The Response to Covid-19 Pandemic Has Demonstrated Both the Strength And Fragility Of Global Governance

Defining Global Governance

When people talk about Global Governance, the United Nations (UN) comes to everyone’s mind as it is a leading institution in charge of Global Governance today (Orback 2019). The UN formed in the aftermath of the Second World War is mandated to, among others, provide global public goods…(and) provide catastrophic risk management at a global event, putting appropriate mechanisms in place to maximally reduce the likelihood and impact of any event that could cause the death of 1 billion people across the planet (Orback 2019).

Likewise International and regional organizations and NGOs, also seek to look after their member-states or neighbours during emergencies, as shown by some countries with their Vaccine Diplomacy (Jennings 2021). Though their actions may be concentrated in a small region or neighbourhood, the overall impact is felt in the global arena.

We’re all in this together: By Paopano/Shutterstock

What is Covid 19

2020 was defining year for the world with a global pandemic of unprecedented measures engulfing humanity. The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, originated from China but spread around the world, crippling the economy, infecting over 200 million people, and causing death to over 2 million (World Health Organization 2021a, Johns Hopkins University 2021). It swiftly spread around the world, crippling the health infrastructures, more of underdeveloped countries and causing major economic collapses in many countries.

Response By the WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO), as a specialized agency of the UN has been at the forefront of the response to this public health crisis, while various other agencies have been involved in other responses related to the pandemic. Individual countries have also responded in their own ways, against the virus, its spread, and to rebuild the economic collapse

Response By the UN

The UN has outlined that that Covid-19 is “…more than a health crisis; it is an economic crisis, a humanitarian crisis, a security crisis, and a human rights crisis” (United Nations 2020). Thus the response has three pillars of operation including the delivery of health response, adoption of policies that address the socio-economic, humanitarian, and human rights aspects, and a recovery process for building better (United Nations 2020).
The UN Secretary-General has issued policy briefs and mobilized funds to fight the pandemic.  The three funding responses, addressing immediate health needs, ease impacts in 50 most vulnerable countries, and delivering rapid recovery (United Nations 2020), has been well-received except for some backlashes for the late response to an agreement for a global ceasefire (International Crises Group 2020).

Response By Various Countries

United States of America (US) is a global leader and a global power (Thompson 2011), that is looked upon to lead by many nations. But the US has the highest per capita death with more than 41.8 million cases and 670,000 deaths as of today (World Health Organization 2021c). Critics have also pointed out that the US image, during the Trump administration, has fallen (Pew Research Center 2020), especially after his downplaying of the Covid-19 crises in the US. But as per the White House press release (White House 2020), Joe Biden, the current president, has implemented a six-pronged national strategy, which relies on a scientific-based approach to combat this pandemic. The US response is important because every country is looking up to the most powerful country in the world for leadership. Thus, Biden has outlined as part of his National Strategy to combat the pandemic, to restore US leadership globally. Here restoring US relationship with the WHO takes precedence while surging international public health and humanitarian response is also included (White House 2021)
Back home, Australia has also stepped up its response plan to the Covid-19 pandemic, not only in the health avenue but more importantly, in the economic development. The plans outline responses at the country, regional and global levels (DFAT 2020). Their global response includes fundings to Indo-Pacific countries through various supporting organizations like the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, International Monitory Fund etc (DFAT 2020b).

Global Response

Various countries have responded in varying degrees to this pandemic, some with stringent measures of lockdown, workplace and school closures, and a ban on international travel. Testing and contact tracing, with vaccination and income support, and the mandatory face coverings are other responses that have been initiated worldwide (Ritchie et al. 2020). Asia-Pacific region has proven to contain the pandemic better than the European nations, while African and American responses seem to have flattened the curve for now.
The size of the population mattered less in the spread and containment, while economic development mattered a lot. Rich countries which are expected to have adequate health systems already in place had more covid-19 cases, which overwhelmed their system at first, but the recovery is quicker. Comparatively the poorer countries fare less (Lowly Institute 2021) both in the initial response and later recovery.
But this playing field is levelled, by the generous response of the UN and the WHO, especially in the vaccine rollout. Along with the various International and regional organizations in the field, individual countries have also gone ahead to get vaccines for their people.
As of today, 43.5% of the world population had received at least the first dose with 5.98 billion doses administered globally (Ritchie et al. 2020). But just the health response is not enough. The pandemic has also crippled the economy and has huge implications on human rights.

Strengths Of the Response

There has been a unprecedented response by the world community. Vaccine swapping among countries has almost become almost a norm, while some rich countries are also donating vaccines to the poorer ones. But the aftermath of the pandemic is not just stopping the virus but building up after the virus. What about the post-covid world?
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has outlined a fund requirement of US$ 10.3 Billion of which only US$1.64 Billion has been raised (OCHA 2020). The Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) is working with other partners including FAO, IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNRWA, WHP, WHO and NGOs to raise more donors funds to reach the affected quickly and efficiently. OECD and G20 countries have already responded with a stimulus package of over $11 trillion while the requirement to protect the vulnerable 10 per cent of the world population is only $90 billion (OCHA 2020). This shows to indicate that the funds are already there with those who can afford to release them, instead of hoarding them for themselves.
The problems of the LDCs are not their own. The ripples effects will be felt by the countries of OECD and G20 too. Taking the stand of Australia and its Aid policy which focuses more on the Indo-Pacific region, many developed countries are also doing the same.

Better Responses

While there are various vaccines that have been developed, stringent national regulations seem to stop their usage in many countries. Vaccines that pass the stringent scrutiny of the regulatory authorities are either in short supply or are in slow manufacture. And sometimes, the international regularity bodies’ advice is not heeded, like the advice of WHO regarding the vaccines which are ignored by countries.
Secondly, the response to the pandemic should have been faster and more equitable. Rich countries should not only look after themselves but also look after the world. Countries like the US, which the looking for a leadership role should jump in and take the helm. Even China and Russia as countries opposing the West should come on this fight against a global pandemic together, share information and even donate dollars.

Way Forward

In my conclusion, global governance is all about partnership and communication. It is about bringing the need of the world to the forefront and aligning national policies towards achieving them. The Sustainable Development Goals, Climate Change and Peace are some of the initial steps towards a collective goal for a united future. Just as the pandemic did not differentiate between the rich countries or the poor, but brought to light the fragility of the world economy, so should this be taken as a lesson to strengthening global governance. 

Reference

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