Fostering resilience and growth in an uncertain world: Joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the 2nd Committee of the 79th session of the General Assembly

The world continues to grabble with a confluence of crisis, including the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing conflicts and geopolitical tensions, and rapidly accelerating impacts of climate change which are compounded by increasing inequalities, pollution and accelerating biodiversity loss. Vulnerable populations, including women and girls, continue to bear the brunt of their impacts.

Investing in social protection systems, adaptation and resilience can protect countries from immediate risks as well as present opportunities for inclusive growth that benefit all segments of society. By prioritizing resilience, countries can cultivate a more stable environment that attracts sustainable investments and fosters long-term economic growth.

Furthermore, investments in early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, preparedness and recovery can be strengthened through a gender-responsive approach to social protection which can further foster prosperity and help individuals and communities to adapt. Properly designed, implemented and financed, social protection systems can maximize their contribution to gender equality, poverty eradication, crisis resilience, and broader processes of economic and social transformation.

Doing so requires a paradigm shift towards viewing public expenditure on gender-responsive social protection as an investment. Evidence shows that the positive impacts on GDP of each dollar spent on social protection surpass those of total government expenditure. Investments in complementary public services also have important multiplier effects.

Despite important progress, however, this potential remains far from realized. In 2023, 2 billion women and girls and 1.8 billion men and boys were still without any access to social protection. Even where women are relatively well covered, benefit levels are often inadequate and the range of provisions is not always attuned to their rights and needs, especially in times of crisis.

In the lead up to the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development and the second World Summit on Social Development to be held in 2025, the joint meeting of the Economic and Social Council and the Second Committee of the 79th session of the General Assembly will serve as an opportunity to explore pathways to foster more sustainable, resilient and shock-resistant societies in these uncertain times including through investments in gender-responsive social protection systems as well in early warning systems, disaster risk reduction, preparedness and recovery.  

The Second Committee Chair and the Economic and Social Council President will deliver brief opening remarks. This will be followed by two expert panels, addressing resilience and gender-responsive social protection strategies. The panels will feature experts, government representatives, representatives of UN system entities, and civil society representatives. After the two panels, the floor will be opened for interventions from Member States, for an interactive dialogue. Once the dialogue concludes, the Chair of the Second Committee and the President of ECOSOC will deliver closing remarks