DOCSLIB.ORG

Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Covid-19 in Fiji

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Covid-19 in Fiji SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF COVID-19 IN FIJI FULL REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS JULY 202 0 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acronyms .................................................................................................................................. 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 7 Pillar 1: Health First – Protecting Health Services and Systems during the Crisis .............. 9 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Approach ......................................................................................................................... 9 1.3 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 10 Overview of Fiji’s health systems ........................................................................................................ 10 Health system COVID-19 preparedness and response ..................................................................... 13 Impact of COVID-19 on health financing ............................................................................................ 17 Impact of COVID-19 on service delivery and access to care ............................................................. 20 Scenario analysis of impact of COVID-19 in Fiji ................................................................................. 25 1.4 Policy options and recommendations ......................................................................... 30 Health financing .................................................................................................................................. 30 Service delivery and access to care ................................................................................................... 30 PILLAR 2: Protecting People – Social Protection and Basic Services ................................ 31 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 31 2.2 Approach ....................................................................................................................... 31 2.3 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 37 Poverty ................................................................................................................................................ 37 Health and access to healthcare services .......................................................................................... 39 Education ............................................................................................................................................ 42 Nutrition and food security .................................................................................................................. 43 Water, sanitation and hygiene ............................................................................................................ 45 Gender-based violence and violence against children ....................................................................... 47 Child labour and exploitation............................................................................................................... 48 Childcare and parenting ...................................................................................................................... 49 Mental health and psychosocial support ............................................................................................. 50 The urban poor and informal settlements ........................................................................................... 51 2.4 Policy options and recommendations ......................................................................... 51 Recommendations .............................................................................................................................. 51 Policy options: extending coverage of social protection programs ..................................................... 54 Impact on poverty ............................................................................................................................... 57 Impact on health outcomes ................................................................................................................. 59 Impact on education outcomes ........................................................................................................... 59 Impact on nutrition outcomes .............................................................................................................. 60 2 PILLAR 3: Economic Response and Recovery – Protecting Jobs, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, and Informal Sector Workers ............................................................................ 61 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 61 Pre-COVID-19 situation in Fiji (labour, tourism and the informal sector) ........................................... 61 Overview of immediate impacts in the tourism sector, labour markets and for unemployment ......... 68 ILO Policy Framework ......................................................................................................................... 69 3.2 Approach ....................................................................................................................... 73 3.3 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 75 Total businesses surveyed and overview of results ........................................................................... 75 Formal sector (FCEF survey).............................................................................................................. 77 Informal sector .................................................................................................................................... 78 Increase in informal economy bulge – the human factor impacting real people and livelihoods ....... 78 Emerging opportunities (gig, blue and circular economies) ................................................................ 80 Impact on employment by division, district and gender ...................................................................... 82 Key findings of the FTUC survey of 2,123 workers/members ............................................................ 83 4.3 Policy options and recommendations ......................................................................... 85 Stimulating economy and employment ............................................................................................... 86 Supporting enterprises, jobs and incomes .......................................................................................... 88 Protecting workers in the workplace ................................................................................................... 90 Relying on social dialogue for solutions .............................................................................................. 91 PILLAR 4: Macroeconomic Impacts and Policy Recommendations ................................... 93 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 93 Evaporation of tourism ........................................................................................................................ 96 4.2 Findings ......................................................................................................................... 97 Direct and indirect impacts.................................................................................................................. 97 Key risks and policy challenges .......................................................................................................... 98 4.3 Policy options and recommendations ......................................................................... 98 Health and social .............................................................................................................................. 100 Economic .......................................................................................................................................... 101 Environmental ................................................................................................................................... 102 PILLAR 5: Social Cohesion and Community Resilience .................................................... 103 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 103 5.2 Findings ....................................................................................................................... 103 Governance, structural vulnerabilities and inequalities .................................................................... 103 Social cohesion, cultural participation and community resilience ..................................................... 105 Cultural institutions, livelihoods and employment ............................................................................. 107 5.3 Policy options and recommendations ......................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Critical Importance of Expert Statistical Input
    Sent to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 18 August 2020 A proposal to enhance Australia’s capability to manage epidemics The critical importance of expert statistical input 1 2 Nicholas Fisher and Dennis Trewin Executive summary Given the high level of global mobility, pandemics are likely to be more frequent, and with potentially devastating consequences for the Australian community and its way of life. Whilst parts of Australia are experiencing a second wave of COVID-19, the country is in relatively better shape than most others. The number of people who have died or been seriously ill as a consequence of the virus, whilst tragically high, is nonetheless comparable with most of the best-performing countries. That said, we believe there is a critical need for strategic statistical oversight of the whole process of anticipating, managing and learning from the current pandemic to improve the quantitative information and advice provided to policy makers. This proposal outlines quantitative aspects of a plan to enable Australia to deal more efficiently and effectively with future such events, thus enhancing both the social and the economic welfare of its people. Indeed, expeditious action may well assist materially in managing possible future waves of the current pandemic, and its aftermath. A dispassionate assessment of Australia’s health and economic response to the pandemic over the last six months reveals some very significant inadequacies in the data, statistical analysis and interpretation used to guide Australia’s preparations and actions. Data to answer some of the most basic of questions about prevalence in population have not been available and remain unavailable.
    [Show full text]
  • National Covid-19 Coordination Commission (Nccc)
    25th May 2020 Senator Katy Gallagher, Chair Select Committee on COVID-19 ℅ Committee Secretary Dear Senator Gallagher and Members of the Select Committee on Covid-19, I am writing to the Select Committee on COVID-19 as an Australian citizen. I have focussed my submission on my concerns regarding potential financial conflicts of interest in the Australian Government’s Covid-19 advisors. Please note that this submission contains excerpts from an extensive report I have published, entitled ‘Covid-19: Plandemic Profit.Fallout1.’ NATIONAL COVID-19 COORDINATION COMMISSION (NCCC) EXECUTIVE BOARD In March 2020, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the creation of the ‘National Covid-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC). “An Executive Board of Commissioners, will advise the Prime Minister on all non-health aspects of the pandemic response… [the Board will] coordinate advice to the Australian Government on actions to anticipate and mitigate the economic and social effects of the global coronavirus pandemic…. This is about working cooperatively across private-to-private and public-to-private networks to unlock resources…”2 Upon examination, the Board Members of the NCCC do not appear to represent the interests of small business or ‘everyday Australians’. Instead, they hold senior board positions of companies in mining, oil and gas, airlines, private hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, casinos and superannuation giants. One member is a billionaire. Another was recently accused for being ‘an international tax dodger’ by an Australian Senator. Another Chairs an international organisation at the forefront of brokering private-public partnerships and garnering billions in taxpayer dollars to fund Covid-19 vaccine development. The Morrison Government’s choice of NCCC board members, and the glaring omission of any member who could be said to represent small business or employee unions, is a farcical premise of ‘mitigating the economic and social effects’ of Covid-10.
    [Show full text]
  • Fiji Climate Change and Health Adaptation
    Fiji Climate Change and Health Adaptation Proceedings of the Symposium 9 February 2015 in Suva, Fiji Fiji Climate Change and Health Adaptation Proceedings of the Symposium 9 February 2015 in Suva, Fiji © Piloting Climate Change Adaptation to Protect Human Health Project in Fiji. 2015 This booklet is an outcome of a Climate Change and Health symposium organized by the core working group of the Piloting Climate Change Adaptation to Protect Human Health project in Fiji. The views expressed in the document by named authors are solely the responsibility of the named authors. Referencing and quote from this booklet should be acknowledged accordingly. It is a product of MOHMS Fiji and WHO collaboration. The views and opinions expressed in this proceeding belong to the speakers, and do not necessarily reflect those of organizing institutions. Table of Contents Presenters ........................................................................................................................ 2 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 4 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................. 5 2. Keynote Speeches ......................................................................................................... 7 Importance of health adaptation to climate change in Fiji ............................................................ 8 Fiji's response to climate change impacts ....................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Frequently Asked Questions About the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impact on Funding Arrangements
    Frequently asked questions about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) impact on funding arrangements The following questions and answers have been developed by the Department of Social Services (the department) to assist funded service providers (and prospective organisations) in service delivery arrangements in light of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). There will be evolving information and guidance provided by government and we encourage you seek up to date information. Please contact your Funding Arrangement Manager in the first instance to discuss your individual circumstances and to find a flexible solution. You can contact them using the emails below: State / Territory Email address Queensland [email protected] New South Wales [email protected] Australian Capital Territory [email protected] Victoria [email protected] Tasmania [email protected] South Australia [email protected] Western Australia [email protected] Northern Territory [email protected] If you are unable to contact your Funding Arrangement Manager, please contact the Community Grants Hotline via telephone 1800 020 283 (option 6), or TTY 1800 555 677. Questions and Answers General questions ........................................................................................................................ 2 Funding arrangements already in place ......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Pharmaus20 Digital Forum Summary Report Medicines Australia About Pharmaus20
    PharmAus20 Digital Forum Summary Report Medicines Australia About PharmAus20 PharmAus20 is Medicines Australia’s fourth annual Policy Symposium. Every year the Symposium provides a platform for an open discussion between industry experts and policymakers, with the goal of improving the future of healthcare in Australia. Usually held over one action packed day in Canberra, this year’s Symposium was held virtually over four sessions. The discussions focused on the lessons from COVID-19 and what they will mean for the future of innovation in the health and pharmaceuticals sector. PharmAus20 explored the impacts of COVID-19 on industry, patients, communities, and governments. The key presentations explored the COVID-19 lessons from international leaders on industry and government collaboration; how we can improve Australia’s whole of ecosystem approach to Research and Development; what COVID means for the long term trajectory of digital within the industry; and how the industry can help Australia recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic. The Symposium flagged what COVID-19 induced changes have meant for patients, and how the industry can ensure Australia is better prepared for the next crisis and the next stage of recovery. Over the course of the four weeks, 23 speakers, including the Federal Minister for Health, the Shadow Minister for Health and various stakeholders from the health sector offered their perspectives on what COVID-19 has meant for the medicines industry. The key ideas and themes that emerged from speakers and discussions at PharmAus20 are summarised in the pages below. 2 Key themes Heading 1 2 It takes the whole The industry has ecosystem to bring responded well to innovative COVID-19, but the treatments to journey is not over patients 3 4 Industry Consumers are reform plays a demanding the key role in ensuring industry integrates Australia’s economy digital offerings fares better than others 3 Overview Medicines Australia hosted PharmAus20 over four economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji Country Program Annual Report 2020
    WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SOCIETY FIJI COUNTRY PROGRAM ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Annual Report 2020 Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji Country Program ©2020 Wildlife Conservation Society Cover page photo: Diverse reef system with healthy fish population in Kubulau inshore fringing. ©Tom Vierus/WCS FROM THE DIRECTOR 2020 was perhaps one of the most challenging year many of us have experienced, as the world grappled with the unprecedented COVID- 19 health crisis and the subsequent social and economic effects. The crisis brought scientists and researchers together (albeit virtually) to relook at the critical link between human activities and the health of the environment that we live in and the animals and species we are surrounded by. It is clear that environmental degradation of natural ecosystems is affecting human health. Simply put, the planet’s health is vital in preventing future diseases. Fiji confirmed its first COVID-19 case on 19 March and the last instance of community transmission in April 2020. During this period, strict safety protocols were implemented by the Fijian Government to prevent the spread of the virus and was kept in place until July 2020. These included nationwide social distancing measures, lockdown, local and international travel restrictions and curfews. In compliance to this, WCS Fiji pulled all staff from field work and stopped all community engagements, joining the rest of the world working from home and attending virtual meetings. Upon the lifting of domestic travel restrictions, the WCS team, with support from communities and partner organisations raced ahead to complete projects. Between August and December, three community sea cucumber management plans were launched, the first community pearl farm was established along with training workshops to build skills and enhance knowledge, women fishers and seafood vendors also received seafood handling and mud crab fattening training and supported the Government on the nationwide public consultation on Fiji’s proposed 30% Offshore Marine Protected Area Network.
    [Show full text]
  • The COVID-19-Crisis and the Information Polity: an Overview of Responses and Discussions in Twenty-One Countries from Six Continents
    Information Polity 25 (2020) 243–274 243 DOI 10.3233/IP-200006 IOS Press Global Expert Report The COVID-19-crisis and the information polity: An overview of responses and discussions in twenty-one countries from six continents Albert Meijera and C. William R. Websterb aUtrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands bUniversity of Stirling, Scotland, UK Contributing Authors Frank Bannister, Colin J. Bennett, Kaiping Chen, Heungsuk Choi, J. Ignacio Criado, Maria Alexandra Cunha, Mehmet Akif Demircioglu, Mila Gasco-Hernandez, Paul Henman, Douglas Kimemia, Veiko Lember, Karl Löfgren, Luis F. Luna-Reyes, Albert Meijer, Ines Mergel, David Murakami Wood, Giorgia Nesti, Erico Przeybilovicz, Aarthi Raghavan, Ola Svenonius, Rosamunde van Brakel, William Webster, Mete Yildiz. Abstract. Governments around the world are utilizing data and information systems to manage the COVID-19-crisis. To obtain an overview of all these efforts, this global report presents the expert reports of 21 countries regarding the relation between the COVID-19-crisis and the information polity. A comparative analysis of these reports highlights that governments focus on strengthening six functions: management of information for crisis management, publishing public information for citizens, providing digital services to citizens, monitoring citizens in public space, facilitating information exchange between citizens and developing innovative responses to COVID-19. The comparative overview of information responses to the COVID-19-crisis shows that these responses cannot only be studied from a rational perspective on government information strategies but need to be studied as political and symbolic interventions. Keywords: COVID-19, information polity, corona app, corona dashboard 1. Introduction The COVID-19 Pandemic has diffused globally at an alarming rate and has forced countries to undertake a broad range of unprecedented interventions in order to protect their citizens from this disease.
    [Show full text]
  • Guiding Our Community Groups on How to Be COVID Safe
    BENTLEIGH BENTLEIGH EAST GUIDING OUR BRIGHTON EAST CARNEGIE COMMUNITY GROUPS CAULFIELD ELSTERNWICK GARDENVALE ON HOW TO BE GLEN HUNTLY MCKINNON COVID SAFE MURRUMBEENA ORMOND PLANNING Ι SUPPORTING Ι COMMUNITY Ι SAFETY ST KILDA EAST Guidance for community groups to be COVID safe This guide has been developed to assist community groups who use Council facilities to be COVID safe. All community groups using Council facilities, are required to develop and implement a COVID-19 Safe Plan. This guide includes a Safe Plan template for you to use and should be completed prior to starting any community activities and be available to volunteers and members during activities. The COVID-19 Safe Plan sets out six essential focus areas to help your community group safely restart activities as COVID-19 restrictions ease. All community groups are encouraged to stay informed by visiting the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Victoria website https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au for advice on current restrictions, how to stay safe and the latest updates. Remember, you don’t need to rush — it is best to develop your plan at a pace that supports the safety and needs of your group. Focus area one: keeping up-to-date This focus area will help your community group stay informed of government directives and official COVID-19 information as the situation evolves and changes. Your COVID-19 Safe Plan should: • Identify a person who will be the key communication point and authority on COVID-19 information for your community group. • Explain how your community group will stay informed about the latest information available from State and Federal Governments regarding COVID-19 restrictions.
    [Show full text]
  • Status of Coral Reefs in the Fiji Islands 2007
    COMPONENT 2A - Project 2A2 Knowledge, monitoring, management and beneficial use of coral reef ecosystems January 2009 REEF MONITORING SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC STATUS OF CORAL REEFS REPORT 2007 Edited by Cherrie WHIPPY-MORRIS Institute of Marine Resources With the support of: Photo: E. CLUA The CRISP programme is implemented as part of the Regional Environment Programme for a contribution to conservation and sustainable development of coral T (CRISP), sponsored by France and prepared by the French Development Agency (AFD) as part of an inter-ministerial project from 2002 onwards, aims to develop a vi- sion for the future of these unique eco-systems and the communities that depend on them and to introduce strategies and projects to conserve their biodiversity, while developing the economic and environmental services that they provide both locally and globally. Also, it is designed as a factor for integration between developed coun- - land developing countries. The CRISP Programme comprises three major components, which are: Component 1A: Integrated Coastal Management and watershed management - 1A1: Marine biodiversity conservation planning - 1A2: Marine Protected Areas - 1A3: Institutional strengthening and networking - 1A4: Integrated coastal reef zone and watershed management CRISP Coordinating Unit (CCU) Component 2: Development of Coral Ecosystems Programme manager : Eric CLUA - 2A: Knowledge, monitoring and management of coral reef ecosytems SPC - PoBox D5 - 2B: Reef rehabilitation 98848 Noumea Cedex - 2C: Development of active marine substances
    [Show full text]
  • May 2021 Monitoring International Trends
    Monitoring International Trends May 2021 The NBA monitors international developments that may influence the management of blood and blood products in Australia. Our focus is on: Potential new product developments and applications; Global regulatory and blood practice trends; Events that may have an impact on global supply, demand and pricing, such as changes in company structure, capacity, organisation and ownership; and Other emerging risks that could put financial or other pressures on the Australian sector. Highlights include: Research and development in the health sector, and clinical trials, continue to have a strong focus on pandemic related matters, although other issues are receiving more attention than a year ago. Professional societies are holding virtual conferences and annual meetings. Some developments in treating blood disorders (hereditary angioedema, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, and haemophilia) are described on page 3. Hereditary angioedema patients in the United States, the European Union and Japan now have the option of oral prophylaxis rather than injection or infusion. Researchers reinforced the view that the use of tranexamic acid in hip and knee arthroplasties could reduce blood transfusions (page 3). Others found that intravenous immunoglobulin did not relieve the pain of idiopathic small fibre neuropathy (page 4). Some scientists are estimating the life of antibodies in people who have had a COVID-19 infection (page 4), others are trialling the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies in treating the disease (pages 4 and 5), and there is interest in what is termed “long COVID” (page 4). With a number of COVID-19 vaccines in large-scale use, discussion continues about their effectiveness against a variety of variants, their possible side effects, whether they should be used sequentially in the same patients, how much they permit break-through infection, whether they prevent disease transmission to others, how long the immunity they produce will last and whether boosters will be required (pages 6 to 9).
    [Show full text]
  • Improving Pandemic Preparedness: Lessons from COVID-19
    Independent Task Force Report No. 78 Improving Pandemic Preparedness Lessons From COVID-19 Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Frances Fragos Townsend, Chairs Thomas J. Bollyky and Stewart M. Patrick, Project Directors Independent Task Force Report No. 78 Improving Pandemic Preparedness Lessons From COVID-19 Sylvia Mathews Burwell and Frances Fragos Townsend, Chairs Thomas J. Bollyky and Stewart M. Patrick, Project Directors The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher dedicated to being a resource for its members, government officials, business executives, journalists, educators and students, civic and religious leaders, and other interested citizens in order to help them better understand the world and the foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries. Founded in 1921, CFR carries out its mission by maintaining a diverse membership, with special programs to promote interest and develop expertise in the next generation of foreign policy leaders; convening meetings at its headquarters in New York and in Washington, DC, and other cities where senior government officials, members of Congress, global leaders, and prominent thinkers come together with Council members to discuss and debate major international issues; supporting a Studies Program that fosters independent research, enabling CFR scholars to produce articles, reports, and books and hold roundtables that analyze foreign policy issues and make concrete policy recommendations; publishing Foreign Affairs, the preeminent journal on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy; sponsoring Independent Task Forces that produce reports with both findings and policy prescriptions on the most important foreign policy topics; and providing up-to- date information and analysis about world events and American foreign policy on its website, CFR.org.
    [Show full text]
  • Data Collection Survey on Current Situation and Countermeasures Concerning Non-Communicable Diseases in the Pacific Region
    Data Collection Survey on Current Situation and Countermeasures Concerning Non-Communicable Diseases in the Pacific Region Final Report January 2013 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) KRI International Corp. 1R JR 13‐004 Data Collection Survey on Current Situation and Countermeasures Concerning Non-Communicable Diseases in the Pacific Region Final Report January 2013 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) KRI International Corp. Data Collection Survey on Current Situation and Countermeasures Concerning Non-Communicable Diseases in the Pacific Region Final Report Map Fiji Tonga Kiribati Source: Fiji and Kiribati - http://www.spto.org/spto/export/sites/spto/japanese/destinations/ Tonga - Joint Country Strategy 2009-2013, SPC i Data Collection Survey on Current Situation and Countermeasures Concerning Non-Communicable Diseases in the Pacific Region Final Report Abbreviations and Acronyms 2-1-22 Programme 2-1-22 Pacific NCD Programme ADB Asian Development Bank AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AKA Above Knee Amputation Aus$ Australian Dollar AusAID Australian Agency for International Development BCC Behavior Change Communication BKA Below Knee Amputation BMI Body Mass Index CAT Computerized Axial Tomography CK-MB Creatine Kinase-MB CRA Community Rehabilitation Assistant CRD Chronic Respiratory Disease CSN Clinical Service Network CT Computed Tomography CVD Cardiovascular disease CWMH Colonial Memorial War Hospital ChinaAID China Aid Association CoC Continuum of Care DALY Disability Adjusted Life Years DF/R Draft final
    [Show full text]