‘The Pandemic is Not Gender Neutral’ – How COVID-19 is Uniquely Threatening Women and Girls

08/27/20 • 18 min

On the latest edition of The Development Podcast, we explore the gender dynamics at play during the COVID-19 pandemic with the World Bank’s Global Director for Gender, Caren Grown.

“It turns out actually that the pandemic is not gender neutral,” Grown tells us, explaining that women and girls face distinct risks including increased exposure to the virus on health care front lines, potentially larger impacts to their livelihoods during lockdowns, as well as heightened risk of domestic violence.

As always you can send us your questions and comments: [email protected]

On the latest edition of The Development Podcast, we explore the gender dynamics at play during the COVID-19 pandemic with the World Bank’s Global Director for Gender, Caren Grown.

As always you can send us your questions and comments: [email protected]

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undefined - ‘A way to give developing countries more resources in a time when they need it most’ – Helping poor countries suspend their debt service payments during COVID-19

‘A way to give developing countries more resources in a time when they need it most’ – Helping poor countries suspend their debt service payments during COVID-19

Developing countries are under tremendous strain while attempting to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

To try and free-up resources so that they can better protect lives and livelihoods, the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund in April called on creditors to allow lower income countries to suspend their bilateral debt service payments and focus resources on responding to the pandemic. The plan – called the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) – was taken up by G20 Finance Ministers.

On this edition of the Development Podcast, we hear from the World Bank Group’s Global Director for Macroeconomics, Trade and Investment, Marcello Estevão, who answers our questions on how the program works and just how effective it has been.

And send us your questions and comments: [email protected]

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undefined - ‘This is a once in a century, global – truly global – crisis’ – A health check on the global economy with the World Bank’s Chief Economist and President

‘This is a once in a century, global – truly global – crisis’ – A health check on the global economy with the World Bank’s Chief Economist and President

“Even by the standards of systemic crises, this is a once in a century, global – truly global – crisis,” explains Carmen Reinhart, the World Bank’s newly-appointed Chief Economist, about the pandemic-led economic downturn.

In a special appearance on The Development Podcast, Reinhart and World Bank Group President David Malpass give us their perspective on the health of the global economy and what they believe a path to recovery looks like.

“More-so than the 2008 crisis,” according to Malpass, “this one is really hitting the poor, hitting the developing countries. It’s not only a financial crisis, but it’s a true deep, deep economic crisis.”

Plus: Pabsy Mariano joins hosts Paul Blake and Raka Banerjee to preview this year’s entirely virtual World Bank Group – IMF Annual Meetings and details how you can participate from home.

Show notes:

-Read Carmen and Vincent Reinhart’s article, “The Pandemic Depression”, in Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-08-06/coronavirus-depression-global-economy

-Get the latest on the 2020 World Bank Group – IMF Annual Meetings and plan to participate: http://live.worldbank.org