Review of Related Literature

Foreign
The impact of COVID-19 on global poverty
The article "The impact of COVID-19 on global poverty: why Sub-Saharan Africa might be the
region hardest hit" by Kipp et al. (2020) highlights the potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
global poverty, specifically in the Sub-Saharan African region. The authors identify several factors that
could contribute to this outcome. First, disruptions to global supply chains could cause a decline in
economic activity, particularly in the informal sector, which is the main source of income for many in Sub-
Saharan Africa. Second, the decline in remittances from abroad due to the pandemic could reduce household
incomes, particularly in countries that rely heavily on remittances. Third, reductions in foreign aid and
investments could further limit the ability of countries to respond to the economic fallout of the pandemic.
Moreover, the authors highlight that the pandemic has exacerbated already existing inequalities. For
example, women and girls are more likely to experience the negative economic impacts of the pandemic
due to gender-based discrimination in the workforce. The elderly and those living in rural areas are also
particularly vulnerable to the economic fallout of the pandemic. The authors call for a coordinated
international response to address the impact of COVID-19 on poverty, with a focus on protecting vulnerable
groups and ensuring the continuity of essential services. They also suggest that the pandemic presents an
opportunity to reconsider the global economic system and to build more equitable and sustainable
economies. Overall, the article highlights the potential consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on global
poverty, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the need for coordinated efforts to mitigate these
consequences and address the root causes of poverty.

Synthesis: Kipp, et al. (2020) examined the potential impact of COVID-19 on global poverty, with a
specific focus on the Sub-Saharan African region. The authors argue that the pandemic has the
potential to increase the number of people in extreme poverty by 71 million, reversing progress made
towards the SDGs. The article provides an overview of factors that could contribute to this outcome,
including disruptions to global supply chains, decreased remittances, and reduced foreign aid.
Furthermore, the article highlights that the pandemic has worsened already existing inequalities,
with women and girls, the elderly, and those living in rural areas being disproportionately affected.
The authors conclude by calling for a coordinated international response to address the impact of
COVID-19 on poverty, with a focus on protecting vulnerable groups and ensuring the continuity of
essential services.

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1093/heapol/czaa13
 The Impact of COVID-19 on Achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals Sustainability

According to Wang et al. (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted progress
towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in developing countries. In
their review article, the authors examine the different dimensions of sustainable development affected by
the pandemic, such as health, education, employment, poverty, and inequality. The authors note that the
pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and created new challenges for achieving the SDGs. For
example, the pandemic has increased poverty and unemployment, leading to setbacks in achieving SDG 1
(no poverty) and SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth). The pandemic has also disrupted education
systems, making it challenging to achieve SDG 4 (quality education). The pandemic has also highlighted
the need for a more comprehensive and integrated approach to sustainable development. Governments and
international organizations should prioritize addressing the pandemic while also working towards achieving
the SDGs (Wang et al., 2020).

Synthesis: According to a review article by Wang et al. (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has affected
progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They found that the
pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities and introduced new challenges that hinder progress
towards the SDGs, especially in developing countries. The pandemic has led to increased poverty and
unemployment, disrupted education systems, and weakened health systems. The authors suggest that
addressing the pandemic's challenges requires a more comprehensive and integrated approach to
sustainable development. This approach should prioritize both responding to the pandemic and
working towards achieving the SDGs.

Reference: Wang, D., Zhang, L., & Xu, J. (2020). The Impact of COVID-19 on Achieving the Sustainable
Development Goals. Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12188984
 Multi-dimensional impacts of Coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on Sustainable Development
Goal achievement

According to Lekagul et al. (2022) the United Nations (UN) member states adopted the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) were based on three interlinked strategic pillars of
development, social, economic, and environmental, the SDGs are a comprehensive development blueprint
geared towards peace, prosperity, people, and the planet through collaborative partnership. Unlike the
Millennium Development Goals, the SDGs are for all countries at all levels of development (low-, middle-
and high-income countries) and all stakeholders. UN member states advocated “leave no one behind” as
the central promise to eradicate poverty and exclusion and reduce inequalities and vulnerabilities. Excerpts
from the 2019 UN SDG report show uneven progress and remaining challenges across geographical regions
in achieving the 17 goals prior to COVID-19 pandemic. Countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia
have made the least progress across many targets. To slow implementation of SDGs brought together
international partners to reaffirm their commitments, through pledging of the “SDG Decade of Action” in
2020. The pandemic came right in the middle of SDGs implementation. With its extraordinary
consequences, the pandemic can reverse past gains and hamper SDGs achievement by 2030. This
commentary examines the extent of pandemic impacts in a comprehensive manner by covering all three
pillars of sustainable development: economic, social, and environment, and proposes policy
recommendations on resilient pandemic recovery and maintenance of sustainable development momentum
towards 2030.

Synthesis: All 17 SDGs are interlinked; health systems, and health and wellbeing of the population
are directly affected by the pandemic while impacts on the prosperity, education, planetary health,
and food insecurity are indirect due to pandemic responses. COVID-19 has derailed progress towards
the SDGs.

Reference: https://globalizationandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12992-022-00861-
1#:~:text=All%2017%20SDGs%20are%20interlinked,derailed%20progress%20towards%20the%20SD
Gs.
 The impact of covid 19 in Sustainable Development Goals: Achievement and
Expectations

According to Int J Environ Res Public Health (2022) the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant
impact on almost all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leaving no country unaffected. It has
caused a shift in political agendas, but also in lines of research. At the same time, the world is trying to
make the transition to a more sustainable economic model. The research objectives of this paper are to
explore the impact of COVID-19 on the fulfilment of the SDGs with regard to the research of the scientific
community, and to analyze the presence of the Circular Economy (CE) in the literature. To this end, this
research applies bibliometric analysis and a systematic review of the literature, using VOS viewer for data
visualization. Five clusters were detected and grouped according to the three dimensions of sustainability.
The extent of the effects of the health, economic and social crisis resulting from the pandemic, in addition
to the climate crisis, is still uncertain, but it seems clear that the main issues are inefficient waste
management, supply chain issues, adaptation to online education and energy concerns. The CE has been
part of the solution to this crisis, and it is seen as an ideal model to be promoted based on the opportunities
detected.

Synthesis: Given that the CE has become a new paradigm that advocates the constitution of a new
model based on the principles of sustainability, it would be interesting to propose research studies
that analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the CE, indicating whether it has contributed to, or, on the
contrary, paralyzed the advances that had been taking place up to that point. Neither sustainable
finance nor other useful elements to alleviate the economic crisis or to improve the implementation
of the CE were found to be relevant in the literature analyzed in this study; thus, future lines of
research could address this gap and determine the influence of the pandemic on the concept of the
CE.
Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9739062/
 Global COVID-19 Efforts as the Platform to Achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals

According to Hotez & Botazzi (2020) the COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a poverty-related neglected
disease on at least two fronts. First, is its significant impact in low-income neighborhoods in the USA, the
epicenter of the pandemic. Second, is its emergence in poor urban areas of South America, and now in Asia
and Africa. In both fronts, the pandemic is contributing heavily towards the loss of public health gains that
we managed to achieve globally during the last two decades. Specifically, any advances made as part of the
United Nations Millennium Development Goals (United Nations, 2020) is eroding, and for the first time,
the number of people entering extreme poverty is increasing. Adding to this descent into poverty are new
disruptions in ongoing disease control programs, routine vaccination strategies, and a reduction of capacity
building efforts globally. Therefore, and as highlighted by many others, we support the notion that a way
forward to eliminate this coronavirus pandemic should include linking COVID-19 control to other tropical
or poverty related diseases.

Synthesis: COVID-19 is slowing or reversing global health and development gains. To be successful
and achieve the global goals including the control of pandemics such as the one seen from the COVID-
19, we must rely on strong leadership leading to impactful public policies and global collaborations,
including global COVID-19 vaccinations, and potentially linking them to programs for childhood
and adult vaccinations and programs for malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and neglected tropical
disease treatments. Opportunities also include the creation of unique research opportunities and
funding models and increase science engagement for international diplomacy. This can only be done
with a better understanding of the relationships between coronavirus disease, poverty, and tropical
diseases.

Reference: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40475-020-00209-
Local
Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable Development Goals:
The Case of the Philippines

According to Alonzo et al. (2020), the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the Philippines' progress
towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study aimed to assess the impact of the
pandemic on the various SDGs and to identify the SDGs that require immediate attention in light of the
pandemic. The study found that the pandemic has significantly affected the progress towards achieving
SDGs related to health, education, and poverty reduction. The closure of schools and the implementation
of distance learning have affected the quality of education, particularly for students from low income
families. The pandemic has also affected the delivery of health services, resulting in a decrease in the
utilization of health facilities and services, particularly for non-COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, the study
found that the pandemic has led to an increase in poverty rate, with the informal sector being the hardest
hit. In conclusion, the study emphasized the need for the government and other stakeholders to prioritize
the SDGs that have been adversely affected by the pandemic. The study suggested that the government
should focus on providing support to the education sector, strengthening the healthcare system, and
providing social protection to those most affected by the pandemic.

Synthesis: Alonzo et al. (2020) conducted a study that aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19
pandemic on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Philippines. The
study found that the pandemic has significantly affected the progress towards achieving SDGs related
to health, education, and poverty reduction. The closure of schools and the implementation of
distance learning have affected the quality of education, particularly for students from low-income
families. The pandemic has also affected the delivery of health services, resulting in a decrease in the
utilization of health facilities and services, particularly for non-COVID-19 cases. Furthermore, the
study found that the pandemic has led to an increase in poverty rate, with the informal sector being
the hardest hit. The study highlights the need for the government and other stakeholders to prioritize
the SDGs that have been adversely affected by the pandemic. The study suggests that the government
should focus on providing support to the education sector, strengthening the healthcare system, and
providing social protection to those most affected by the pandemic. The findings of this study are
crucial in informing policymakers and other stakeholders about the impact of the pandemic on the
progress towards achieving SDGs in the Philippines, and the necessary measures that need to be
taken to address the adverse effects of the pandemic on the most vulnerable sectors of the society.

Reference: https://doi.org/10.20448/journal.500.2020.73.84.9
 The Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable
Development Goals in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Development

According to Candelaria and Reyes (2021), the COVID-19 pandemic has affected progress towards
achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Philippines, worsening existing issues such as
inequality, poor governance, and environmental degradation. Additionally, job losses and lower incomes
as a result of the pandemic have made it more difficult to reduce poverty and improve economic growth.
The closing of schools and other educational institutions has disrupted the education of millions of children,
making it more difficult to meet the aim of providing inclusive and equal education. To address these
challenges, the Philippines needs to adopt more integrated and innovative approaches, with a focus on
inclusivity, social equity, and environmental sustainability. This requires partnerships across different
sectors and stakeholders to build a more sustainable and resilient future.

Synthesis: According to the study, the pandemic has worsened existing challenges, making it more
difficult to reduce poverty, ensure food security, improve health, education, gender equality, and
economic growth. To build a more sustainable and resilient future, the study recommends that the
Philippines adopt more integrated and innovative approaches to achieve the SDGs.

Reference: Candelaria, J. A., & Reyes, C. M. (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on the Sustainable
Development Goals in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Development.
https://pjd.upd.edu.ph/index.php/pjd/article/view/881
 Pandemic slows PHL gains in meeting SDG

According to Ordinario (2021), the Philippines’s progress in achieving the Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) suffered under the weight of the pandemic and could lead to a regression in
the country’s performance in the global goals. Significant progress in poverty reduction, the bedrock of all
SDGs, is among the recent key accomplishments of the Philippines but it is now evident that this is a fragile
progress due to the pandemic. Apart from poverty, targets where the country may have regressed include
SDG 4 on quality education, given that basic education quality remained a problem. Inequality in access to
ICT infrastructure during the pandemic is seen to worsen this. The Philippine performance was also off-
track on SDG 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions because of the deterioration in performance in
the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, including fundamental human rights, and in certain
components of the Worldwide Governance Indicators. The Global Goals aim to end poverty and hunger,
promote universal health, education for all and lifelong learning, achieve gender equality, sustainable water
management, ensure sustainable energy for all, decent work for all, resilient infrastructure, and reduce
income inequality between and among countries.

Synthesis: Covid-19 impacts are anticipated to result in regression in human development capacities
and opportunities. These are also expected to thwart economic prosperity, change consumption
behavior and affect the environment. The off-track path also implies that left-behind groups with
respect to these SDG sub- indicators were starting from a more disadvantaged position when the
pandemic struck, and the lockdowns and consequent economic and political hardships brought them
additional misery. Social protection should therefore adequately target these groups.

Reference: https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/pandemic-slows-phl-gains-in-meeting-sdg
 PHL, UN adopt new financing framework to achieve the SDGs amid COVID-19 setbacks

According to Chua & Gonzales (2021) The Philippines and the United Nations (UN) signed on 19
September an agreement to adopt a new financing framework to keep the Philippines on track to maximize
its demographic dividend and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while promoting
economic recovery from COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, progress had been made in poverty reduction,
maternal and child health, access to electricity, and gender equality, but more can be done to achieve the
SDGs by 2030. In other areas, such as reducing inequality, lowering carbon emissions and tackling hunger,
progress had been reversed. Investing in high-value interventions allows for multiple targets to be reached,
across different sectors. Applying the principles of an INFF in the Philippine budgetary process -
implementing reforms in how government plans and budgets for the SDGs, and how it executes and
monitors priority programs - results in better integration of public investments in health, education and
employment specifically targeting women and young people during this time when COVID-19 poses a
major threat to reaping the country’s demographic dividend and achieving the SDGs.

Synthesis: This joint programme comes at a critical time. Sustainable finance is essential not only for
recovery from the pandemic, but also from the wide-ranging effects on the achievements of the SDGs.

Reference: PHL, UN adopt new financing framework to achieve the SDGs amid COVID-19 setbacks | Joint
SDG Fund
 The economic impact of COVID-19 in the Philippines

According to Chua & Gonzales (2021) The economic impact of COVID-19 is particularly
worrisome as the surveyed communities are already a subset of the poorest and most vulnerable
communities in the Philippines. Following significant job and income losses, communities are at risk of
further increases in poverty. This seemed to be mainly caused by loss of employment. While cases of
COVID-related discrimination similarly increased, there was no increase in sexual harassment, rape, and
domestic violence.

Synthesis:

Reference: PHL, UN adopt new financing framework to achieve the SDGs amid COVID-19 setbacks | Joint
SDG Fund