More than 30 million people have been infected by the Coronavirus and more than 900,000 lives have been lost by the infectious disease worldwide (WHO, 2020). The pandemic has completely upended lives across the planet, restricting movement, shutting down schools, and forcing millions to work from home. Despite these circumstances, various SuM4All’s Member organizations have been mobilizing their strongest assets — expertise, knowledge, finance, and network to respond to the pandemic. In this three-part story, we highlight how some of our Members are embracing this new reality while adapting and contributing to a multi-faceted, global response to the crisis around the world:

I. Informing and guiding public action

World Health Organization (WHO) – “We are building the ship as we sail,” said WHO Director General,  Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, as he appealed for a Global Humanitarian Response Plan to respond to the COVID-19 crisis.  The World Health Organization — a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, has emerged as the go-to source for data, global monitoring and recommendations to the public and countries on how to prepare and respond to this pandemic. Aside from daily media briefings, the WHO has developed a range of tools to make information available to the public.  For example, the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Situation dashboards provide the latest data on the evolution of the pandemic by countries, areas, and territories.  The new WHO Health Alert for Coronavirus messaging service (WhatsApp-based service) keeps billions of people informed through their mobile phones. And educational tools such as Protect Yourself have been watched by millions of people globally. The organization is also reviewing its transport safety guidance for people and the public transport sector, which is expected to reduce fear of the virus from the use of public transportation. WHO has developed guidance on how to implement personal hygiene and physical distancing recommendations within the transport system both during the confinement and as countries ease restrictions.

Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) is responding to the pandemic in three thematic areas.

1. FIA is collecting information that Mobility and Sports Clubs are putting in place to help coping with the COVID 19 crisis via FIA Member Clubs against COVID
2. FIA launched the “Stay Tuned” initiative, a training platform for FIA members to gather insights on how to manage / navigate in times of crisis
3. The FIA and the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) re-enforced their partnership extending the scope to address the COVID 19 crisis

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) - States, intergovernmental bodies, aviation regulators and operators and the public are accessing ICAO’s standards and related guidance materials through ICAO’s COVID-19 portal. Taken together, ICAO standards underpin the safe, secure and sustainable operation and development of the global civil aviation network. In supporting their elaboration and implementation in the current context, ICAO is playing a key role not only in ensuring the prevention of the further spread of the pandemic but also the continued operation of critical humanitarian and supply chain flights. Given that air connectivity is directly contributing to the achievement of 15 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, ICAO is also active in the preparations for the global recovery from COVID-19. In this regard, ICAO’s leadership is advocating for the prioritization of aviation within national and international recovery strategies, including within the context of the outcomes of the G20 summit.

On June 1, 2020, the Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART) which is working with governments, international and regional organizations and industries released recovery guidelines "take off" aiming to spearhead and support the aviation sector in addressing the challenges it is facing to start the recovery.

International Maritime Organization (IMO) is closely monitoring the effects of the pandemic on global maritime transport and is providing advice for Member States, seafarers and shipping.”

SEforALL is playing a critical role in combatting the pandemic and catalyzing an economic recovery. SEforALL has adjusted its existing programs and launched new initiatives - supporting the off-grid energy sector and powering healthcare facilities to support the global COVID-19 response.

International Transport Forum (ITF-OECD) has created a dedicated webpage on the COVID-19 crisis: www.itf-oecd.org/covid-19.

Partnership on Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLOCAT) is gathering relevant information, resources, and virtual events on COVID-19 and its impacts on transport:

• Calendar with info on international events https://slocat.net/sustainable-transport-events-2020/
• Info hub of resources, webinars and reflections by the wide transport community. Any resources you’d like us to include here, just let me know https://slocat.net/covid-19-and-the-sustainable-transport-community/

Sustainable Transport Africa: Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic Sustainable Transport Africa has embraces teleworking strategies in line with government restrictions and regulations that were enacted during the pandemic.

Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI) published a Corona Transport Knowledge Platform to share all available knowledge around COVID-19 and transport. The platform includes best practices on COVID-19 including protection tips, country response, and observations related to the impact of the coronavirus within the transport and mobility sector.

International Union of Railway (UIC)  published a Guidance for Railway Stakeholders amid COVID-19 crisis management. A task force consisting of UIC member companies, experts and other relevant stakeholders was structured to find ways to respond to the crisis within the railway sector. Their focus is on collecting and sharing practices from UIC members on actions already in place, and recommending measures that could be implemented in full coordination with health authorities.

From François Davenne, UIC Director General “The aftermath of the COVID 19 crisis will be the occasion to build a new normal for the world of tomorrow. Railways have demonstrated their resilience and their capacity to deliver essential services even in these difficult circumstances. We all know that railway and public transport are the key to a sustainable future, provided that they are able to implement seamless multimodal mobility networks. In a Joint Statement, UIC, UNIFE, and UITP strongly commit to giving a new sense of urgency to the delivery of this paradigm for the public transport ecosystem."

Michelin is committed to the production of hand sanitizer in 5 plants alongside WHO’s protocol. It is also contributing in the production of about 500 million disposable facial masks that will be mostly allocated for hospital use. Michelin is also engaged in the manufacturing of flow sensors/ventilators (currently critical supplies for hospitals) in partnership with CEA, to help Air Liquide ramp up production of respirators at high scale. As a worldwide corporate with 117 production facilities in 26 countries, the priority for Michelin is to protect all 12,0000 employees everywhere in the world, with standards that are sometimes more demanding than the measures requested by local authorities. Its second priority is to be able to restart industrial operations when the conditions allow it. By restarting its activities, Michelin is helping its customers and suppliers.      

ReCAP continues to support its partners and other stakeholders by implementing relevant applied research for the advancement of rural access in Africa and Asia. This includes contributing to UK aid's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

REN21 has created a COVID-19 Renewable Energy Resource Hub to collect resources on how the crisis is affecting the energy sector  and make the renewable energy voice heard as it pertains to the crisis. It will build on the collective knowledge and strengths of REN21’s member constituencies and broader community. It will increase the relevance, visibility and impact of these messages centered around 4 themes which are:

1. Impact of COVID-19 on the energy sector
2. Opportunities for renewables
3. Health benefits of a renewable-based economy
4. Guidance for governments

The FIA Foundation has made substantial donations to practical activities in support of the fight against COVID-19 (Oxford University’s vaccine work; Transaid’s work in Africa, and AIP Foundation’s mask production in Vietnam). The Foundation is also working with its grantees to reschedule work where necessary and offer the support and the security needed throughout the crisis. Moreover, the FIA Foundation is looking at what the crisis means for issues related to safety and sustainable mobility, while also working with key partners to scope positive next steps. 

International Association of Public Transport (UITP) issued a detailed set of guidelines for public transport authorities and operators, “Management of COVID-19” Factsheet. These guidelines, available in eight languages, were prepared on February 2020 in the framework of the coronavirus outbreak and aim to assist public transport stakeholders in tailoring business continuity plans while responding to the specific challenges of communicable diseases. UITP is also providing their Members and Partners with a series of free webinars on the topic of the Public Transport Response to Coronavirus, including case studies and debates with hands-on experts from all continents.

In addition, 2 parallel actions have been developed. These include:

1. Statement requesting the rapid adoption of exceptional measures by the governments to limit the social, economic and financial consequences of the crisis, as well as to facilitate continuity of services;
2. Global communication campaign ‘Guardians of Mobility’, highlighting the key role of Public Transport workers as an integral part of the front liners keeping essential services available.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) issued a press release  in response to COVID-19 explaining that the United Nations has developed Recommendations for the Transport of Dangerous Goods to ensure their safe and efficient transport and also facilitates an Observatory on Border Crossings Status due to COVID-19 which gathers all updated information regarding border crossing limitations worldwide. UNECE Executive Secretary Olga Algayerova commented: “Only by working together will we overcome the COVID-19 pandemic leaving no-one behind. UNECE is fully mobilized to help member States address the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and prepare for the recovery in all its areas of work.” 

World Bicycle Relief (WBR) continues to produce and sell bicycles and spare parts (essential services in many countries) via social enterprise shops in southern/east Africa/Colombia. WBR donated 2,500 bicycles to NGOs in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia and Colombia preparing for and responding to the pandemic — including frontline health workers and those helping to preserve livelihoods and food security.

World Business Council Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched a dedicated webpage on how business is responding to COVID-19 and links to a range of announcements, actions and resources related to COVID-19. WBCSD Issued three projects:

1. Vital Supply Chains (short-term supply chain resilience plan);
2. Return to "Normal" Scenarios - with a focus on employee health and business recovery;
3. Long-term Impacts of COVID-19 vulnerabilities revealed by the crisis and lessons for future resilience and stakeholder capitalism;
4. The lessons for future resilience and stakeholder capitalism and the revealed long-term impacts of COVID-19 crisis vulnerability.

World Road Association (PIARC)  has set up an internal response team to initiate action and analyze how the work of PIARC might be impacted by the pandemic. They have a webpage dedicated to COVID-19. Additionally, they organizing a series of webinars addressing the COVID-19 pandemic impacts and responses in the road sector where the key issues from the webinars are summarized in notes prepared by PIARC response team. PIARC is also sharing some previously published reports on subjects that may support the actions taken in response to COVID-19. Prepared by PIARC experts, the reports may be useful to the community to provide guidance to road users and operators during the COVID-19 crisis even though they are not solely addressing a pandemic outbreak. All outputs are available in English, French and Spanish at PIARC website.

World Resources Institute (WRI) is working hard to get its message across and has published several blogs on public transport, especifically focused on the way cities can get closer to sustainability and how cities around the world can take full priority in recovery measures. WRI has also organized webinars on a global and regional scale to help discuss their vision; and are also working on research to gather data, systematize it, understand it and, subsequently, publish it

II. Monitoring and preparing for the aftermath

What comes after COVID-19 for the economy? Given the turbulent financial market, Member Organizations of SuM4All are taking action to boost confidence and prevent the possibility of a looming recession, especially within the transport sector  – one of the industries hit hard by the coronavirus:

Department for International Development (DFID): On 6 May 2020 DFID’s Secretary of State announced DFID’s immediate coronavirus response to date amounts to £744 million. This is on top of our work to pivot much of our existing activity to provide health, humanitarian and economic support where it is needed most.  

International Road Union (IRU) is closely monitoring the impact on the transportation of passengers and goods in affected regions of the world. Parallel to that, IRU partnered with UNECE on response to COVID-19 pandemic and launched an Observatory on Border Crossings Status with a view to: keep cross-border logistics flows open, giving priority to essential goods like medical supplies and food, implementing measures in a coordinated and unified way and clearly communicating changes on enforcement procedures for vehicles, drivers and cargo at borders.

UNCTAD is monitoring the effects of the global pandemic on manufacturing, trade, foreign direct investment and economic growth by providing news, analysis and resources such as the coronavirus shock; a story of another global crisis foretold, global investment trend monitors and global trade impact of the coronavirus.

As a specific focus on transport, and partly in response to the letter by ICS and ITF addressed to UNCTAD and three other agencies, they have put out this call “Coronavirus: Let's keep ships moving, ports open and cross-border trade flowing”

For the International Energy Agency (IEA), “the coronavirus crisis is affecting a wide range of energy markets – including coal, gas and renewables – but its impact on oil markets is particularly severe because it is stopping people and goods from moving around, dealing a heavy blow to demand for transport fuels” said the IEA’s Executive Director.  The current situation in global oil markets is a source of deep concern.

The implications of the pandemic for energy systems and clean energy transitions are still evolving but three areas stand out:

1. For IEA energy security remains a cornerstone of economies especially during turbulent times;
2. Electricity security and resilient energy systems are more indispensable than ever for modern societies;
3. Clean energy transitions must be at the center of economic recovery and stimulus plans.

In all these areas, the IEA is focused on bringing data, analysis and real-world solutions to help governments navigate the challenges and build secure and sustainable energy systems. For latest updates on how IEA is addressing the challenges and potential opportunities of the current pandemic situation visit their website at www.iea.org

The International Transport Forum (ITF) launched a new online information service on coronavirus-related measures for European passengers and road transport. It is also monitoring impacts on the transport workforce and supporting trade unions globally to negotiate strong health and safety measures for formal and informal workers. Together with other Global Union Federations, ITF is advocating for COVID-19 to be treated as an occupational disease. ITF is also engaging with global organizations to ensure that the livelihoods and jobs of transport workers, recognized as key workers, are protected in the immediate and long-term. As the global voice of transport workers, ITF is also developing long-term policy responses to ensure that decent work, gender equality and sustainability underpin post-Covid recovery in transport. ITF adopted a joint statement with UITP/UIC/UCLG and has adopted a Charter of Demands to keep public transport workers safe which has been endorsed by several independent occupational health and safety organizations.

The International Road Federation (IRF) is currently working with its members on a paper to be released at the end of May on how to channel investments into quality infrastructure and support an environmentally sustainable and inclusive recovery.

The International Transport Workers Federation is working on ways to protect those who are at high risk of being infected especially transport sector workers, who are keeping the world moving and linking supply chains, despite the crisis.

The Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, warned that the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic will have devastating effects on the global economy that will certainly be more intense from those felt during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis. Bárcena specified that the Coronavirus will negatively affect the region through five channels including:

1. Decline in economic activities
2. Lower demand for tourism services
3. Interruption of global value chains
4. Fall in commodity price
5. Worsening the global financial condition

AFD, in collaboration with the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, is studying the immediate support which could be given to the health systems of the most fragile States. Support for the ecosystem of French civil society organizations and its partners is also being studied. The mobilization of the AFD group will be in line with the priorities defended by France in terms of development aid and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

GoMetro has developed a suite of digital products to assist with the safe movement of staff across corporate South Africa during this period of COVID-19. These interventions range from a multimodal journey planner app, passenger alert system, commuter track and trace tools, digital symptom diaries, passenger complaints platform, cashless public transport payments and private staff transport shuttles for large corporations and business parks. GoMetro uses its proven MMMM approach to measure, model, manage and move passengers safely.

III. Fast-track financing to assist countries and companies

The following SuM4All Members have issued financial support for those facing a coronavirus-sparked economic crisis globally:

The World Bank Group (WBG) launched a US $14 billion package of fast-track financing to assist companies and countries in their efforts to prevent, detect and respond to the rapid spread of COVID-19. The package will strengthen national systems for public health preparedness, including disease containment, diagnosis, treatment, and support for the private sector. The World Bank recognizes the importance of transport in this, and the sector will feature strongly in the second phase of our $160 billion, 15-month support package. Beyond that, we are also working to expand our financial support instruments for global mobility.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) released a US $6.5 Billion Initial Response to COVID-19 Pandemic.  The initial package includes approximately $3.6 billion in sovereign operations for a range of responses to the health and economic consequences of the pandemic, and $1.6 billion in non-sovereign operations for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, domestic and regional trade, and firms directly impacted. ADB will also mobilize about $1 billion in concessional resources through reallocations from ongoing projects and assessing possible needs for contingencies. ADB will make available $40 million in technical assistance and quick-disbursing grants and stands “ready to provide further financial assistance and policy advice down the road whenever the situation warrants, on top of the $6.5 billion package” (Devex, 2020).

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) increased resources available to countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to fight the coronavirus pandemic to US $12 billion. The sum will be programmed to countries requesting support for disease monitoring, testing and public health services.

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) released a comprehensive integrated response package worth up to US $2 Billion. The package, “The 3 Rs” (Respond, Restore, and Restart) will:

1. Respond: This track delivers immediate action through South-South and North-South reverse linkage operations focused on a) strengthening health systems to provide care to the infected; b) building capacity in production of testing kits and vaccines; and c) building Pandemic Preparedness capacity, in cooperation with G20 Global Initiative;
2. Restore: This track delivers medium term action through financing for trade and SMEs to sustain activity in core strategic value chains, and to ensure continuity of the necessary supplies mainly to the health and food sectors, and for other essential commodities. 
3. Restart: This track delivers long-term action to build resilient economies on solid foundations and catalyze private investment by supporting economic recovery and countercyclical spending, with a targeted US $10 billion that aims to unlock $1 trillion USD worth of investments.

European Investment Bank (EIB) will rapidly mobilize up to EUR $40 billion of financing. The proposed financing package consists of:

1. Dedicated guarantee schemes to banks based on existing programmes for immediate deployment, mobilizing up to EUR 20 billion of financing.
2. Dedicated liquidity lines to banks to ensure additional working capital support for SMEs and mid-caps of EUR 10 billion.
3. Dedicated asset-backed securities (ABS) purchasing programmes to allow banks to transfer risk on portfolios of SME loans, mobilising another EUR 10 billion of support.