Can Economic and Financial Innovation Make a Difference in a Pandemic? May 2020

Can Economic and Financial Innovation Make a Difference in a Pandemic?

Thursday, May 28, 9:30 am-11:00 am ET Watch online at https://www.cgdev.org/event/can-economic-and-financial-innovation-make-difference-pandemic FEATURING Josh Bicknell, Co-founder and CEO, Balloon Ventures James Habyarimana, Provost Distinguished Associate Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy, Georgetown University; Global Innovation Fund Board Member; and Non-Resident Fellow, Center for Global Development Farouk Meralli, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, mClinica Pharmacy Solutions  Alix Peterson Zwane, Chief Executive Officer, Global Innovation Fund and Non-Resident Fellow, Center for Global Development MODERATOR Nancy Lee, Senior Policy Fellow, Center for Global Development  ABOUT THE EVENT Many are focused on the response of governments to the pandemic and its economic impact, and the scale of support needed from the IMF and development banks, both multilateral and bilateral. But the private sector must lead as well, not just in the recovery phase but also in crisis response. Its capacity for rapid adaptation and innovation, understanding of consumer behavior, flexibility, and productive capacity are essential for responding to multiple and ongoing shocks and uncertainties. How can the public and private sectors collaborate most effectively in restarting financial flows, delivering essential health and other services to the vulnerable, and restoring livelihoods? If you have questions for our panelists, please submit them to events@cgdev.org, tweet @CGDev #CGDTalks, or submit your comments via YouTube. Register This event will be streamed live. Register above to receive a reminder about the webcast before the event. The video will stream and remain available at https://www.cgdev.org/event/can-economic-and-financial-innovation-make-difference-pandemic. Close-captioned-enabled video will be posted following the conclusion of the event. Share this event #CGDTalks

Volunteer Service in Vulnerable Community such as AMERICORPS. Missed Opportunities. incentives. A

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/05/21/americorps-contact-tracing/

Expanding AmeriCorps could turn new grads into an army of contact tracers. It just needs funding.

By 

Danielle Douglas-Gabriel

May 21, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. EDT

As the public health crisis shatters the economy, employment prospects for the Class of 2020 are grim. Newly minted college graduates have had internships and job offers rescinded or delayed. They are entering a workforce rife with competition for scarce opportunities.

Against that backdrop, lawmakers say a decades-old federal initiative could offer work as beneficial to graduates as it is to their communities. AmeriCorps funds tens of thousands of young people to help vulnerable populations across the country. In exchange for their service, volunteers can build their résumés and receive up to $6,195 toward student loans or a degree.

The Clinton-era national service program is getting new attention as the country tries to contain and recover from the coronavirus pandemic. A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to deploy an army of volunteers for contact tracing, which would require some 300,000 people to map exposure to the virus. They say an expanded fleet of young AmeriCorps members also could deliver food and supplies to people who are homebound or tutor elementary students to stem learning loss.

Emphasis should be on States and Local Communities. FEMA provides the funding. May 28, 2020

TRUST.  Lost.  Shall it now be at the policy-maker level.

Policy makers are still missing the boat, and on a business as usual approach.

The emphasis should be on local community plans to address multiple crisis and disasters, not FEMA.

FEMA can respond with national resources to address major significant crisis and disasters at the State level, but what have the States, Counties, Cities, and Local level accomplished the meet the demands of increase in disasters, public health issues (COVID-19), and the future impacts of climate change.

Questions should be focused getting resources before and after a disaster occurs to communities in States, Counties, more on those vulnerable communities.

1. What State, County, City, and Local emergency management offices\agencies are managed and controlled by the Law Enforcement entities?
2. Are DHS\FEMA pre- and post disaster fundings control by Law Enforcement or thru these entities?
3. Are more funds placed on law enforcement equipment, education, training, and resources than local 'grass level' community organizations to address single and multiple disasters?
4. What are the percentages of  DHS\FEMA funding for each State and County within these jurisdictions of FEMA and other funding for pre- and post disasters?
5. Why can't DHS\FEMA grant and other funding for Law Enforcement be shifted to Department of Justice grant and funding programs for better oversight?

All disasters are local, and all resources should be allocated to the lowest levels in communities to address these issues.

CDS

Chairman\CEO

Cornell University Climate Fellow

BEMA International

Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chairman Thompson and Committee Democrats Write FEMA on its Ability to Respond to Multiple Disasters During the COVID-19 Pandemic The Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins June 1

May 28, 2020 (WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and the Democratic Members of the Committee, sent a letter to Peter Gaynor, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), raising concerns about the agency’s ability to respond to multiple disasters simultaneously during the COVID-19 pandemic and asking for a briefing on their preparation efforts.  The Atlantic Hurricane Season does not begin until June 1 and there have already been two named storms this month, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting an above normal season.   “Given these projections, we are concerned about FEMA’s capacity to manage natural disaster preparedness and response efforts during the ongoing pandemic,” the Committee Members write. “Going forward, FEMA needs to take a proactive role in procuring the staffing and resources necessary to respond, keeping in mind that conventional disaster response strategies, such as communal shelters and volunteer recovery and supply distribution efforts, could pose increased health and safety risks during the pandemic.” Link to letter #  #  #