Disasters in COVID-19: Implications for nexus governance

This policy report aims to adapt the nexus approach to the intersection of disasters and pandemics in the Asia-Pacific. While the region’s prior experience with SARS in 2003 had prepared countries somewhat, the scale of COVID-19 has dwarfed previous pandemics, even for the leaders who responded early to the crisis such as Singapore and Vietnam. With a global pandemic on its hands, it is time for the region to reflect on its approach to the intersection of multiple crises. The nexus approach is a multi-sectoral collaborative approach that allows for burden sharing between the various actors involved in the region’s responses to COVID-19 and natural hazards. This approach informs longer-term planning and can better position governments to lead in managing future crises.

This policy report has seven policy recommendations: 

1. Establish comprehensive assessments, plans, programmes, and results frameworks at the country level to respond to COVID-19.
2. Develop knowledge partnerships to inform strategy with operational experience.
3. Enhance interoperability across ministries and with stakeholders.
4. Increase multi-sectoral engagement through military collaboration with civilian actors.
5. Empower local and trusted humanitarian actors.
6. Create or adapt a civilian unit for surge capacity in times of crisis.
7. Invest more resources in multilateral and regional health mechanisms.