UNDRR GETI, WHO and Global Policy House Webinar - Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: Emerging Technologies in Response to COVID-19: Blockchain, ICT and Data for Pandemic Management

Background

The COVID-19 situation reveals the challenges of managing health risks while reducing disaster risks. All countries face systemic risks, such as those associated with disease outbreaks, with the potential for very significant socio-economic impacts. A range of international instruments and frameworks exist to support countries in managing these risks. In particular, the International Health Regulations (2005) and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-20301, which provides concrete actions to protect development gains from the risk of disasters due to biological, natural and technological hazards.

Content and objectives

COVID-19 outbreak has been catastrophic for global economies, shutting down the world and crippling economies in ways that will change the world forever. The pandemic highlights the need for collaborative approaches to managing global crisis and more significantly how we need to transition as COVID-19 has rapidly transformed the way we interact, trade, communicate, un-tap value and create wealth. At the forefront of fighting this pandemic will be innovative tools and collective converged digital ammunition that cities and governments across the world will need to utilize not only to fight the virus but ensure preparedness for future pandemics and health emergencies. There is no doubt that even after the pandemic ends, economies and global value chains will be affected, productivity and growth will shrink plus we risk widening the digital divide if we do not act and act fast. Some of the answers to help re-balance economies will come from the digital economy which has already been a catalyst in accelerating and opening up a new digitized and virtual world that knows no borders. In this webinar we will explore the role of emerging technologies and data in helping to address the many challenges that have resulted from COVID-19, providing practical solutions for cities to help rebuild trust and enable a more secure, sustainable and safe future for global economies.

Target audience:

Local governments, national governments and DRR experts from all regions

Opening

• Dr. Oliver Morgan, Director of the Health Emergency Information and Risk Assessment Department, WHO Health Emergencies Program

Speakers

• Mr. Dae Joong Lee, Director of Development Finance Division, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Republic of Korea
• Ms. Michelle Chivunga, Founder / CEO / Investor - Global Policy House UK, Investments and Digital Solutions Group

Moderator

• Mr. Sanjaya Bhatia, Head, UNDRR Office for Northeast Asia (ONEA) & Global Education and Training Institute (GETI)

Webinar Recording:

For more information: 
Sarah Wade Apicella, UNDRR Global Education and Training Institute (GETI) at undrr-incheon@un.org

with funding support from: