas for a recovery that benefits everyone, including the most fragile States, beginning with scaling up investments in short-term crisis relief and long-term recovery. “The G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into next year and expanded to include middle-income countries” along with a comprehensive strategy on reforming the international debt architecture, he said. “No country should be forced to choose between servicing its debt and serving its people”. Secondly, Mr. Guterres advocated for supporting crisis-affected Governments by significantly investing in universal social protection by 2030 and re-skilling and up-skilling programmes. The aims to create 400 million new jobs in the green and care economy by 2030, and to extend social protection to the four billion still left unprotected. And finally, to achieve an urgent breakthrough, the international community must “lead from the front” by working in close solidarity across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus towards common goals. “There is room to strengthen our joint work in prevention and peacebuilding, for example, by facilitating exchanges, sharing analytics and seeking entry points to support inclusive national priorities”,  the UN chief elaborated. 

Time to act

In closing, he spelled out: “Now is the time for action”. “With greater engagement and collaboration, we can support the most fragile States affected by conflict and crisis towards a better, more peaceful and prosperous future”.

The pandemic has forced more than 100 million people into poverty and more than four billion have little or no social support, healthcare or income protection “when they so urgently need it”, he informed the annual International Monetary Fund () and World Bank event. “The () are at a real risk of failure. Solidarity is missing in action and a sense of injustice is spreading – creating a breeding ground for violence and conflict”, the UN chief said in his keynote speech. “People living in fragile and conflict-affected States are suffering most of all. We must fulfil the commitments we have made to change course”, he added.

Donning ‘crisis prevention lens’

Mr. Guterres welcomed the IMF’s , which he described as “a critical step to applying a crisis prevention lens” to the complex and multidimensional risks arising from the pandemic and its recovery, particularly for nations emerging from crisis and conflict.   “Fragility and conflict can only be addressed by macroeconomic policies that promote inclusive growth and resilience, centred on a transition to stability and the ”, he said.

‘Moral outrage’

Turning to vaccine inequality (inequity?), the UN chief called it “a moral outrage that is condemning the world to millions more deaths and prolonging an economic slowdown that could cost trillions of dollars, hitting the poorest countries hardest of all”. He upheld the need for a “bold collective push” to end the pandemic, and deliver a sustainable, inclusive global recovery – with a global vaccination plan that reaches everyone, everywhere.  Meanwhile, he recalled that as part of the World Health Organization’s () – designed to get vaccines into the arms of 40 per cent of the world by year’s end and 70 per cent by mid-2022 – countries affected by crisis would require “targeted” investments in local vaccine mechanisms and capacities for quick and fair delivery as wells as to strengthen health systems and help prevent future pandemics.

Recovery that benefits all

The top UN Official saw three areas for a recovery that benefits everyone, including the most fragile States, beginning with scaling up investments in short-term crisis relief and long-term recovery. “The G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into next year and expanded to include middle-income countries” along with a comprehensive strategy on reforming the international debt architecture, he said. “No country should be forced to choose between servicing its debt and serving its people”. Secondly, Mr. Guterres advocated for supporting crisis-affected Governments by significantly investing in universal social protection by 2030 and re-skilling and up-skilling programmes. The aims to create 400 million new jobs in the green and care economy by 2030, and to extend social protection to the four billion still left unprotected. And finally, to achieve an urgent breakthrough, the international community must “lead from the front” by working in close solidarity across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus towards common goals. “There is room to strengthen our joint work in prevention and peacebuilding, for example, by facilitating exchanges, sharing analytics and seeking entry points to support inclusive national priorities”,  the UN chief elaborated. 

Time to act

In closing, he spelled out: “Now is the time for action”. “With greater engagement and collaboration, we can support the most fragile States affected by conflict and crisis towards a better, more peaceful and prosperous future”.

The pandemic has forced more than 100 million people into poverty and more than four billion have little or no social support, healthcare or income protection “when they so urgently need it”, he informed the annual International Monetary Fund () and World Bank event. “The () are at a real risk of failure. Solidarity is missing in action and a sense of injustice is spreading – creating a breeding ground for violence and conflict”, the UN chief said in his keynote speech. “People living in fragile and conflict-affected States are suffering most of all. We must fulfil the commitments we have made to change course”, he added.

Donning ‘crisis prevention lens’

Mr. Guterres welcomed the IMF’s , which he described as “a critical step to applying a crisis prevention lens” to the complex and multidimensional risks arising from the pandemic and its recovery, particularly for nations emerging from crisis and conflict.   “Fragility and conflict can only be addressed by macroeconomic policies that promote inclusive growth and resilience, centred on a transition to stability and the ”, he said.

‘Moral outrage’

Turning to vaccine inequality (inequity?), the UN chief called it “a moral outrage that is condemning the world to millions more deaths and prolonging an economic slowdown that could cost trillions of dollars, hitting the poorest countries hardest of all”. He upheld the need for a “bold collective push” to end the pandemic, and deliver a sustainable, inclusive global recovery – with a global vaccination plan that reaches everyone, everywhere.  Meanwhile, he recalled that as part of the World Health Organization’s () – designed to get vaccines into the arms of 40 per cent of the world by year’s end and 70 per cent by mid-2022 – countries affected by crisis would require “targeted” investments in local vaccine mechanisms and capacities for quick and fair delivery as wells as to strengthen health systems and help prevent future pandemics.

Recovery that benefits all

The top UN Official saw three areas for a recovery that benefits everyone, including the most fragile States, beginning with scaling up investments in short-term crisis relief and long-term recovery. “The G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into next year and expanded to include middle-income countries” along with a comprehensive strategy on reforming the international debt architecture, he said. “No country should be forced to choose between servicing its debt and serving its people”. Secondly, Mr. Guterres advocated for supporting crisis-affected Governments by significantly investing in universal social protection by 2030 and re-skilling and up-skilling programmes. The aims to create 400 million new jobs in the green and care economy by 2030, and to extend social protection to the four billion still left unprotected. And finally, to achieve an urgent breakthrough, the international community must “lead from the front” by working in close solidarity across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus towards common goals. “There is room to strengthen our joint work in prevention and peacebuilding, for example, by facilitating exchanges, sharing analytics and seeking entry points to support inclusive national priorities”,  the UN chief elaborated. 

Time to act

In closing, he spelled out: “Now is the time for action”. “With greater engagement and collaboration, we can support the most fragile States affected by conflict and crisis towards a better, more peaceful and prosperous future”.

The pandemic has forced more than 100 million people into poverty and more than four billion have little or no social support, healthcare or income protection “when they so urgently need it”, he informed the annual International Monetary Fund () and World Bank event. “The () are at a real risk of failure. Solidarity is missing in action and a sense of injustice is spreading – creating a breeding ground for violence and conflict”, the UN chief said in his keynote speech. “People living in fragile and conflict-affected States are suffering most of all. We must fulfil the commitments we have made to change course”, he added.

Donning ‘crisis prevention lens’

Mr. Guterres welcomed the IMF’s , which he described as “a critical step to applying a crisis prevention lens” to the complex and multidimensional risks arising from the pandemic and its recovery, particularly for nations emerging from crisis and conflict.   “Fragility and conflict can only be addressed by macroeconomic policies that promote inclusive growth and resilience, centred on a transition to stability and the ”, he said.

‘Moral outrage’

Turning to vaccine inequality (inequity?), the UN chief called it “a moral outrage that is condemning the world to millions more deaths and prolonging an economic slowdown that could cost trillions of dollars, hitting the poorest countries hardest of all”. He upheld the need for a “bold collective push” to end the pandemic, and deliver a sustainable, inclusive global recovery – with a global vaccination plan that reaches everyone, everywhere.  Meanwhile, he recalled that as part of the World Health Organization’s () – designed to get vaccines into the arms of 40 per cent of the world by year’s end and 70 per cent by mid-2022 – countries affected by crisis would require “targeted” investments in local vaccine mechanisms and capacities for quick and fair delivery as wells as to strengthen health systems and help prevent future pandemics.

Recovery that benefits all

The top UN Official saw three areas for a recovery that benefits everyone, including the most fragile States, beginning with scaling up investments in short-term crisis relief and long-term recovery. “The G20’s Debt Service Suspension Initiative must be extended into next year and expanded to include middle-income countries” along with a comprehensive strategy on reforming the international debt architecture, he said. “No country should be forced to choose between servicing its debt and serving its people”. Secondly, Mr. Guterres advocated for supporting crisis-affected Governments by significantly investing in universal social protection by 2030 and re-skilling and up-skilling programmes. The aims to create 400 million new jobs in the green and care economy by 2030, and to extend social protection to the four billion still left unprotected. And finally, to achieve an urgent breakthrough, the international community must “lead from the front” by working in close solidarity across the humanitarian-development-peace nexus towards common goals. “There is room to strengthen our joint work in prevention and peacebuilding, for example, by facilitating exchanges, sharing analytics and seeking entry points to support inclusive national priorities”,  the UN chief elaborated. 

Time to act

In closing, he spelled out: “Now is the time for action”. “With greater engagement and collaboration, we can support the most fragile States affected by conflict and crisis towards a better, more peaceful and prosperous future”.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.

aims to inoculate 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of the year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022.  had previously pressed governments to vaccinate 10 per cent of the world's people by the end of last month.  However, more than 55 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East, missed the target.  In remarks to the virtual launch, UN , who has been strongly advocating for a global plan, urged nations to unite and make it a success.  “Without a coordinated, equitable approach, a reduction of cases in any one country will not be sustained over time. For everyone’s sake, we must urgently bring all countries to a high level of vaccination coverage,” he speaking from New York. 

A ‘two-track pandemic’ 

As of Thursday, there more than 235.6 million confirmed cases worldwide, and close to five million deaths, according to latest WHO data.  The new strategy requires 11 billion vaccines to be made available, to defeat what the UN agency has labelled “a two-track pandemic”.   Even though nearly 6.5 billion doses have been administered globally as of the end of September, and almost one-third of the world’s population is fully inoculated, vaccine inequity persists.  “High and upper-middle income countries have used 75 per cent of all vaccines produced so far,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking from its headquarters in Geneva.  Meanwhile, less than half of one per cent of doses have gone to low-income countries. “In Africa, less than five per cent of people are fully vaccinated,” he added. 

Vaccines for all 

Global vaccine production currently stands at 1.5 billion doses per month, meaning “there is enough supply to achieve our targets, provided they are distributed equitably,” said Tedros.  “This is not a supply problem; it’s an allocation problem,” he added.  The strategy calls for a three-step approach to vaccination, starting with protecting older people, health workers and high-risk groups of all ages.  All adults in every country would be next, followed by adolescents.  While financing has been secured to procure most of the required vaccines for poorer countries, including through the solidarity initiative and the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT), additional investment is needed.   

‘We have the tools’ 

“We call on vaccine manufacturers to prioritize and fulfil contracts with COVAX and AVAT as a matter of urgency, to be more transparent on what is going where, and to share know-how and non-exclusive licenses to enable all regions to increase manufacturing capacity,” said Tedros.  Countries that produce vaccines should allow for cross-border flow of finished vaccines and raw materials, and facilitate sharing of knowledge, technology and licenses. Governments were also urged to update their national vaccine targets and plans “to guide manufacturing investment and vaccine distribution”.   Tedros said the strategy can be achieved if the countries and companies that control vaccine supply prioritize COVAX and the AVAT, both for vaccine delivery and donations.  “We have the tools to bring the pandemic under control, if we use them properly and share them fairly,” he said.