Pacific Island children and the global economic crisisPacific Island children must have first call on resources:
1. The rise in food prices, spikes in the cost of fuel, and the deepening global economic crisis (GEC) present severe risks to the wellbeing of children and women around the world. The threats presented by climate change can be added to this volatile mix. Children and women living in Small Island Developing States such as the Pacific Islands are especially vulnerable. The combined impacts of these crises threaten to undo years of poverty alleviation, child survival and education. The International Monetary Fund has estimated that a 10 per cent increase in food prices has pushed a further 105 million people into poverty on top of the 600 million already living on less than US$1 a day in the Asia and Pacific region. The lessons of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis provide strong evidence of significant adverse effects on child health and nutrition, especially among the most vulnerable women and children. 2. All Pacific island countries and territories (PICTS) are vulnerable to the impact of increased food and fuel prices and the deeper impacts of the global economic crisis and climate change. The impacts, however, are variable from country to country and at community and household level. Vulnerability of PICTs is due largely to, amongst other factors: the already high cost of commodity transportation, with ships importing goods to PICTs returning empty because of limited exports; limited alternatives to bio-fuel (this is occurring globally, including PICTs) with heavy reliance on diesel-generated electricity; pre-existing levels of poverty especially among urban squatter settlements, rural areas and outer islands; the lack of robust social protection mechanisms and safety nets in all PICTs (except Fiji which has a Family Assistance Programme); the demand for modern, imported foods because of changing diets and lifestyle aspirations; atoll islands at risk of sea inundation with poor soils and generally limited agricultural production; vulnerability to national disasters; the isolation of inhabited islands; poor infrastructure and transportation facilities which hinder between- and within-country trading, affecting both imported and locally produced foods; unfavorable fiscal policy environments; and weak budgetary positions. 3. The rise in the prices of food and fuel and the global economic crisis in particular present the following concerns for UNICEF Pacific: (a) there is increased risk of mortality in the short term; (b) there is increased risk of nutrition insecurity in the short term in the most vulnerable and marginalized populations and groups – special attention is needed for children under 5 years of age and especially 12 to 24 months olds (going through a period of maximum brain and body development), pregnant and lactating women; (c) there is increased risk of child labour and other abuses of children; (d) there is risk of major medium and long term consequences for child health, nutrition and education outcomes; (e) the need for urgent and unified efforts to mitigate the consequences and ensure that progress towards the MDGs, especially education and child and maternal mortality, is not impeded or reversed; (f) there are evidence-based interventions which can ameliorate the adverse effects of these crises, with the potential of preventing 20-50% of child deaths – government and development partner commitment to invest in these interventions must be maintained despite the global economic crisis. What steps is UNICEF Pacific taking to help countries respond to the GEC ? 4. The overall strategic response of UNICEF Pacific is to help governments to: 5. The above work has already commenced and will intensify during May to August 2009 within two streams of work to develop response frameworks and commitments: 6. Early findings from both streams of work will be presented at a Commonwealth Secretariat/ UNICEF/UNRISD/University of South Pacific/UNDP/UNESCAP “Social Policy in Pacific Islands” meeting July 21-23 2009 in Suva, Fiji. This will be followed by discussion of key results and commitments at a high level regional meeting to be held in Fiji (together with UNICEF PNG and other agencies) September 2009.
Protecting Pacific Island children and women during economic and food crises
Offers a rapid synopsis of the food price rise and global economic crises together with their known and potential impacts on Pacific Island children and women including lessons learned from previous crises. Provides guidance on real-time monitoring to better understand the situation of children and women in the Pacific. Outlines social policy options to help protect Pacific Island children and women now and in future crises. [PDF] (PDF documents require Acrobat Reader to view.) Children in times of economic crisis: Past lessons, future policies
How do economic shocks, in particular the current economic downturn, affect the wellbeing of children? What can be done to mitigate harm? This paper explores these questions, presents a framework for analysing the impact of shocks on children in different contexts, and suggests initial policy implications. [PDF] (PDF documents require Acrobat Reader to view.) Impact of the Financial Crisis on Children - Conference Report
A summary of the key findings and policy recommendations from the high level regional conference on the global financial crisis and its impact on children, Singapore, January 6-7, 2009 [PDF] (PDF documents require Acrobat Reader to view.) Aggregate Shocks, Poor Household and Children: Transmission Channels and Policy Responses
This paper maps the different channels through which the effects of the global financial coupled with food and fuel price volatility could be transmitted to the developing world and illustrates a basic framework of shock transmission from the macro- to the micro-levels. [PDF] (PDF documents require Acrobat Reader to view.) |
