On January 7, UN in
China and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges
(CICETE) presented their joint work of the "Socioeconomic Impact
Assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic in Five Poverty Counties in China" in
a launch event in Beijing.
The report's findings
illustrate the pandemic's implications beyond the health dimensions while
aiming to support China's socioeconomic recovery and strengthen its progress on
the SDGs. The report focuses on vulnerable groups such as older people, women,
children, persons with disabilities, and migrant workers.
Published with
support from UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, the
report conducted its assessment in five selected counties. These include
Chengbu of Hunan Province, Neixiang of Henan Province, Yilong of Sichuan
Province, Zhouqu of Gansu Province, and Shiyan City of Hubei Province during
June 2020.
"China has
quickly and effectively brought the pandemic under control, minimized its
impact and resumed economic development in an active and prudent manner."
said Yan Dong of CICETE in the foreword of the report. "However, the
economic and social development of poor areas is still under certain impact and
some deficiencies have been exposed there."
The report found that
two-thirds of surveyed households expect an average decrease of 32% in their
total income in 2020 but notes that most households managed the income losses
without a significant decline in living standards thanks to favourable social
protection and poverty alleviation policies.
While families
relying on agricultural activities and transfer payments in these counties were
the least affected, the pandemic hit those in self-employed business the
hardest.
Beyond the economic
impact, the report found that the pandemic exacerbated educational challenges
for school-age children in these poverty counties but saw that 90% of children
attending primary education reported some organized online learning.
With one-fifth of
older people reporting difficulties in obtaining necessary daily care,
financial support and emotional companionship, the report notes that those
living in urban communities, older females, Han families, and the most elderly
were most affected.
The report concludes
that additional support for vulnerable groups in poverty-affected regions
"will be vital for China in fulfilling its ambition of ensuring
high-quality development that includes everyone, during the recovery and
beyond".
"We must not
only beat the virus but also tackle its profound consequences, particularly on
the most vulnerable, and in so doing, ensure, that we leave no one
behind", said Amakobe Sande, interim UN Resident Coordinator in China at
the launch event of the report. "Everything we do during and after this
crisis must be with a strong focus on building more equal, inclusive and sustainable
economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of pandemics and
future shocks."
Data and information featured in this report will now inform policymakers and local governments with regard to the design of UN programmes to address the socioeconomic effects and help China recover more effectively from the pandemic.
Download this document:
Socioeconomic Impact Assessment of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Five Poverty Counties in China
