ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/2020/Policy Brief.2
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Policy briefs
Cluster: Gender Justice, Population and Inclusive Development
Focus Area: Gender equality, Natural resource sustainability
Initiatives: Arab Forum for Sustainable Development
SDGs: Goal 1: No Poverty
Keywords: Covid-19, Food security, Poverty mitigation
Mitigating the impact of Covid-19: Poverty and food insecurity in the Arab region
April 2020
The economic slowdown caused by COVID-19 is expected to negatively impact jobs, incomes, business and the flow of remittances in the Arab region, resulting in a shrinking middleincome class. Consequently, an estimated 8.3 million people will fall into poverty, meaning that a total of 101.4 million people in the region will be classified as poor. The consequences of this crisis could be particularly severe on vulnerable groups, especially women and young adults, and those working in the informal sector who have no access to social protection and unemployment insurance. The challenge is further compounded by a lack of social protection floors and noninclusive social protection schemes in some Arab countries.
Related content
Gender equality
, Natural resource sustainability
,
The economic slowdown caused by COVID-19 is expected to negatively impact jobs, incomes, business and the flow of remittances in the Arab region, resulting in a shrinking middleincome class. Consequently, an estimated 8.3 million people will fall into poverty, meaning that a total of 101.4 million people in the region will be classified as poor. The consequences of this crisis could be particularly severe on vulnerable groups, especially women and young adults, and those working in the informal sector who have no access to social protection and unemployment insurance. The challenge is further compounded by a lack of social protection floors and noninclusive social protection schemes in some Arab countries.
