SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER - LISTENING TO PEOPLE'S PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE AND THEIR IDEAS FOR ACTION - UN75.online
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SHAPING OUR
FUTURE TOGETHER
LISTENING TO PEOPLE’S PRIORITIES FOR
THE FUTURE AND THEIR IDEAS FOR ACTION
CONCLUDING REPORT OF THE UN75 OFFICE
JANUARY 2021
2 | Written by the Office of the Under-Secretary- General and Special Adviser on Preparations for the Commemoration of the UN’s 75th Anniversary, with support in analysis from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and valuable feedback from Pew Research Center. With thanks to SDG Action Campaign for ongoing support. Contact: un75@un.org Layout Design by: Akiko Harayama, Knowledge Solutions and Design, Outreach Division, Department of Global Communications Cover Photo: UNICEF/UNI363386/ Schermbrucker United Nations, New York, January 2021
Contents | 3 CONTENTS SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER: KEY FINDINGS OF UN75 SURVEY AND DIALOGUES4 INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE 8 Listening to people’s priorities and expectations of international cooperation 8 Global participation: who took part 12 Five UN75 data streams to gather priorities and solutions 14 Data analyzed in this report 16 FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC 19 FINDINGS: OUTLOOK FOR 2045: THREATS AND CHALLENGES 33 FINDINGS: LONG-TERM PRIORITIES FOR THE FUTURE WE WANT 45 FINDINGS: VIEWS ON INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND THE UNITED NATIONS55 ANNEXES71 ANNEX 1 – Detailed survey and dialogues data analyzed in this report 72 ANNEX 2 – Detailed methodology 81 ANNEX 3 – Funding partners 94 ENDNOTES95
4 | SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER: KEY FINDINGS OF UN75 SURVEY AND DIALOGUES
SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER: KEY
FINDINGS OF UN75 SURVEY AND DIALOGUES
More than 1.5 million people in 195 As COVID-19 reversed progress in
countries shared their short- and long- human development and widened
term priorities, their ideas for action inequalities, many prioritized access
and their calls for a more inclusive, to basic services and support to the
transparent UN to lead the response to hardest hit places and communities in
pressing global challenges the short-term
In January 2020, Secretary-General António • Amid a striking shortfall in healthcare to
Guterres launched the yearlong UN75 initiative meet the needs generated by the pandemic,
as an opportunity for the United Nations (UN) respondents’ top immediate, short-term
to listen to the people it serves. Through priority globally was ‘Universal access to
surveys and dialogues, more than 1.5 million healthcare’.
people from all 193 United Nations Member • As COVID-19 forced children out of schools
States shared their hopes and fears for the around the world, ‘More investment in
future, and discussed how all actors, including education and youth programmes’ ranked
the UN, can work together better to address high among respondents, particularly
the global challenges we face. in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central and
Southern Asia.
Through the UN75 initiative, the UN has sought
to understand what are the issues citizens • Reflecting the stark reality that three billion
around the world perceive as most pressing. people lack a basic hand-washing facility
with soap and water at home, ‘Access to
safe water and sanitation’ was another
critical immediate priority for respondents
during the pandemic, across all human
development levels.
• Many respondents, especially in low and
middle income countries, prioritized ‘Global
solidarity’ and the need to provide ‘Support
to the hardest hit people and communities’,
and to ‘Address inequalities that have
deepened as a result of COVID-19.’
• Less respondents in Very High Human
Development countries viewed ‘Support to
the hardest hit places’ as a high priority.
NEW YORK, USA
UN photo/Mark Garten
SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER: KEY FINDINGS OF UN75 SURVEY AND DIALOGUES | 5
Respondents living in lower human • The highest percentages of respondents
development countries and those who chose ‘Climate change and the
living in conflict situations tended to environment’ as a top threat were in Latin
express greater optimism about the America and the Caribbean (73%), while the
future lowest was is Sub-Saharan Africa (37%).
• Globally, many more respondents believed Other long-term priorities vary
people will be better off (49%) in 2045 than according to income levels, but include
today, compared with those who believe rising concern with employment
people will be worse off (32%). opportunities, respect for human
• Respondents in Sub-Saharan Africa were rights and reducing conflict
the most optimistic about the future (59%),
followed by Central and Southern Asia • While respondents in UNDP’s category
(52%), and Eastern and South-eastern Asia of higher human development countries
(51%). Respondents in Northern America tended to give the highest priority to the
(49%), Europe (48%), Latin America and environment and human rights, those
the Caribbean (48%) and Oceania and in lower human development countries
Antarctica (47%) were most pessimistic tended to accord the highest priority to less
about the future. conflict and meeting basic needs, such as
employment, healthcare and education.
• Respondents in regions with lower
human development countries were far • ‘More respect for human rights’ ranked
more optimistic about the future than number three globally as a long-term
respondents in regions with higher human priority. It ranked number one in Northern
development countries. Respondents living Africa and Western Asia and number two in
in conflict situations were more optimistic Northern America and Europe.
about the future. • ‘More employment opportunities’ rose from
the tenth long-term priority identified
While they expect access to health by respondents in April 2020 to the sixth
services to improve over the next priority in December 2020. This may reflect
25 years, respondents in all regions the dramatic COVID-19 related workplace
identified climate change and closures, working-hour and labour income
losses.
environmental issues as the number
one long-term global challenge • Reducing conflict is a high priority among
respondents in Eastern and South-eastern
• ‘More environmental protection’ is Asia, Northern Africa and Western Asia, and
the number one long-term priority for Sub-Saharan Africa.
respondents, globally, ranking in the top
three priorities across all regions.
6 | SHAPING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER: KEY FINDINGS OF UN75 SURVEY AND DIALOGUES
• While respondents in countries that are Many respondents look to the United
not in conflict are more concerned about Nations to lead in international
tensions between countries, those in cooperation to address immediate
conflict situations are more concerned and longer-term global challenges,
about violence within their borders. and many also want the Organization
to innovate – to be more inclusive,
97% of respondents believe that engaged, accountable and effective.
international cooperation is important
for addressing global challenges, with In surveys and UN75 dialogues held around
variation in the degree of importance the world, participants called on the United
across regions Nations for:
• The majority of respondents believe that • Moral leadership.
international cooperation is essential • A reformed, more representative and more
(52%) for addressing global challenges, agile UN Security Council.
while 34% believe it is very important,
and 11% believe it is fairly important. Only • A revised Charter that includes today’s most
3% of respondents believe international pressing global challenges, like climate
cooperation is not important or not change.
important at all. • Continued management and leadership
• The degree of importance of international reforms, including more inclusive hiring
cooperation varies across regions, with the practices, more accountability and more
highest percentage of respondents who transparency.
viewed it favorably from Northern America. • An inclusive and participatory UN system,
• Respondents in higher human development with improved understanding of the work
countries tend to perceive the need for of the UN among citizens around the world,
international cooperation as greater and which shows more care for the needs of
than those in lower human development ordinary people.
countries. • Improved implementation, monitoring and
• A majority of respondents globally say evaluation of UN programmes globally,
that COVID-19 has increased their view of to solve international problems more
the importance for greater cooperation effectively.
between countries.
In this 75th anniversary
year, I want to provide
as many people as
possible the chance to
have a conversation with
the United Nations. To
share their hopes and
fears. To learn from their
experiences. To spark
ideas for building the
future we want and the
United Nations we need.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres,
22 January 2020.
8 | INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE
INTRODUCTION TO THE
UN75 INITIATIVE
LISTENING TO PEOPLE’S PRIORITIES
AND EXPECTATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL
COOPERATION
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Increased participation in the UN75
António Guterres saw the United Nations’ conversation after COVID-19
75th anniversary as an opportunity for the
Organization to listen directly to the people it Even though the UN75 initiative had a strong
serves. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic online presence from the outset, we, like
struck, the world faced a growing list of everyone else, were forced to adapt the way
global challenges: from the climate crisis we worked. We encouraged people to hold
and environmental degradation to nuclear online dialogues and we re-doubled our efforts
weapons, deepening inequalities, rapid to reach people not connected through the
changes in our populations, the transformative internet. In April, we added two COVID-19
impact of new technologies and new forms related questions to our one-minute survey
and patterns of violence. and dialogue toolkit, asking people to share
their priorities to recover better from the
In January 2020, the UN launched a yearlong, pandemic, and to see whether the pandemic
global initiative to listen to people’s priorities had changed their views on the importance
and expectations of international cooperation. of international cooperation – for better or for
Through surveys and dialogues, more than worse.
1.5 million people from all walks of life shared
their hopes and fears for the future, and While many worried that the pandemic would
discussed how all actors, including the UN, dampen the UN75 conversation, it had the
can innovate and work together to better to opposite effect. The number of people who
address the global challenges we face. joined the initiative multiplied. The UN75
conversation became even more important
as people across the world not only discussed
their longer-term priorities, but also the
immediate socio-economic struggles they
faced with the pandemic, as well as their
concerns about the lack of international
cooperation to address COVID-19.
INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE | 9
In dialogues, many people echoed the The Declaration includes 12 Commitments
Secretary-General’s concern that “the aimed at advancing “Our Common Agenda”—
pandemic is a clear test of international that reaffirms the need for inclusive, effective
cooperation – a test we have essentially and networked multilateralism and the
failed… the result of a lack of global central role of the United Nations. Through
preparedness, cooperation, unity and the UN75 initiative, the UN has identified the
solidarity.”1 Alongside their calls for increased issues citizens around the world say are most
international cooperation, they suggested pressing along the 12 Commitments reflected
concrete and sometimes innovative in the UN75 Declaration.
proposals for action on how we can address
the pandemic, recover after the pandemic, Member States called on the Secretary-
and step up to address other urgent global General to present recommendations on
challenges such as the climate crisis, how the United Nations will address these
discrimination and rising inequalities. 12 Commitments “to advance Our Common
Agenda” before the end of the 75th session of
the General Assembly, in September 2021.
The UN75 initiative and the Member
State-led UN75 Declaration Guided by the 12 Commitments in the
UN75 Declaration and broad dialogues
In parallel to this UN75 initiative, United and feedback received through the UN75
Nations Member States adopted the initiative, the Secretary-General has launched
Declaration on the Commemoration of the a process of profound reflection on the
Seventy-Fifth Anniversary of the United future of multilateralism to inform his report
Nations in the General Assembly on 21 and recommendations on “Our Common
September 2020. We made our initial UN75 Agenda”. With international cooperation both
findings available to Member States for more tested and more vital than ever, “Our
their consideration as they negotiated the Common Agenda” will reinvigorate the values,
Declaration, in our April report, Resolved to foundations and spirit of multilateralism to
Combine Our Efforts. Member States reached achieve these goals and renew solidarity
consensus on the Declaration in July 2020, within societies, between peoples, and with
emphasizing the need for an upgraded, young people and future generations.
reinvigorated multilateralism for a more equal,
resilient and sustainable world. To do so, the Secretary-General will consider
inputs and recommendations received from a
2020 has demonstrated that the world needs diverse group of thought leaders from a range
a path that ensures universal access to social of countries and backgrounds, young thinkers
protection, healthcare, quality education and under the age of 30 years from all over the
digital connectivity. A path towards a rapid and world, ‘We the Peoples’ that includes civil
just transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient society proposals from all regions shared with
economies that generate investment, growth us through the UN75 global conversation, the
and employment. And a path that nurtures private sector, subnational leaders and other
social cohesion, advances human rights and non-governmental partners with expertise
gender equality, and builds peace. across the UN75 Declaration themes, and
10 | INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE
UN75 DECLARATION 12 COMMITMENTS
UN75 DECLARATION 12 COMMITMENTS
01
LEAVE NO
02
PROTECT
03
PROMOTE
04
ABIDE BY
ONE BEHIND OUR PEACE & INTERNATIONAL
PLANET PREVENT LAW & ENSURE
CONFLICTS JUSTICE
05
PLACE WOMEN &
06
BUILD
07
IMPROVE
08
UPGRADE
GIRLS AT THE TRUST DIGITAL THE UNITED
CENTER COOPERATION NATIONS
09
ENSURE
10
BOOST
11
LISTEN TO &
12
BE PREPARED
SUSTAINABLE PARTNERSHIPS WORK WITH
FINANCING YOUTHINTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE | 11
UN Member States. People around the world In a separate exercise, we have examined
are speaking, and the United Nations and its participants’ priorities, ideas for addressing
Member States are listening and acting. global challenges, and how these map on
to the UN75 Declaration’s 12 Commitments,
Through this next phase during the UN’s focusing first on the solutions and ideas
75th anniversary of advancing “Our Common for action shared in dialogues, and then
Agenda” by reinvigorating inclusive, networked integrating the information we received
and effective multilateralism, the Secretary- through other UN75 data streams. We present
General will propose recommendations for this separate analysis on the UN75 website.
transformative global action to address
shared problems, deliver on critical global
public goods and prepare for the threats and How UN75 can spark action for a
opportunities of the future. The report will be strong 100th anniversary
made available at the end of the 75th session
of the UNGA in September 2021. What happens next? How can the ideas
shared by so many people through the UN75
initiative spark concrete action and enhance
Synthesizing people’s priorities, their international cooperation? Contributing to
ideas for action and their calls for the the Secretary-General’s profound reflection
United Nations to change how it works process in the coming year for advancing
“Our Common Agenda”, guided by the 12
At the official commemoration of the United Commitment areas in the UN75 Declaration
Nations’ 75th anniversary, on 21 September and listening closely to these ideas and
2020, the Secretary-General presented the proposals shared through the UN75 global
key findings of the dialogues and surveys conversation, we have carved out two
captured in our UN75 report, The Future We pathways to help achieve this:
Want, the United Nations We Need.2 1) The creation of an online digital repository
of all findings (in line with data privacy
In this current report, we update findings regulations). This will allow participants’
about global challenges and priorities and voices to resonate beyond 2020 and serve as
expectations of international cooperation a resource for the UN and other actors to seek
based on UN75 survey and dialogue results change in line with the priorities identified.
through November 3, 2020. This report 2) The follow up to the UN75 Declaration. This
also includes information on the manifold synthesis report and the raw data containing
actions and solutions that people from all the ideas received through the UN75 initiative
regions, sectors, ages and backgrounds had are available to all for the follow up to the UN75
recommended during the UN75 dialogues as Declaration.
steps the UN could take to address today’s
global challenges.ZAMBIA UN Zambia GLOBAL PARTICIPATION: WHO TOOK PART More than 1.5 million people from all thousands of young people played UN75 193 UN Member and Observer States games; and hundreds of researchers joined the UN75 conversation between were engaged in a research mapping January and December 2020. More process. We estimate that through our than 1.3 million people responded to collaborators’ extended networks and the one-minute survey; hundreds of members, 60,000+ organizations and 907 thousands of people from 100+ countries million+ people saw UN75 news, events participated in UN75 dialogues; 50,000 and updates. The details of collaborating people in 50 countries took part in organizations and networks can be representative polling; hundreds of viewed on the UN75 website.
INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE | 13
GLOBAL REACH ACROSS SECTORS
GLOBAL REACH ACROSS SECTORS
YOUTH
• Children and youth through schools
• Online UN75 games, like Kahoot!
• Youth organisations
• UNICEF’s U-Report and
the 2030 Youth Force survey
BUSINESS AND UNIVERSITIES
SPORTS AND THINK
COMMUNITIES TANKS
• Business and employer • 400+ universities,
networks colleges, policy
• Tech firms and phone research institutes,
companies networks and
associations
• Social media platforms
• Students, researchers,
• Sports associations
faculty, thought leaders
• Research
PARLIAMENTARIANS, CITIES, CITIZENS, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTORS • 30,000+ global social movements, NGOs, small
• Inter-Parliamentary Union, parliamentarians in grassroots community groups
179 UN Member States • Vulnerable and under-represented groups
• United Cities and Local Government network • UN Resident Coordinator Offices, UN information
engaged 1,000+ cities, representing half world’s centers, UN Volunteers, Regional UN Development
population Coordination Offices and UN bodies
• Club de Madrid engaged, Prime Ministers from 65 • Influential individuals and high profile social
countries media personalities14 | INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE
FIVE UN75 DATA STREAMS TO GATHER
PRIORITIES AND SOLUTIONS
The UN75 initiative was an exercise in global opinion gathering of attitudes towards global
challenges and international cooperation. We gathered views, priorities and solutions through five
“data streams”:
ONE-MINUTE UN75 SURVEY UN75 DIALOGUES
• www.un75.online open to everyone, • Open to everyone to hold dialogues on
available in 64 languages. their communities’ future priorities
and how to bolster international
• Captured people’s concerns
cooperation, including through the
and priorities for the future,
UN.
and sentiments towards global
cooperation. • A dialogue toolkit supported the
dialogues, encouraged local action,
• As of 31 December 2020, more than
and built trust between groups.
1.3 million people participated from all
193 United Nations Member States. • Dialogues were held in-person, online,
through social media chats and
• Quantitative analysis, in partnership
events, and participants could submit
with the Graduate Institute of
dialogue summaries: www.research.
International and Development
net/r/VJ59YQ7
Studies and New York University.
• As of 31 December, 3,500+ UN75
• Collaborated with UN Development
dialogues were registered in 120+
Programme, Institute for Economics
countries, and 1,200+ dialogue
and Peace and others to cross-analyze
summaries received from participants
UN75 survey data with the Human
in 94 countries.
Development Index, Global Peace
Index, and Good Country Index. • Dialogue summaries were analyzed
in partnership with the Graduate
Institute of International and
Development studies, drawing out
participants’ solutions and ideas for
action, organized along the UN75
Declaration’s 12 Commitments.INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE | 15
INDEPENDENT, MEDIA ANALYSIS RESEARCH
SCIENTIFIC PUBLIC MAPPING
OPINION POLLING • Edelman Intelligence
conducted manual • Academic and policy
• Served to cross- and Artificial research mapping
check our mass, Intelligence of the six official
public UN75 survey. analysis of print, UN languages,
broadcast, online covering all regions,
• Edelman Intelligence and social media in working with the
conducted 70 countries over a Graduate Institute
representative one-year period. of International
telephone and
and Development
online surveys in 36 • Took the
Studies.
(mainly developing) temperature on
countries. attitudes towards • Took stock of
megatrends and latest thinking and
• Pew Research international made research
Center conducted cooperation. and evidence-
representative
based insights on
telephone surveys in
multilateralism,
14 countries.
international
• Focused on cross- cooperation, the
national views United Nations and
of multilateral its work more easily
principles, global accessible to policy
challenges, views of practitioners.
the United Nations,
how the Organization
carries out its
mission.
View the full sample breakdowns for the surveys and dialogues in Annex 1 of this report, and the detailed methodologies
for each data stream in Annex 2.16 | INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE
DATA ANALYZED IN THIS REPORT
This report contains the analysis of data • 14,276 representative survey responses
gathered between 2 January and 3 November in 14 countries, through Pew Research
2020: Center’s survey.
• 35,777 representative online and telephone
• 1,220,848 UN75 survey responses from
survey responses in 36 countries, through
193 UN Member States. 12,310 of these
Edelman’s survey.
were gathered through mobile phone
applications that did not permit the • Social and traditional media in 70 countries.
collection of demographics data and they
• Academic and policy research from all
are excluded from cross analyses with
regions, in the six official UN languages.
demographics data.
• 1,141 UN75 dialogue summaries received
from 94 countries.
REGION UN75 SURVEY DIALOGUE PEW SURVEY EDELMAN
RESPONDENTS SUMMARIES RESPONDENTS SURVEY
RECEIVED RESPONDENTS
Central & Southern Asia 314,701 222 - 4,005
Eastern & South-eastern Asia 130,709 304 2,247 5,009
Europe 145,139 75 8,973 6,009
Latin America & Caribbean 88,821 126 - 6,240
Northern Africa & Western Asia 77,563 80 - 6,513
Northern America 40,559 122 2,040 -
Oceania & Antarctica 18,673 15 1,016 -
Sub-Saharan Africa 400,171 86 - 8,001
Other 4,512 37 - -
Mixed/Online - 74 - -
GLOBAL 1,220,848 1,141 14,276 35,’777
View the detailed country and region counts in Annex 3. Data contained in this report is organized by countries,
territories and areas of origin as provided by respondents. The report uses the country and area names and
methodology used for statistical processing purposes and in its publications by the Statistics Division of the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat (https://unstats.un.org/unsd/
methodology/m49/). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this report do not imply the
expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status
of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.INTRODUCTION TO THE UN75 INITIATIVE | 17
BREAKDOWN OF UN75 SURVEY RESPONDENTS
1.2M
TOTAL RESPONDENTS BY REGION
33%
26%
12% 11%
7% 6%
3%
193
# OF UN MEMBER STATES 2%
Sub- Central & Europe Eastern Latin Northern Northern Oceania
Saharan Southern & South- America Africa & America &
Africa Asia Eastern & Western Antarctica
Asia Caribbean Asia
BY GENDER BY EDUCATION
58%
MALE FEMALE OTHER
23%
51% 48% 1% 18%
1%
Primary Finished Beyond Not
or less secondary secondary specified
34K
BY AGE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY
45%
27%
15%
6% 6%
1%
3%
< 15 yrs 16 - 30 31 - 45 46 - 60 > 61 yrs Not
old old specifiedESTONIA SOAS The Centre for International Studies & Diplomacy
FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC | 19
FINDINGS: PRIORITIES
FOR RECOVERING BETTER
FROM THE PANDEMIC
In response to COVID-19, many citizens
prioritize better access to basic services and
increased global solidarity in the short-term
The COVID-19 pandemic is a common threat Emerging from this crisis is an opportunity to
to the entire world, regardless of nationality, strengthen our commitment to implement the
ethnicity or faith. It is having a devastating 2030 Agenda and 17 Sustainable Development
impact on older people; on women and Goals, address the climate crisis in line with
girls; on low-income communities; on the the Paris Agreement, inequalities, exclusion,
marginalized and isolated. It is presenting gaps in social protection systems and the
new threats to the 2030 Agenda and the many other injustices that have been exposed
Sustainable Development Goals. and exacerbated. The Secretary-General has
repeatedly called for COVID-19 vaccines to
From the outset of the pandemic, the be a global public good available to everyone,
United Nations system mobilized early and everywhere and for an urgent stimulus
comprehensively to support countries in package worth at least 10 per cent of global
addressing the devasting socio-economic, GDP, and for debt relief for all countries that
humanitarian and human rights aspects need it. Beyond health, the Secretary-General
of this crisis. It led on the global health appealed in March for a global ceasefire so
response, provided life-saving humanitarian that countries can focus on fighting the virus.
assistance to the most vulnerable, established This call was echoed again in his speech to the
instruments for rapid responses to the General Assembly in September. He also urged
socio-economic impact and laid out a broad for a new commitment to silence the guns by
policy agenda for action on all fronts. It also end of 2020.3
provided logistics, common services and
operational support to governments and As people around the world continue to suffer
other partners around the world on the front the health, social and economic effects of
lines of the pandemic, as they mounted COVID-19, the immediate, short-term priority
national responses to this new virus and of most people everywhere is improved access
unprecedented global challenge. to basic services: healthcare, education, water20 | FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC
and sanitation. The UN Development
Programme (UNDP) sounded the alarm
Immediate priorities are access in May that human development has
to basic services, international taken a downward turn to levels not seen
support and solidarity, tackling since the human development index was
introduced in 1990.4
inequalities
The UN Development System’s
1. Access to basic services
framework for the immediate
Better
socio- Worse
The same
2. International support
3. Tackling inequalities
economic response to COVID-19
& solidarity
aligns with these priorities. It offers
Global
Global response
49% 20% 32%
a comprehensive package
Universal access to
418k from the UN Development System,
healthcare Sub-Saharan
along fiveAfrica 59
streams of work, 21
connected 20
Increase support to by environmental sustainability.
318k
hardest hit places CentralGender
& Southern Asia is imperative,
52 20 28
equality as well
Strengthen global as theEastern
prioritization of health services,
308k &
solidarity protecting people 51
through 17
social 32
South-eastern Asia
Invest in education & protection and basic services, protecting
288k Northern Africa &
youth jobs, macroeconomic 38 response
19 and44
Western Asia
Universal access to safe multilateral collaboration and social
266k
water & sanitation cohesion
Oceania and community
& Antarctica 37 resilience.
16 47
Address deepened
257k
inequalities Northern America 34 17 49
FIVE PILLARS OF THE UN DEVELOPMENT
Rethink the global SYSTEM COVID-19 RESPONSE
244k Latin America &
economy 34 18 48
Caribbean
Tackle the climate crisis 227k 1 HEALTH FIRST:
Protecting
Europe 32 health
20 services
48
and systems during the crisis
Prevent and reduce
194k
conflict & violence
Make human rights
2 PROTECTING PEOPLE:
Social protection and basic
186k services
central
Modernize international
organizations
180k 3 ECONOMIC RESPONSE &
RECOVERY:
Universal access to Protecting jobs, small and
178k medium-sized enterprises,
digital technologies
and the informal sector
workers
UN75 Survey Q1: What should the international
community prioritise to recover better from the
pandemic? Base: 1,133,501 (all respondents answering 4 MACROECONOMIC RESPONSE
AND MULTILATERAL
this question as from 22 April). 3,064,111 responses: COLLABORATION
participants could select up to three responses.
5 SOCIAL COHESION AND
COMMUNITY RESILIENCEFINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC | 21
UZBEKISTAN UNDP Uzbekistan
Universal access of essential health services, services, health systems and
to healthcare is and about 100 million people health workers are under
the top immediate are still being pushed into enormous strain around the
priority among UN75 extreme poverty because of world, with indirect health
health costs.5 impacts also expected to
respondents, as
rise.6
healthcare systems
In this context, ‘Universal
around the world feel access to healthcare’ is Universal access to
the strain the top immediate priority healthcare only ranked
among UN75 survey second in two regions – Sub
COVID-19 has shone a respondents in all but two - Saharan Africa and Eastern
spotlight on the enormous regions. This reflects the and South-eastern Asia –
shortfall in access to grim reality reported by where respondents ranked
healthcare for people around UNDP – that daily COVID-19 ‘increased support to the
the world. In April 2020, the related deaths have hardest hit countries and
United Nations reported that exceeded other common territories’ and ‘strengthen
at least half of the world still causes of death throughout global solidarity’ respectively
does not have full coverage much of 2020. Emergency fractionally higher.22 | FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC
SUMMARY OF UN75 DIALOGUE PARTICIPANTS’ DISCUSSIONS
ON PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS, MANAGEMENT, RECOVERY AND
OPPORTUNITY
Participants manufacturers that the vaccine will be
overwhelmingly distributed equally, with no preference
observed that the to any particular country.
COVID-19 pandemic was
• Assessment should be completed
a compelling reminder
in advance on those elements
of our fragility and our
of pandemic preparedness,
interconnectedness. Only multilateral
management and recovery that should
cooperation would be enough to reign in
be done centrally, as opposed to
the pandemic, recover from it, and learn
elements best done locally.
its lessons. You can see their numerous,
detailed suggestions under Commitment
12 ‘We will be Prepared’. Some of the key On ongoing pandemic management
solutions proposed include: • Countries should take responsibility to
ensure adequate prevention policies
and public health measures in line
On preparedness
with WHO guidelines are in place and
• UN Member states can strengthen robustly enforced.
international cooperation, including
• Information sharing systems for
WHO’s role within the UN.
the transparent sharing of real time
• Countries should put more resources information by countries on their
into monitoring emerging zoonoses current pandemic status should be
and share information in a transparent strengthened.
and timely way.
• Partnerships with development
• Assistance should be given by UN agencies should be created to
Member States and multilateral funds ensure all Covid-19 health advisories
to developing countries to strengthen and information reach people at
national health systems to ensure every level, including in remote and
infrastructure is in place to manage underprivileged communities.
future pandemics.
• Structures and platforms should be On recovery
established to facilitate countries • UN Member States who are able to do
to cooperate on research, develop so should support poorer countries
vaccines, and to distribute vaccines to fully invest their resources to
equitably. There needs to be mitigate the economic, social, health
consensus amongst states and privateFINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC | 23
► Continued summary of UN75 dialogue participants’ discussions on pandemic preparedness,
management, recovery and opportunity
and psychological side effects of the risks associated with pandemics
current crisis on the most vulnerable and health crises. Research and
groups. development in these and other areas
should be a priority of international
• In respect of education the
research collaborations and support.
international community should
prioritize delivery of quality education • The pandemic has demonstrated that
and access to online and remote public health is one of the key benefits
learning especially in countries where of contactless technology and efforts
access to the internet is low. Laptop should be made to build on the
and tablet banks could support poorer momentum towards a digital culture.
students to access technology.
• For many, COVID-19 has transformed
• In respect of community level the workplace. As well as risks, the
response, multi-institutional lessons of the pandemic have the
initiatives and collaborations should potential to bring about change at a
be established between to provide pace previously unforeseen: more
well considered services for local visibility as to what caregiving entails,
communities, based on their own more equal distribution of caregiving
identification of what they need. responsibilities and access to
opportunities across genders, greater
• The charity and non-profit sector, so
access to opportunities by those
essential to supporting recovery of
in remote locations, the potential
communities, has also been affected
revitalisation of dying regions and
by the pandemic, with individuals and
alleviation of environmental pressures
governments called on to ensure this
on dense urban centres.
sector itself recovers so it can play
the important role in recovery it is • The pandemic, through the increasing
otherwise uniquely poised to play. use of virtual meeting tools as a
standard way of communicating,
Building on opportunities arising from has brought together people from
the pandemic across the world who would not have
previously shared their experiences,
• Future investment and development increasing the understanding,
of medical technologies were viewed tolerance and sense of global
as having the potential to contribute community at the core of the UN’s
to public health and safety and reduce mission.24 | FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC As COVID-19 forces children out of schools, access to education emerges as one of the top priorities for UN75 respondents, particularly in lower human development countries Increased investment in education and youth programmes, another key basic service, ranked fourth among all immediate priorities to recover from the pandemic. This was the third-highest priority for respondents in countries in Sub- Saharan Africa and in Central and Southern Asia, where there are many low human development countries. This reflects UNDP’s findings that the “effective out-of-school rate” – the adjusted percentage of primary school-age children facing school closures, accounting for households with internet access and the opportunity to continue structured learning – in May 2020 was highest in low human development countries (86%, an increase of 59 percentage points), followed by medium human development countries (74%, an increase of 67 percentage points) and high human development countries (47%, an increase of 41 percentage points). The majority of school-age children in very high human development countries were found to have the possibility to continue structured learning, with an effective out-of-school rate of 20% (though still an increase of 19 percentage points).7
FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC | 25
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX
In collaboration with UNDP, we cross- criteria for assessing the development
analysed our UN75 data with the Human of a country, not economic growth alone.
Development Index (HDI) to observe patterns The HDI is a summary measure of average
and correlations between respondents’ achievement in key dimensions of human
answers and their country’s levels of human development: a long and healthy life, being
development. The Human Development knowledgeable and having a decent standard
Index was created to emphasize that people of living. Read more.
and their capabilities should be the ultimate
BURKINA FASO UNICEF/Frank Dejongh
FROM THE UN75 DIALOGUES
There is strong evidence that We need to listen to young people,
inequality and exclusion can be who are a key partner in advancing
effectively tackled through the the 2030 Agenda. It’s important to
provision of comprehensive, both expand their access to the
universal health and education. best digital technology has to offer,
protect them from harm online,
and empower them to know how to
protect themselves.
Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive
Societies, New York University Center on
International Cooperation, USA, dialogue with
mostly women, mixed ages and professions.
Office of the UN Resident Coordinator, China,
dialogue with students, ages 16-30.26 | FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC
Beyond access to healthcare, the second and third immediate priorities of
UN75 survey respondents vary by region
PRIORITY RANKING Global
Global Central & Eastern & Europe Latin Northern Northern Oceania Sub-
1st 2nd 3rd Southern South- America Africa & America & Saharan
Asia eastern & Western Antarctica Africa
Asia Caribbean Asia
Universal access to 37% 34% 36% 42% 48% 46% 47% 49% 32%
healthcare
Increase support to 28 25 26 24 26 31 24 34 32
hardest hit places
Strengthen global 27 22 36 28 23 28 23 24 29
solidarity
Invest in education & 25 22 24 24 26 27 20 27 29
youth
Universal access to 23 20 27 26 29 23 31 27 22
safe water & sanitation
Address deepened 23 16 30 20 29 20 27 25 25
inequalities
Rethink the global 22 14 20 32 27 20 21 19 24
economy
Tackle the climate 20 16 21 31 24 16 31 21 18
crisis
Prevent and reduce 17 13 20 16 12 20 17 19 20
conflict & violence
Make human rights 16 13 14 21 19 19 22 15 18
central
Modernize international 16 13 14 11 9 14 11 16 22
organizations
Universal access to 16 15 16 8 11 13 9 14 21
digital technologies
UN75 Survey Q1: What should the international community prioritise to recover better from the pandemic? Base:
1,129,006 (all respondents as from 22 April, excluding “other” countries). Central & Southern Asia (303,450), Eastern
& South-eastern Asia (118,379), Europe (125,255), Latin America & Caribbean (77,241), Northern Africa & Western Asia
(70,085), Northern America (32,889), Oceania & Antarctica (17,524), Sub-Saharan Africa (384,200). 3,051,757 total
responses: respondents could select up to three responses.FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC | 27
‘Access to safe water and sanitation’ was an immediate priority for UN75
respondents, irrespective of their country’s human development level
According to UNDP, 785 million people still In Northern America, the percentage of
lack access to basic sources of clean water, respondents who chose ‘Universal access to
and around 3 billion people lack a basic hand- safe water and sanitation’ was only fractionally
washing facility with soap and water in their lower than the percentage that selected
household8. As the World Health Organization ‘Tackling the climate crisis’ – the second
and governments around the world ran top immediate priority to recover from the
campaigns to promote hand-washing with pandemic in the region. When looking at
soap as a key defense against the virus, it is respondents’ answers according to their
little wonder that access to safe water and country’s levels of development, we see
sanitation was a critical priority for people in that those in Very High Human Development
both higher and lower human development countries chose ‘Achieve universal access to
countries. It was the third ranked priority for safe water and sanitation’ as their second top
people in Northern America, Latin America immediate priority to recover better from the
and the Caribbean and Oceania and Antarctica. pandemic.
In their survey, in a related finding, Edelman found that respondents in both
high and low Gross Natinal Income countries saw poverty and poor living
standards as the second largest issue today, after the pandemic
Ranking of biggest issues in the world today
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH
High Pandemics such Poverty and Climate change International Countries
affluence as COVID-19 poor living terrorism using nuclear
standards weapons
Low Pandemics such Poverty and Lack of job Poor healthcare International
affluence as COVID-19 poor living security/ and low life terrorism
standards unemployment expectancy
Source: Edelman. Q3. What do you see as the 3 biggest issues in the world today? Base: All selecting one major issue
in the world (35,149), Low affluence (13,926), High affluence (8,869). Gross National Income (GNI) based on the World
Bank’s GNI classification.
HIGH GNI MIDDLE-UPPER GNI LOWER-MIDDLE GNI
Chile Portugal Argentina Indonesia Angola Nigeria
Czech Republic Saudi Arabia Brazil Malaysia Bangladesh Pakistan
Hungary Singapore China Mexico Cameroon Senegal
Israel United Arab Emirates Colombia Russia Egypt Tanzania
Norway Dominican Republic South Africa India Ukraine
Poland Gabon Turkey Kenya Uzbekistan
Morocco Vietnam28 | FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC
Beyond basic services, many UN75 respondents looked to the international
community to support the hardest hit people and communities, and called for
increased solidarity between people and nations
Respondents in regions
Immediate priorities to recover better
with a higher proportion of
lower human development
from the pandemic, by country’s Human
countries, including Central Development level
and Southern Asia, Northern
PRIORITY RANKING HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX CATEGORY
Africa and Western Asia, and
Oceania, placed ‘Increased 1st 2nd 3rd
Global
Global Very high High Medium Low
support to the hardest hit
people and communities’ as Universal access to
their second priority for the 37% 42% 44% 33% 33%
healthcare
international community
Increase support to
to recover better from the 28 22 30 29 30
hardest hit places
pandemic. Respondents in
Eastern and South-eastern Strengthen global 27 29 30 24 29
Asia, and Northern Africa solidarity
and Western Asia prioritized Invest in education & 25 22 27 24 29
‘Strengthening solidarity youth
between people and Universal access to 23 29 22 21 22
nations’ second and third, safe water & sanitation
respectively.
Address deepened 23 26 23 19 25
inequalities
Many respondents in Very
High Human Development Rethink the global 22 27 22 18 23
economy
countries were less inclined
to view ‘Support to the Tackle the climate 20 28 20 16 19
hardest hit places’ as a high crisis
priority. This may reflect Prevent and reduce 17 17 17 15 21
the tendency to look inward conflict & violence
amid the pandemic, as all
Make human rights
countries, including Very central
16 19 18 13 18
High Development countries,
grapple with COVID-19 health Modernize international 16 11 13 15 24
organizations
and socio-economic shocks.
Universal access to 16 10 15 16 21
digital technologies
UN75 Survey Q1: What should the international community prioritise to recover better from the pandemic? Base:
1,125,857 (all respondents as from 22 April). Cross-analysed with the Human Development Index country groupings:
Very high HDI (244,712), High HDI (215,931), Medium HDI (386,992), Low HDI (278,222), No HDI data available (7,644).
3,042,981 total responses: respondents could select up to three responses.FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC | 29
Many UN75 respondents expressed and lower income and minority groups have
concern about inequalities made fared far worse in terms of the health effects
worse by the COVID-19 pandemic and of the pandemic, as well as the knock-
containment measures on socio-economic effects, which have
increased inequalities within and across
countries.9 People in Latin America and the
Respondents’ emphasis on access to basic
Caribbean, and Eastern and South-eastern
services and increased solidarity and support
Asia prioritized ‘Addressing inequalities that
for those hardest hit can all be viewed through
have deepened as a result of COVID-19’ as
the prism of inequalities. The next set of
second and third respectively. Respondents in
issues prioritized by respondents around
Northern America, Oceania and Antarctica and
the world were tackling inequalities that
Sub-Saharan Africa also ranked addressing
have deepened as a result of COVID-19 and
inequalities high; as fourth, fifth and fifth,
rethinking the global economy.
respectively.
While no country or region has been spared
Over and above access to basic services,
the adverse effects of the pandemic, lower
UNDP reports that inequalities in access to
and middle human development countries
“enhanced capabilities” across populations
around the world were already widening in the
years preceding COVID-19.10
FROM THE UN75 DIALOGUES
Substantial shares of UN75
respondents in higher human
development countries place tackling
the climate crisis among their top
The UN has made significant immediate priorities
contributions to building a
more peaceful and egalitarian In Northern America and Europe, where
world, but each person who access to most basic services is generally
is still out of school, who still higher than in other regions, respondents
prioritized ‘Tackling the climate crisis with
lives in poverty or who does
greater urgency’ (ranked second in Northern
not know where his next meal America and third in Europe) after ‘Universal
will come from should remind access to healthcare.’
us that there is still much to
be done. UNDP stresses, in its 2020 Human
Development Report, that planetary and social
imbalances are exacerbating one another. The
deep inequalities that already exist are being
worsened by, and are expected to continue to
UN Brazil, dialogue with business worsen due to climate change, environmental
professionals, ages 31-45, mostly men. degradation, as well as knock-on effects, such
as health pandemics.1130 | FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC
SUMMARY OF UN75 DIALOGUE PARTICIPANTS’ DISCUSSIONS ON
INEQUALITIES
Ensuring that no one is Access to basic services for all
left behind means, for
• Universal healthcare access, including
dialogue participants,
mental healthcare, should be ensured
committing to fully
by national governments across the
implementing Agenda
world.
2030 by addressing
sustainable development across its • Establish an international agreement
dimensions. Participants want a world to guarantee free water and
where wealth is distributed more equally, sanitation.
with support to the most disadvantaged,
as reflected under Commitment 1 “We Focus on equitable access to quality
will leave no one behind”. Participants education
agreed that integrated approaches and
progressive action driven by diverse • Governments should promote
stakeholders are essential to make sure educational reform to respond to the
that no one is left behind. Some of the needs of the future, and to ensure that
key solutions proposed include: education is affordable to all income
levels, and that it is inclusive.
• Schools can improve teacher trainings
Inclusion of marginalised and vulnerable
and ensure up-to-date and relevant
groups
educational material and skills-
• National governments and the UN development programmes.
system should prioritize the inclusion
of vulnerable groups in decision-
Promote socio-economic inclusion
making through the development
of appropriate policies, especially • The introduction of a universal basic
Indigenous and LGBTQI+ communities. income, as well as economic support
policies and tax reform can alleviate
• Governments should take steps
poverty and reduce inequalities.
to ratify and support the universal
rights of people with disabilities • The UN system should prioritize
and promote the creation of an UN the provision of support to the
Convention to protect the rights of communities hardest hit by
older people. COVID-19, and to under-served, rural
communities.
• The private sector should play a role
in combating racism and creating
economic opportunities for women
and ethnic minorities.FINDINGS: PRIORITIES FOR RECOVERING BETTER FROM THE PANDEMIC | 31
► Continued summary of UN75 dialogue participants’ discussions on inequalities
Address the refugee and migrant crisis migration flows, re-visit the scope of
the Refugee Convention to consider
• National governments should work to
those forced to migrate due to
improve migration policies, including
climate and environmental factors,
providing better and more humane
and improve the living conditions in
management of refugee and migrant
refugee camps through educational
arrivals, and ensuring safe travel for
and employment opportunities,
all.
and shortening the time people
• The UN system and Member stay in camps through increased
States should aim to improve the humanitarian visas and faster
management of international resettlement options.
AFGHANISTAN United Nations
Assistance Mission in AfghanistanESWATINI UN Eswatini
FINDINGS: OUTLOOK FOR 2045: THREATS AND CHALLENGES | 33
FINDINGS: OUTLOOK
FOR 2045: THREATS AND
CHALLENGES
MOST RESPONDENTS
HOLD GREATER UN75 survey respondents’
outlook for the future varies
OPTIMISM FOR THE across regions
FUTURE
1. Access to basic services 2. International support Better The same Worse
3. Tackling
Globally, inequalities
many & solidarity
more respondents believe
people will be better off in 2045 than today Global
Global 49% 20% 32%
(49%)Universal
compared accessto to those who believe
418k
healthcare
people will be worse off (32%). Strong Sub-Saharan Africa 59 21 20
trends are visible
Increase support toat the regional level, 318k
as wellhardest
as whenhit places
looking at the views of Central & Southern Asia 52 20 28
UN75Strengthen
survey respondents
global according to
308k Eastern &
their respective country’s level of human
solidarity 51 17 32
South-eastern Asia
development.
Invest in education &
288k Northern Africa &
youth 38 19 44
Respondents in safe
Sub-Saharan Africa were, Western Asia
Universal access to
by far, the&most
water optimistic about266k
sanitation the future, Oceania & Antarctica 37 16 47
with Address
59% expressing
deepened the belief that people
will be better 257k
off in 2045 than they are
inequalities Northern America 34 17 49
today. This was followed by Central and
Rethink the global
Southern Asia (52%), Eastern and 244kSouth- Latin America &
economy 34 18 48
eastern Asia (51%). Caribbean
Tackle the climate crisis 227k
By contrast, UN75 survey respondents Europe 32 20 48
Prevent were
in Europe and reduce
mostly pessimistic
194k about
conflict & violence UN75 Survey Q6: Overall, do you think that people in
the future, with 48% believing that people 2045 will be better off, worse off, the same as you are
Make
will be humanoff
worse rights
than today (compared to today? Base: 1,216,333 (all respondents, excluding
186k
central
32% who responded better off). Similarly, “other” countries). Sub-Saharan Africa (400,171), Central
Modernize
49% international in Northern America
of respondents & Southern Asia (314,701), Eastern & South-eastern
180k Asia (130,706), Northern Africa & Western Asia (77,563),
organizations
believe people will be worse off in the Oceania & Antarctica (18,673), Northern America
Universal
future, accessbytoLatin America and the
followed (40,559), Latin America & Caribbean (88,821), Europe
178k
digital technologies
Caribbean (48% pessimistic), and Oceania (145,139).
and Antarctica (47% pessimistic).34 | FINDINGS: OUTLOOK FOR 2045: THREATS AND CHALLENGES
Respondents in regions In the case of human development, UN75
with more lower human survey respondents in regions with a higher
development countries hold number of lower human development
countries were far more optimistic about the
greater optimism for the future
future than respondents in regions with a
higher number of higher human development
countries.
WORLD BETTER OFF IN 2045
Central Asia
Middle Africa
Western Africa
Eastern Africa South-eastern Asia
Eastern Asia
Southern Asia Eastern Europe
LOWER Southern HIGHER
HUMAN LOW MEDIUM Africa HIGH VERY HIGH HUMAN
DEVEL- Northern Africa DEVEL-
OMENT Western Asia Northern OPMENT
Pacific Islands Caribbean America
Southern
South America Europe Northern
Europe
Western Europe
Central America
Australia and New Zealand
WORLD WORSE OFF IN 2045
UN75 Survey Q6: Overall, do you think that people in 2045 will be better off, worse off, the same as you are today? Base:
1,213,107 (all respondents, excluding those with no HDI data). Regional average for “outlook for 2045” (y axis scale: -0.7 to
0.7), from “Worse off in 2045” (-1) to “Better off in 2045” (+1). Cross analysed with regional average HDI (x axis scale: 0.4
to 1 HDI). HDI regional averages weighted by the number of observations of each respective country.You can also read
