Global Think Town Hall III:
From Solidarity to Solutions to Save Lives and Livelihoods
On April 7th, 2020, over 375 Think Tank executives and scholars from 183 institutes in 75 countries registered for the Global Town Hall on Saving Lives and Livelihoods. Participants were invited to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and the new and unprecedented policy problems our communities and countries will face in the coming months -in addition to the existential challenges it presents to Think Tanks.
On May 13th, over 440 senior think tank executives from over 85 countries participated in the Town Hall to Save Lives and Livelihoods II. This second global town hall was designed to serve as a catalyst for evidence based, policy relevant, action oriented policies and proposals to address the policy issues outlined below. The object was to develop a rapid and proactive response to the growing economic, public health and welfare crisis that has engulfed countries around the world. Now, we are even more gratified that so many of you are eager to help develop evidence based, action oriented policies and programs to respond to the COVID19 crisis for the June 30th 3rd Town Hall meeting from 830am-11:00am EDST US.
This 3rd Town Hall To Save Lives and Livelihoods featured an Opening Plenary Panel of thought leaders in health and international economics who shared their thoughts on what we might expect in the coming months from the pandemic and the looming economic crisis. The Plenary Session was followed by presentations of the findings of the 5 Working Groups. There were over 150 scholars and executives working to produce evidence based, action oriented, rapid responses to this catastrophic crisis. The description of these respective groups, as well as copies of their presentations, can be found below.
The final segment of the Global Virtual Town Hall Meetings will involve a series of Briefing and Engagement Sessions (July 6-10, 2020) that are intended to create a discussion of the findings of the Working Groups listed below. You must register for each Working Group Session Separately. You are free to register for one or all of the Working Group Sessions. An overview of the key findings and recommendations of each Working Group will be presented and discussed at the Briefing and Engagement Sessions.
1. The Public Health Crisis: This rapid response working group will focus on issues related to the acceleration and augmentation of multinational cooperation in research and the development of drugs, vaccines, testing devices and other medical products, to achieve rapid breakthroughs that will immediately benefit the international community and potentially prepare and protect the world from future pandemics.
2. National and International Economic Recovery Strategies: The rapid response working group is will focus on understanding and responding to the looming global economic crisis and the possible interventions to rescue and rebuild the livelihoods of workers, while also stabilizing financial systems. It will also address deficits and revenues that could arise for national governments and ways forward.
3. Innovative and Inclusive Intervention Public and Private Strategies to Help Vulnerable Groups: This rapid response working group will produce recommendations and highlight best practices of interventions to support specific vulnerable groups, specially affected by the socioeconomic impacts of the Covid crisis, namely: children and youth; elderly; women in vulnerable conditions; immigrants; and racial/ethnic minorities.
4. Fostering International Cooperation -Creating Rapid, Responsive, and Resilient Systems to Respond to Future Crisis: This rapid response working group will focus on the virus and potential near-term future waves, and the likelihood of more viruses that could be even more devastating and disruptive. This group will focus on future global and local preparedness and cooperation, including social safety nets.
5. Fit for Uncertain Future -New Operating Models for Think Tanks Research, Communications and Funding: This rapid response working group will focus on a Think Tank survival strategy with respect to how Think Tanks can continue to operate efficiently during an economic crisis, how to manage relationships with partners, donors and allies, how to approach fundraising in the new circumstance, and strategic communications.