The Build Back Better Agenda and COVID-19
This review focuses on multilateral and regional organisations to get a view of how BBB is framed and approached in relation to COVID-19
Abstract
The phrase ‘build back better’ (BBB) emerged from natural disaster recovery following the 2004 SE Asia Tsunami and the 2005 Pakistan earthquake. This rapid review focuses on a small number of multilateral and regional organisations to get a view of how BBB is being framed and approached in relation to COVID-19. United Nations (UN) reports are using the term ‘recovering better’. Discussions within the UN High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs on ‘recovering better’ are centred around challenges related to economic uncertainties; digitalisation; inclusive economic structures; sustainable financing for sustainable (and owned) development; bottom-up production structures for sustainable development; and equality and democracy. The OECD suggests that BBB should identify policy options that have positive outcomes for employment creation and better outcomes for long-term sustainability and resilience. The current UK government recovery strategy for the UK prioritises health first, protection and restoration of livelihoods second, and thirdly the social effects of social distancing
This report was prepared for the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and its partners in support of pro-poor programmes
Citation
Bolton, L. (2020). The Build Back Better agenda and COVID-19. K4D Helpdesk Report. Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies.