B-1: Government of Tomorrow: Reimagining the Role of Government after COVID-19
- It is essential for national strategies to focus on building better rather than trying to re-
establish the status quo preceding the pandemic. Regional cooperation can add value to
national efforts in this regard.
- South Asian governments should refrain from giving financial excuses when
incorporating the issue of climate change into policymaking. Sustainability needs to be at
the core of economic and social growth.
- Governments need to have greater clarity and alignment between its key institutions
(ministries of finance, planning, industries, commerce) and departmental linkages.
- Governments need to have leadership transparency, speed of response, and preparedness
to implement policies.
- Countries must be proactive and prepared to meet similar pandemic situations in the
future.
- The recovery process must be institutionalized, especially in terms of disaster
management frameworks.
- There must be increased coordination between the health sector and other key sectors for
sectoral alignment.
- The state needs to come together in terms of trust and accountability.
- There should be better coordination between monetary and fiscal policy.
- There is a need for green recovery and the fiscal policy has to play a big role in that.
- Governments have to increase public expenditure for creating more jobs, especially green
ones.
- Community-level involvement with local policymakers is essential.
- There is a need to depoliticize the bureaucracy – hire professional/specialized staff on the
job that is needed, not generalists.
- Bureaucracy should serve in a cluster that they’ve been assigned – whether in finance,
industry and so on. A continuation of professional expertise is required.
- There is need for foresight to be prepared for a disaster like COVID-19.
