Medium-to Long-Term Socioeconomic Impact of Covid-19 in Arab Countries, 2022

COVID-19 pandemic is impacting institutions around the world. Its scope and economic dimensions pinpoint that it poses a major threat to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The main objective of thisresearch is to discuss how the coronavirus pandemic may influence the SDGsand affect their implementation. The methods used entail an analysis of lite rature, observations and an assessment of current world trends and applied UNDP method to Arab countries. Methodology/approach—the motivation behind this research is to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Todo so, as a first step, we conduct an initial factual analysis to identify the pat-terns of how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the SDGs and has emphasized the interconnectedness of the SDGs. This target is achieved by con-ducting the methodology of the United Nations Development Program, withthe aid of Pardee Center at the University of Denver by using the impact of three different scenarios of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals,while capturing the multidimensional impacts of the pandemic over the coming decades. The main finding of this research is showing how governmentscan make choices today that have the greatest potential to advance progress inthe future, within planetary boundaries. This type of analysis can enable governments to turn COVID-19 from a short-term crisis into an opportunity to shift to sustainable development in the long term. © 2023 NSP Natural Sciences Publishing Cor.

The Impact of External Shocks on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Linking the COVID-19 Pandemic to SDG Implementation at the Local Government Level

Using data from a survey we conducted in collaboration with the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG), this article sought to examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of SDGs by Flemish local governments (cities and municipalities). Identifying such effects has usually been conducted on individuals and at a macro level and not at the organization and local government level. By using a counterfactual approach, we were able to disentangle various COVID-19 effects over time and learn how systems at the local level react to external shocks. The approach allowed us to single out the effects of the pandemic at the organizational level while looking into three distinct periods: before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and in its aftermath. Results showed that the COVID-19 pandemic slowed down the Flemish public sector's implementation of SDGs at the local level. At the same time, COVID-19 allowed local public institutions to accelerate the implementation of a few SDGs (e.g., SDG1, SDG3) and to postpone a few SDG-related activities which would be resumed once the pandemic is ‘over'. COVID-19 is not only a challenge;it acts as a wake-up call and an opportunity to commit more towards the implementation of (certain) SDGs. © 2023 by the authors.

Urban Food Autonomy: The Flourishing of an Ethics of Care for Sustainability

Urban agriculture is often advanced as a sustainable solution to feed a growing urban population, offering a number of benefits: improved fresh food access, CO2 absorption, social justice and social cohesion among others. Going beyond these direct tangible/objective benefits from urban agriculture, in this paper we ask: How can growing food in the cities teach us about taking care of each other and the natural environment? We use the example of urban food autonomy movements to discuss the transformative potential of a grassroots-led initiative promoting permaculture, which is anchored in three "ethics”: care for the earth, care for the people, and fair share. Through examining the philosophical underpinnings of "autonomy” and "care”, we explore how urban food autonomy initiatives can enable the development of an ethics of care, especially using permaculture inspirations. Our theoretical review and case analysis reveal that "autonomy” can never be achieved without "care” and that these are co-dependent outcomes. The urban food autonomy initiatives are directly relevant for the achievement of the three of the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals: "Zero Hunger,” "Life on Land” and "Climate Action”, and contribute to a culture of care. Indeed, urban agriculture can act as a powerful education platform for the engagement of diverse stakeholders while also supporting a collective transformation of values.

Building Equality: A "Litmus Test” for Recognising and Evidencing Inequalities and Segregation in the Built Environment

The current convergence of global challenges, particularly the climate change emergency, the Covid‐19 pandemic, and the Black Lives Matter movement, have highlighted the need for a new lens to challenge and interrogate key urban planning assumptions related to spatial urban inequality. Yet urban inequality is often and invariably described from a limited economic perspective, commonly interpreted and measured as income inequality. This is an overtly statistical measure, or Gini‐Type index, often giving limited and unsatisfactory results. Yet, in practice, the spatial distribution and concentration of income inequality is a multi‐scalar, multi‐variant, and multi‐disciplinary issue and has links with other and wider dimensions of inequality and well‐being. As such, this article argues for a holistic understanding of urban inequality that goes beyond narrow empirical and quantitative models. It presents collaborative research that aims to impact the actions of urban professionals, to accurately identify and adequately respond to urban inequalities. Through the establishment of an interdisciplinary expert panel, we have uncovered a series of provisional mechanisms and responses to aid practitioners to achieve more spatial equality. We introduce an integrated analytical method, the "litmus test,” that acts as a planning tool for understanding, evaluating, and responding to inequalities and segregation present in the built environment. This novel methodology and procedural framework will assist us in (a) identifying and defining different forms of inequality and segregation beyond the current scope of physical and agency‐based forms;(b) measuring and demonstrating the latter with a combination of qualitative, empirical sources that are materially significant in supporting and evidencing planning strate-gies;and (c) setting out a series of planning and built environment specific responses. © 2023 by the author(s);.

Role of decentralised governance in implementing the National AIDS Control Programme in Kerala.

SETTING: In alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Kerala State in India aims to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, using its strong background in local governance to implement the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). OBJECTIVE: To examine the role of local governments in the implementation of NACP in tune with SDGs. DESIGN: We conducted a state-wide exploratory study using document reviews, key informant and in-depth interviews, which were analysed thematically. RESULTS: Four overarching themes that emerged were 1) preparation for programme implementation, 2) positive impact of local government involvement, 3) convergence with other organisations, and 4) barriers to implementation. Local government commitment to implementing the programme was evidenced by their adoption of the HIV/AIDS policy, facilitative interdepartmental coordination and local innovations. Interventions focused on improving awareness about the disease and treatment, and social, financial and rehabilitative support, which were extended even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fund shortages and poor visibility of the beneficiaries due to preference for anonymity were challenges to achieving the expected outcomes. CONCLUSION: The NACP is ably supported by local governments in its designated domains of interventions, prevention, treatment, and care and support. The programme can achieve its target to end the AIDS epidemic by overcoming the stigma factor, which still prevents potential beneficiaries from accessing care.

CONTEXTE: En accord avec les Objectifs de développement durable (SDG) des Nations unies, l'État du Kérala en Inde a pour objectif de mettre fin à l'épidémie de VIH/SIDA en s'appuyant sur sa forte expérience de gouvernance locale en matière de mise en œuvre du Programme national de lutte contre le SIDA (NACP). OBJECTIF: Examiner le rôle des gouvernements locaux dans la mise en œuvre du NACP, en accord avec les SDG. MÉTHODES: Nous avons réalisé une étude exploratoire à l'échelle de l'État, par le biais d'analyses documentaires, d'entretiens avec des informateurs clés et d'entretiens approfondis, qui ont ensuite été analysés de manière thématique. RÉSULTATS: Quatre thèmes centraux ont été identifiés : 1) préparation de la mise en place du programme, 2) impact positif de l'implication des gouvernements locaux, 3) convergence avec d'autres organisations, et 4) obstacles à la mise en œuvre. L'engagement des gouvernements locaux à mettre en œuvre le programme se manifestait par l'adoption de la politique de lutte contre le VIH/SIDA, par une coordination interdépartementale facilitée et par des innovations locales. Les interventions portaient sur l'amélioration de la sensibilisation au VIH/SIDA et à son traitement, ainsi qu'aux systèmes de soutien social, financier et de réadaptation disponibles ; ces interventions ont même été maintenues pendant la pandémie de COVID-19. Le manque de financements et la mauvaise visibilité des bénéficiaires en raison d'une volonté d'anonymat représentaient autant d'obstacles empêchant d'atteindre les résultats escomptés. CONCLUSION: Les gouvernements locaux apportent leur soutien efficace au NACP dans les domaines d'intervention qui lui ont été assignés (prévention, traitement, soins et soutien). Le programme peut atteindre son objectif d'éradication de l'épidémie de SIDA s'il parvient à lutter contre la stigmatisation associée à la maladie, qui empêche encore d'éventuels bénéficiaires d'accéder aux soins.

Impact of the Encyclical Laudato Si on the Transition to a Green Economy

The article deals with the impact of the Encyclical Laudato Si by Pope Francis on the various dimensions of economic and social transitions aimed at a better future, but especially on the transition to a Green Economy in respect of mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The pandemic associated with the coronavirus disease outbreak in 2019 is also expected to accelerate the Encyclical’s impact in a post-pandemic world striving for greater environmental and social justice as well as inclusion and equality. The paper reports on a research survey and text analysis conducted to ascertain whether the Encyclical will have the enduring impact anticipated and whether that would accelerate achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, fulfilment of the undertakings in the Paris Agreement on mitigating climate change and support for the Fridays for Future school strikes as well as other political and civil society events aimed at protecting the environment. The research results demonstrate society is ready to accept a new economic system based on greater equality and social justice—much like the notion of Inclusive Capitalism proposed by Pope Francis in 2016, based on the Laudato Si and that this will provide momentum in transitioning to the Green Economy. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Achieving equitable food security: How can food bank mobile pantries fill this humanitarian need

Hunger occurs in all locations around the globe, from developing to developed countries. In fact, there were over 37 million food insecure individuals (those without access to consistent nutritious food) in the United States in 2018, and this number increased in recent years due to the COVID pandemic. In many countries, food banks are used to consolidate food donations from individuals or government agencies and then provide that food to local partner agencies (such as food pantries and soup kitchens), who distribute it to food insecure individuals. As nonprofit humanitarian organizations, food banks strive to achieve geographic equity in their food distribution, so one area (or county) is not favored over others. However, food banks also want to maximize food distribution with their limited budgets. This equitable distribution versus cost balancing act is made even more challenging since food banks experience extreme variability in both the supply (donations) of food and partner agencies' capacity to deliver food to the food insecure. Our paper focuses on how mobile pantry programs, additional food bank storage capacity, and improved partner agency capacity can be utilized to address this supply and distribution capacity variability while considering food expiration times. Mobile pantry programs allow food banks to distribute food directly to the food insecure by sending their own trucks and employees to locations where food is most needed. Although all three of these approaches can be helpful, our results show that mobile pantries are a more effective approach to achieve high equity levels. This is especially true in the case of produce with relatively short expiration times. We also find that utilizing mobile pantry programs can increase equitable partner agency distribution considerably, because even small amounts of mobile pantry distribution in under-served areas allow for more equitable partner agency distribution in areas with available partner agency distribution capacity. Our research is based on data from our partner food bank, but our modeling and extensive sensitivity analysis should be applicable to many food banks with a similar collection and distribution structure.

Achieving universal electrification of rural healthcare facilities in sub-Saharan Africa with decentralized renewable energy technologies.

A potential response to the COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with long-term benefits is to provide electricity for medical equipment in rural health centers and communities. This study identifies a large gap in the electrification of healthcare facilities in SSA, and it shows that decentralized photovoltaic systems can offer a clean, reliable, quick, and cost-effective solution. The cost of providing renewable electricity to each health facility by a stand-alone PV system is analyzed for a given location (incorporating operational costs). The upfront investment cost for providing electricity with PV to >50,000 facilities (mostly primary health posts) currently without electricity is estimated at EUR 484 million. Analysis of the accessibility and population distribution shows that 281 million people could reduce their travel time to healthcare facilities (by an average of 50 min) if all facilities were electrified.