What should countries learn from COVID 19 financial disbursements for social protection?

What should countries learn from COVID-19 financial disbursements for social protection?

During COVID-19, distribution of funds has become one of the major concerns. Globally, governments have launched various financial assistance packages to deserving households. Depending on the countries resources and technological advancements, they are adopting either digital or manual modes of payment for these cash transfer schemes.

With the rising number of COVID 19 cases , the need for digital payments has become ever more significant. While, China has introduced digital modes of payments to avoid social interactions which may also become standard operating procedures (SOP) for any advanced country. However in Pakistan. you can see around fifty to hundred masked men standing outside a college building to receive monthly support stipend.
For domestic payments and global economy, digitalization is the only safe way during the viral pandemic outbreak.

Contact-less digital payments assist consumers in getting their essentials with comfort and safety from their homes. They also help out organizations and governments to distribute funds among needy people more rapidly and precisely. Hence, countries lacking modernized financial services should quickly equip themselves with new digital tools to not only limit the viral transmission in current situation but to also keep up with the technological development pace globally. Collaboration between government, private organizations and entrepreneurs can provide better opportunities for vulnerable people to tackle the crisis situation via developing new digital services.

The countries which are already on the right track still need to ensure consumers data protection and privacy. Additionally, such governments are expected to strengthen and implement cyber crime laws for e-theft and hacking so that people may not dare to reach out to others’ accounts. Most importantly, providing digital aid to remote areas with limited availability of internet and digital equipment should become an integral part of countries’ digital development strategies.

Authors: Naveeda; Safoora Wajahat