The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented disruption for the global health and development community. Organizations fighting infectious disease, supporting health workers, delivering social services, and protecting livelihoods have moved to the very center of the world’s attention. But they find their work complicated by challenges of access, safety, supply chain logistics, and financial stress like never before.
The short-term implications of this global challenge are evident everywhere, but the long-term consequences of the pandemic — how it will reshape health and development institutions, occupations, and priorities — are still difficult to imagine.
To gain a better understanding of the big-picture implications, we asked 21 global health and development thinkers and leaders to share — in their own words — their insights and their predictions.
Here is what they wrote back, lightly edited for length and clarity.
Answers & Comments
Answer:
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented disruption for the global health and development community. Organizations fighting infectious disease, supporting health workers, delivering social services, and protecting livelihoods have moved to the very center of the world’s attention. But they find their work complicated by challenges of access, safety, supply chain logistics, and financial stress like never before.
The short-term implications of this global challenge are evident everywhere, but the long-term consequences of the pandemic — how it will reshape health and development institutions, occupations, and priorities — are still difficult to imagine.
To gain a better understanding of the big-picture implications, we asked 21 global health and development thinkers and leaders to share — in their own words — their insights and their predictions.
Here is what they wrote back, lightly edited for length and clarity.