ASEAN launches assessment on impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods in region
The ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) partnered with the Asia Foundation to launch the ASEAN Rapid Assessment on the Impact of COVID-19 on Livelihoods across ASEAN on December 3.
A man has his body temperature checked in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 23 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Jakarta (VNA) - The ASEAN Secretariat (ASEC) partnered with theAsia Foundation to launch the ASEAN Rapid Assessment on the Impact of COVID-19on Livelihoods across ASEAN on December 3.
The report says the pandemic has significantly affected the economicdevelopment of all the ASEAN member countries.
According to the report, the region’s GDP projections in June 2020 have beenrevised to -2.0 percent and may further decrease. Real GDP growth forecastsdropped from -3.4 to -8.0 percentage points across ASEAN member nations, withthe Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia expected to experience thesharpest real GDP drop.
Based on inputs and guidance from the ASEAN Senior Labour Officials Meeting,Senior Officials Meeting on Social Welfare and Development and Senior OfficialsMeeting on Education, the report reflects several policy responses andconsiderations by ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) governments.
The ASEAN Rapid Assessment looks at how COVID-19 and containment measures haveimpacted the social welfare, labour, and education and training of ASEANpopulations across ten member states.
It consolidates measures prompted by AMS to curb the spread of the virus and toprovide immediate assistance to workers, students and vulnerable populations.In addition, it acknowledges various regional mechanisms and frameworksleveraged by ASEAN Leaders and Ministers to promote collective responses.
The assessment provides national and regional recommendations for policy makersin shaping inclusive policies and programmes to help ASEAN people, especiallythose with particular vulnerabilities, resume their livelihoods and support theregion during the recovery period.
The publication also aims to inform the regional response to the pandemic, andfocuses on key challenges in the social welfare, labour, education and trainingsectors. The initiative is supported by The Rockefeller Foundation and theAustralian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade./.
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The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
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The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
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The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
A man has his body temperature checked in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 23 (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
