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The document argues for a structural green recovery agenda that addresses the divergent economic trajectories of the global north, south, east, and west following the COVID-19 pandemic. It emphasizes the need for a combination of structural responses and local solutions to address systemic challenges and diverse national experiences, aiming to avoid the mistakes of the 2008-10 financial crisis by integrating green priorities into long-term policy.

The policy brief examines the severe fiscal constraints facing African countries during COVID-19 recovery, noting that while advanced economies mobilised about 6% of GDP, African countries mobilised barely 1%. It highlights the inadequacy of current debt relief mechanisms like the DSSI and the Common Framework, and the high cost of borrowing from international capital markets due to unfair credit ratings. The author proposes five policy priorities: establishing national donor coordination frameworks, reallocating public investment to de-risk private projects, extending the DSSI for two years with partial debt cancellation, creating a transparent multilateral framework for debt resolution involving commercial creditors, and exploring the establishment of independent, publicly owned credit rating agencies.

This draft working paper, prepared by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) with support from the Partners for Inclusive Green Economies (PIGE) initiative, outlines a structural agenda for a green economic recovery following COVID-19. The document serves as an iterative, provisional analysis subject to further peer-review.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that South Africa's 2021 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) prioritizes austerity and a budget surplus over necessary socioeconomic investment. The IEJ highlights significant real-term spending cuts in health, basic education, and social protection, asserting that such a contractionary stance stifles economic recovery and increases unemployment. The document advocates for a shift toward fiscal expansion, a comprehensive stimulus package, and the implementation of a wealth tax to fund a transformative economic agenda.

The Cook Islands is seeking USD 299,135 from the Green Climate Fund to ensure its post-COVID-19 economic recovery is green and resilient. The project focuses on enhancing two primary national planning documents: the National Sustainable Development Agenda (NSDA) and the Economic Development Strategy (EDS) 2030. By recruiting a National Consultant and support staff, the government aims to move beyond high-level climate references to specific, actionable green measures, including diversifying the economy and making the tourism industry more sustainable. The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management with oversight from the Climate Change Cook Islands office.

The Institute for Economic Justice reports that only about a third of South Africa's R500 billion COVID-19 rescue package had been utilized by February 2021. While social security and wage relief saw significant spending, other areas like the credit guarantee scheme and municipal funding suffered from disastrous underspending and lack of transparency. The report highlights that the expiration of social grants and the TERS scheme occurred just before the second pandemic wave, potentially plunging millions into hunger and leaving workers without support.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) reports that only about one-third of South Africa's R500-billion Covid-19 rescue package has materialised, citing a systematic failure in implementation and the impact of austerity measures. The statement asserts that economic recovery is impossible without first providing comprehensive rescue and relief, particularly as unemployment has reached 43% (expanded definition). The IEJ recommends increasing income support, fully allocating the R100-billion job protection fund, expanding public employment programmes, and increasing taxes on wealthy individuals to fund these measures. It also highlights corruption, noting that the Special Investigating Unit was investigating R10.3-billion in spending on Covid-19 goods and services as of February 2021.

The 2020 Production Gap report highlights that current government plans for fossil fuel production far exceed the levels necessary to meet Paris Agreement temperature goals. To limit warming to 1.5°C, global production must decline annually by 11% for coal, 4% for oil, and 3% for gas, yet governments are planning annual increases of 2%. By 2030, countries aim to produce 120% more fossil fuels than is consistent with the 1.5°C limit. The report argues that the COVID-19 recovery presents a critical choice: either return to production trajectories that lock in catastrophic warming or implement a managed wind-down of fossil fuels as part of a 'build back better' strategy.

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the livelihoods of millions in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, exacerbating existing challenges of informality and poor infrastructure. While government responses were often limited—with over 80% of some surveyed miners receiving no support—the informal sector acted as a critical economic safety net. The document argues that recovery should leverage public-private cooperation to formalize the sector and build more responsible supply chains.

The document examines how COVID-19 disrupted the livelihoods of millions in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, highlighting a lack of government support and severe economic losses due to supply chain restrictions. It notes that while the informal sector served as a critical social safety net, the pandemic exacerbated gender inequalities. The report argues that the recovery phase offers an opportunity for governments to 'build back better' through public-private partnerships and progressive regulation to foster a formal, responsible mining sector.

The document examines how COVID-19 disrupted the livelihoods of millions in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, highlighting the failure of many governments to provide specific pandemic support and the negative impact of lockdowns on mineral supply chains. It notes that while the informal sector served as a critical economic safety net, the pandemic exacerbated gender inequalities. The briefing argues that the recovery phase offers an opportunity to 'build back better' through public-private cooperation to formalize the sector and establish trust between miners and government institutions.

The document examines the coordinated response of African regional bodies and the specific national strategies of South Africa and Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the role of the Africa CDC and AU in fostering continental cooperation, while contrasting the high-testing, strict-lockdown approach of South Africa with Nigeria's reliance on existing polio and Ebola infrastructure. The paper argues that while health measures were often proactive, the socio-economic fallout—including job losses, increased poverty, and human rights violations by security forces—will have a more lasting impact than the virus itself.

The paper argues that while the South African government showed increased responsiveness during the Covid-19 crisis, the pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities, food poverty, and state violence. It highlights a divide between a government-business coalition and a marginalized civil society, while noting that corruption in PPE and food relief procurement continued to undermine public trust.

The author contends that climate, growth, and social goals are inseparable, warning that neglecting any of these dimensions undermines Canada's long-term competitiveness. The text highlights the vulnerability of high-emission provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, the growth potential of clean technology exports, and the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income populations and Indigenous reserves. It concludes that recovery policies should move beyond a return to the status quo by addressing the interlinked nature of economic and social prosperity.

South Africa demonstrated strong leadership as AU chair by coordinating a continental response to COVID-19, including the establishment of regional task forces and a medical supplies platform. However, this soft power is undermined by persistent institutionalised xenophobia and a 'South Africans first' political discourse that marginalises African migrants. The author argues that domestic treatment of African nationals is a critical indicator of South Africa's leadership potential and warns that economic instability and corruption further exacerbate these internal cleavages.

The document details how COVID-19 containment measures disrupted the Zimbabwean insurance sector, highlighting challenges in remote work, stagnating sales due to the lack of e-signatures, and anticipated financial pressures. It examines the responses of insurers and the regulator (IPEC), while identifying opportunities for digital transformation and product innovation to support economic recovery.

The document argues that the European Green Deal can facilitate a transition to a climate-neutral economy while addressing the health and economic crises caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. It posits that green investments are a viable mechanism to generate employment and stimulate economic activity, thereby increasing long-term resilience.

The document highlights the vulnerability of mining employment during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in remote areas where large-scale mining is often the primary source of income. It argues that government support for mining companies should be contingent on maintaining jobs and wages, and calls for the inclusion of non-permanent workers in social protection programs. To build future resilience, the brief recommends retraining displaced workers, investing in digital solutions for local businesses, and developing strategic regional value chains to reduce dependence on a few emerging markets.

The paper argues that recovery investments from the COVID-19 crisis should be strategically aligned to build a more resilient, low-carbon economy. It outlines four guiding principles: prioritizing job creation and economic growth, supporting public health and air pollution reduction, enhancing economic and climate resilience, and prioritizing decarbonization to meet Paris Agreement temperature goals.

The policy brief contends that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated existing vulnerabilities in the U.S. fossil fuel industry, making a fair transition for workers urgent. It advises against using federal stimulus for fossil fuel assets, suggesting instead that investments be directed toward low-carbon infrastructure, which creates more jobs per million dollars spent. The author proposes a four-part framework for a fair transition: accounting for automation and digitization, planning proactively across all carbon-intensive industries, recognizing that clean energy jobs may not be a direct replacement for all fossil fuel roles due to geographic and skill gaps, and employing bottom-up, community-led investment strategies.