UN Sets Up Regional Knowledge Hub to Fight COVID-19

24 April 2020
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United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Addis Ababa)

Uneca — As the world grapples with an unprecedented global health crisis of COVID-19, the United Nations (UN) development system stepped its concerted efforts in providing valuable information for UN agencies, national governments, the African Union Commission, Regional Economic Commissions, and crucial partners.

The virus has caused a global crisis affecting the core of humanity, affecting the social, economic, environment and related spheres, and it is attacking societies indiscriminately. In Africa, the region's fragile health systems and economic costs can derail the socio-economic development trajectory of the global Sustainable Development Goals and the regional Agenda 2063 aspirations.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) projects that Africa's GDP growth will decrease by almost half to 1.8 percent. In the region, COVID-19 is already disrupting millions of people's livelihoods, with disproportionate impact on poor households and small and informal businesses.

The United Nations is responding to the crisis as One UN in terms of preparedness, response and provision of updates on the COVID-19 epidemiological situation. Translating collective UN knowledge into strategic action can guide the efforts of all national and international partners to support national governments. As part of its support to guide national preparedness and response to ensure the continuity of essential services and mitigate social and economic impacts, a new portal houses UN-wide knowledge products and regional expertise.

Launched today, the Africa UN Knowledge Hub for COVID-19 offers a one-stop shop on UN resources and interventions on the continent, as a valuable repository of information for partners to access critical information in support of Agenda 2030 and 2063. The portal will enable users to discover relevant information and knowledge, as well as collaborate and consult. Additionally, it provides the latest statistical data on COVID-19 cases, facts, as well as myth busters, videos, human-interest stories, and the impacts by sector. It also offers raw data, publications, experts, discussions forums, learning resources and development news. As more information becomes available the website will be continuously updated.

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

For more information or media inquiries please contact:

Sophia Denekew, Communications Section, UNECA, denekews.uneca@un.org, +251 929907766

Daisy Leoncio, UNFPA Regional Communications Adviser for East and Southern Africa: Tel +1 347 4919154; leoncio@unfpa.org

Read the original article on UNECA.

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