Conclusions and Policy Recommendations: The Emerging COVID-19 Trends, Dynamics and Implications

ABSTRACT

This chapter presents the key findings from the book and outlines the key policy interventions recommended. Issues examined in the book include the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural production, food systems, nutrition, informality, water, education, sanitation and livelihoods. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) framework was used in the analysis of impacts. The findings show that the pandemic had mostly negative impacts on the systems studied and the most vulnerable members of society got the biggest knock on their livelihoods especially those in the informal sector. Access to key resources like water, municipal services and food was not equal, and the gap in deprivation widened during this period. Post COVID-19 recovery needs to be guided by how well it addresses progress towards SDG indicators. Government stimulus packages for recovery need to consider increasing social safety nets and the most vulnerable members of society. There is a need to support local food systems and vulnerable livelihoods to build back better and become resilient to future shocks that are similar to the COVID-19 pandemic. Authorities need to improve their communication with communities during disaster periods and strengthen their resilience. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.