Representatives from various sectoral bodies in ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) met virtually  for a high-level roundtable to discuss accelerated actions to leverage social protection to address COVID-19 pandemic and to officially launch the ASEAN Guidelines on Disaster Responsive Social Protection to Increase Resilience. 

The ASEAN region is facing a socio-economic crisis due to COVID-19. Average growth in GDP in 2020 has been estimated at just 0.1 percent, compared to a pre-pandemic forecast of 4.5 percent. 

The pandemic threatens food security and livelihoods of 218 million informal workers, who constitute 67 percent of the total employment in ASEAN, and many other vulnerable children, older persons, people with disabilities, women and youth. Protecting these most vulnerable individuals calls for social protection to go beyond poverty reduction objectives. Existing social protection beneficiaries who are the poor and most vulnerable, need additional assistance, as they are usually the hardest hit.