International Development Committee inquiry - Humanitarian crisis monitoring: coronavirus in developing countries: secondary impacts

1. Introduction

1.1.   Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development and humanitarian aid. As COVID-19 continues, we are supporting our members to adapt their programmes and operations and keep their staff safe and organisations secure.

1.2.   The number of cases and deaths in low income and fragile countries has not matched predictions.[1]. However, the secondary impacts - increased poverty and hunger, recession, loss of livelihoods, insecurity, increasing domestic violence - are readily apparent. Covid 19 is also damaging trust in state institutions, exacerbating pre-existing conflict and threatening minorities.[2]

1.3.   The UK’s response must be focused on reaching the most vulnerable and those excluded from response and recovery strategies. To ‘build back better’ the UK must collaborate with others to address the inter-linking crises caused and exacerbated by the pandemic – the humanitarian, socio-economic and the climate and environmental emergencies.

1.4.   In addition to this submission, Bond endorses the submissions from Action for Global Health and Gender and Development Network.

2. Non-coronavirus health care

2.1.   Amidst the pandemic, healthcare systems have struggled to maintain essential services including immunisations, infectious disease prevention and sexual and reproductive health, among others. This could lead to a rise in other diseases, as it did during the 2014–15 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, when access to health care services was reduced by 50%, increasing malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis mortality rates.[3] There are concerns that funds for already limited SRHR services will be redirected to the coronavirus health response.[4]

2.2.   The Guttmacher Institute estimate a 10 per cent decrease in sexual and reproductive health provision over 12 months which could lead to 49 million more women without modern contraception, 15 million more unintended pregnancies, 168,000 more newborn deaths, 29,000 more maternal deaths and three million more unsafe abortions.[5] Disruptions to antenatal care could increase maternal mortality further.

2.3.   The recent COVID-19 Disability Rights Monitoring Report highlights a concerning trend of denying basic and emergency healthcare, including worrying reports about the adoption of discriminatory triage procedures: In some cases, persons with disabilities were directly denied access to treatment for COVID-19 because of their disability.[6]

2.4.   Recommendation: As part of a holistic, rights-based approach to global health systems strengthening, the UK should:

• Maintain current ODA for non-Covid-19 health programmes, including sexual and reproductive health services.
• Increase financial and technical support to low income and fragile countries so they can build quality inclusive public health services, remove user fees and support healthcare worker training.

3. Economy and food security

3.1.   Economic performance

3.1.1 - As a result of the pandemic, an additional 25 million people could lose their jobs,[7] 19 million jobs could be lost in Africa alone.[8] According to the ILO, income loss for workers could reach $35 billion.[9] UNCTAD estimates foreign direct investment could shrink by 30-40% during 2020-1. Trade disruption and other economic impacts could cost Africa between $37 and $79 billion in 2020[10]. Covid-19 has disrupted exports, trade in commodities and remittances.[11] Lockdowns and social distancing measures have impacted livelihoods, with those in the informal sector most at risk. [12]

3.1.2. The World Bank estimated between 71 – 100 million people could fall into extreme poverty, the first increase in global extreme poverty since 1998.[13] UN Women and UNDP estimate the poverty rate for women will increase by 9.1 percent in 2021.[14] Save the Children and UNICEF estimate an addition 101-106 million children will live in poor households by the end of 2020.[15]

3.1.3. The impacts of the pandemic on health, incomes and hunger has highlighted the need for universal social protection. The UK should scale up financial and technical support for inclusive, universal social protection.[16]

3.2.   Food & Nutrition

3.2.1. The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing hunger crisis. 130 million more people predicted to become acutely food insecure due to the crisis[17]. 36 countries are at risk of famine[18]. More than 320 million children in 120 countries are missing out on meals due to school closures[19] More people are eating less, and less often, cutting back on meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, selling livestock or other assets, or going into debt.[20]

3.2.2. This requires immediate action to ensure people have enough to eat now and longer-term solutions to address chronic food insecurity.

3.2.3. Recommendation: At next year’s G7 and the UN Global Food System Summit and Nutrition for Growth Summit the UK should advocate for greater resilience to crises through the promotion and direct support for shorter, more resilient and locally owned supply chains and sustainable farming.

3.3.   Debt

3.3.1 According to UNCTAD, in 2020 and 2021 developing countries will pay up to $1 trillion in external debt servicing. The existing moratoria on debt repayment, even with the six-month extension, is not enough.[21] A fundamental restructure of global debt for the most highly indebted poor countries, including debt cancellation, is needed.

3.3.2 Recommendation: To support a sustainable, inclusive and resilient recovery, the UK Government should:

• Cancel all sovereign debt payments due to the UK in 2020-2021, as well as private debts managed under UK law.
• Work with others to remove restrictive loan conditions that prevent countries from focusing their resources on responding to the pandemic.
• Support the establishment of an ‘International Developing Country Debt Authority’ to help manage future debt crises.[22]

3.4.   Civic Space, Conflict and Peace

3.4.1. As economic impacts unfold, and populations become frustrated with their government’s response, authoritarian regimes have used the pandemic to justify discrimination and other repressive measures.[23] Evidence shows that civil society space is under increased pressure amid restrictions imposed to curb the pandemic.[24]

3.4.2. Recommendation: The UK Government should use the full range of diplomatic and development tools to support open societies during and after the pandemic. Increased support for conflict prevention, peacebuilding and human rights defenders will be crucial in the aftermath of Covid-19.

3.5.   The work of the International Development Sector

3.5.1. Covid-19 has created both a health and economic crisis, and as a result people are being pushed into extreme poverty.  The FCDO must urgently act on this and provide £200m for development programming for civil society so that we don’t lose the gains that have been made.

3.5.2. Many UK charities working internationally are experiencing a perfect storm with the drop in public fundraising, uncertainty over Brexit, the economic downturn, and cuts to the UK Aid budget. A recent survey of Bond members showed that only 52% can see themselves operating after 24 months[25] risking the relationships that they have built with local partners delivering on the ground.

3.5.3. UK charities working internationally were not eligible for any funding from the £750m charity support package announced in April 2020. Of the £750 million allocated to the international COVID emergency response,[26] only £20m is going to a select number of NGOs through the Rapid Response Facility (RRF). 

3.5.4. Recommendation: The FCDO must ensure that further funding to global response reaches local actors, who are the frontline responders, The UK Government should:

• Ensure future funding to the global response reaches local actors as directly as possible by prioritising direct funding modalities, making use of pooled funds and working with UN and other partners to improve transfer rates to local actors.
• Set up a £10 million transition fund to support small charities to adapt their business models

4. Treatment of women, and people with disabilities

4.1.   The pandemic is deepening inequalities. Women, minority groups, people living with disabilities are being left behind. Globally they have been excluded from responses to the pandemic, both in terms of reduced access to vital services and support, but also from the responses. All too often their voices are missing. 

4.2.   According to UN Women and UNDP, women will be disproportionately impacted by the growth in global poverty rates.[27] UNFPA predicts that the impact on women will be catastrophic.[28] School closures and reduced access to healthcare have increased the care burden which, in line with pre-existing gendered roles, has fallen more heavily on women. Women are also more likely to work in the informal economy or in precarious employment with no access to sick leave or benefits and at greater risk of jobless.

4.3.   There has been an increase in gender-based violence and sexual exploitation amidst the pandemic. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) estimates that domestic violence has increased globally by 20 per cent.[29] Estimates predict the impact of the pandemic may result in two million more cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) and 13 million more child marriages over the next decade.[30] At the same time, funding for and access to services have declined.

4.4.   Education across the world has also been disrupted. At its peak, COVID-19 resulted in 91% of the world’s children being out of school. Many of these children, especially girls and children with disabilities, may never return. The ODI estimates that 10 million more secondary school age girls could be out of school after the crisis has passed.[31] The loss of education, coupled with an expected global recession, threaten youth employment prospects.[32]

4.5.   Recommendation: The UK Government should:

• Build its response with a robust gender analysis of the crisis and response measures, including by carrying out meaningful consultation with local organizations, including women’s rights, children’s rights and disability rights organisations.
• Maintain, at a minimum, pre-pandemic levels of funding for gender-based violence services.