Within the context of this health crisis, ARDD has mobilized to utilize existing resources, expand resources, and enhance the protection of vulnerable communities in order to prevent the further exacerbation of inequality. It is important to also follow up and monitor on other countries in the region (Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Palestine) in terms of responses to the COVID-19 and provide detailed reports and policy briefs in all these countries.
This effort has started within the framework of ARDD’s Human and Economic Development Platform (HEDP). Essentially, HEDP aims to respond to the needs of the existing development paradigm through a learned, more effective and efficient discourse among the public sector, private sector, civil society, and the public at large. HEDP is primarily focused on engaging with socioeconomic issues by conducting and commissioning specialized policy studies, disseminating the findings in a sustainable manner, and lobbying for positive change via state-of-the art tools and methodologies.
In this vein, ARDD has commissioned the development of a series of country-specific publications in order to monitor the responses of countries throughout the Arab world in response to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. This series is envisaged to take into consideration the effects of the current circumstances on diverse populations with varying needs, including youth, women, children, the elderly, migrant workers and refugees; this objective is rooted in ARDD’s commitment to highlighting the challenges and restrictions experienced by those living in poverty, and vulnerable groups at large. These publications will also consider the responses and endeavours undertaken by governmental actors and civil society organizations in this regard.
This series is positioned within a larger research project being conducted by ARDD’s Al Nahda Centre for research and is framed with reference to the capacities of social protection frameworks in the Arab region. It is also part of ARDD’s dedication to enhancing and expanding the efficacy and practice of evidence-based policy development and transformation towards more just societies.
