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VideoJune 13, 2022

Improving the Multilateral Pandemic Response

The world is transitioning out of the crisis phase of the COVID-19 outbreak, aided by immunity from vaccination and prior infection. Multilateral institutions, including the African Union, COVAX, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank, were indispensable in the crisis response, delivering life-saving vaccines, technical assistance, and concessional finance to low- and middle-income countries. Yet, these institutions have been criticized, with arguments that their response was insufficient given the overwhelming need. At a Policy Research Talk on June 13, 2022, World Bank economist Tristan Reed assessed the merit of this criticism, highlighting successes, misunderstandings, and lessons learned about how multilateral institutions can more effectively respond to future public health emergencies of international concern.