UNDP
Tough Problems Require Fresh Approaches FRANCINE PICKUP
UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN SERBIA
These are exciting times, when we have new opportunities to change for the better and find innovative ways for responding to key development challenges like health crises, environmental issues or depopulation. Digital tools can make a big difference and help all of us to do more. Here we are provided with some examples of this from UNDP. face of adversity, regardless of their GDP or geographic location. Serbia is a good example. It did well to respond to the pandemic by quickly procuring equipment and vaccines from different producers, becoming a regional vaccination hub.
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Calamities often bring out the best in people, and produce unlikely heroes and fresh ideas. We asked Francine Pickup, UNDP Resident Representative in Serbia, to reflect on the issues Serbia is facing and the work of UNDP over the past two years, which has provided innovative answers to some of the old and new problems confronting Serbian society, such as depopulation, ecological issues and the digital divide. Ms Pickup, in times of disruption, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, what do countries need to do to find the best solutions? The COVID crisis has shown that it’s not the labels ‘developed’ or ‘developing’, ‘high’ or ‘low income’ that matter so much, rather it’s the way countries react, adapt and evolve in the
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We’ve also seen brave individuals in Serbia like those who responded to the health crisis by volunteering. How can these examples of social cohesion be sustained in our society, which is often burdened by a lack of trust? Building trust is important, as it helps countries unlock development potential. Digital investments can accelerate this trust and social engagement when they are responsive to citizens’ interests. During COVID in Serbia, digital platforms like ‘Be a Volunteer’ or ‘Digital solidarity’ scaled up the outreach of volunteers and businesses to those in need, strengthening social cohesion, which is greatly needed for the development and resilience of every society. We also saw how people across the entire region, despite past conflicts, can unite in standing up to shared challenges, like gender-based violence. A couple of young women from Serbia who went public about
their experiences started a wave of similar reactions across the Western Balkans. During Covid we witnessed a surge in the use of e-services in Serbia, assisting almost all aspects of our life. How can we continue to benefit from these achievements beyond the crisis and in a more inclusive way? The pandemic has accelerated digitalisation, making a reliable internet connection and digital tools our lifeline. We worked, educated our children, bought and sold products and kept in touch with our loved ones online. While many benefited from digital tools, the COVID crisis exposed the differences in access to digital technology and levels of digital literacy. It became clear where the gaps are, and what should be done to tackle this inequality. We must ensure that everyone is included and assisted to equally benefit from the digital transformation. For example, e-services should be designed with vulnerable groups in mind, such as the elderly or Roma, from the onset. Statistics in Serbia also show that women use e-services more than men, so government should take their perspective into account when it designs these services.
