ESCAP Capacity Building workshop on Fiscal Policy and Sustainable Recovery in Samoa to be held Online via Microsoft Teams on the 16th of June, 2022, from 9:30AM to 1:00 PM Samoa Time [UTC+13]
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a significant socio-economic challenge to countries throughout the world, including those in Asia and the Pacific. Countries in the region have struggled to adjust to the demands of both responding to the health needs of the pandemic as well as adapting their economies to absorb the impact on various vulnerable sectors.
Covid-19 has significantly affected Samoa’s economy which has experienced fragilities similar to other small island nations due to size and remoteness of location. Sustainably continuing the process of recovery requires local solutions, as well as an understanding of how to create fiscal space to finance economic recovery without burdening the public at large. There is also a need to build fiscal capacity to ensure that mitigation efforts (e.g., integrating response activities with the UN’s Socio-economic Response Framework) can transition into long-term channels for holistic growth.
The objective of the capacity-building workshop is to introduce relevant public sector officials and UN Development System agency representatives to the pertinent information from the recent studies. More specifically:
1. To present the findings of the UNESCAP study on assessing the fiscal space and requirements for fiscal economic recovery in Samoa
2. To highlight the potential paths to recovery and discuss different considered scenarios based on the results of ESCAP’s macroeconomic model, and discuss how the model can be integrated into Samoa’s fiscal policy planning
3. To discuss the potential scenarios and paths necessary to aid Samoa in “building forward better”
Event Timings:
- 9:30AM – 10:10AM : Opening remarks from Nobuko Kaijura (Economic Affairs Officer, Sub-Regional Office for the Pacific), Simona Marinescu (UN Resident Coordinator, Samoa), and Leiataua Henry Ah Ching (Deputy CEO, Ministry of Finance Samoa)
- 10:10AM – 10:30AM: Presentation by Dr Shuvojit Banerjee on the regional context of the pandemic and fiscal responses
- 10:30AM – 11:30AM: Presentation by Dr Jaromir Hurnik (Macroeconomic Modelling Consultant, ESCAP) on the ESCAP Macroeconomic Model and its application to Samoa
- 11:30AM – 12:30 PM: Presentation by Leasiosio Malielegaoi (Budgeting and Finance Specialist, KVA Consult) on the findings of the Samoa country paper
Registration Link (via Microsoft Teams):