This session on building a post-pandemic workforce discussed how social safety and protection can be ensured even as the nature of work increasingly takes on more informal characteristics. The panel explored the new models of education and skilling that are required to equip the present and future workforces and looked to best practices among the BRICS nations that can be further adapted and adopted. The session placed emphasis on how the future of work can be made more inclusive, ensuring ...

The panel on global economic recovery examined the success of multilateral financial institutions’ efforts to assist economies most in need of help and explored measures that BRICS countries can take to revive their respective nations and the global economy. The panel noted that there is much talk about decreasing the value chain, bringing back home the parts of the supply in Europe and America and replacing imports with domestic alternatives. Economic and exchange rate inequalities were a...

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of digital solutions in responding to global challenges swiftly. The panel examined developments in digital public goods and explored measures that the BRICS countries can take to support their deployment, bearing in mind the challenges in accessibility and availability in infrastructure and governance. Intellectual property rights were also pointed out as a persistent challenge in the BRICS. There was consensus on the importance of establishin...

This panel examined the progress made in financing initiatives around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and explored how the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) can galvanise financing for the member nations to achieve SDGs. Informed by impact evaluation studies, the panel suggested that the NDB and multilateral banks should align their strategies and business models to finance SDG-related infrastructure. The NDB should be committed to transforming investment  behaviour and encouraging su...

This panel examined the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on trade, particularly on global supply chains and explored how BRICS countries can cooperate to reduce disruptions and streamline regulations for trade in goods and services. The panel suggested there was a need for more exchange of statistical data and greater emphasis on leveraging the strategy for the 2025 BRICS Economic Partnership. This strategy, which was adopted by the BRICS summit in November 2020, defines a development p...

The Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgency of reviewing the global healthcare agenda, including pandemic preparedness, international cooperation, vaccine development processes, global healthcare regulations, pharmaceutical supply chains, citizen awareness and local capacities. The panel reviewed the lessons from Covid-19 and explored measures that the BRICS can take to improve healthcare delivery. Panellists noted that the pandemic has placed added pressure on the demand for medicati...

The threats from terrorism and violent extremism continue to pose diverse and complex international peace and stability challenges. This session on counter-terrorism explored how the BRICS nations can cooperate to counter terrorism and promote international peace and security. One of the challenges that were noted during this panel is the lack of mutual trust among the BRICS countries, which have different priorities and strategies, resulting in geographical dissonance and perceptions towa...

The need to balance limited natural resources with consumption-led growth is the biggest challenge facing the 2030 Development Agenda. The panel on creating and promoting more sustainable lifestyles explored how the BRICS grouping can reimagine consumption patterns and align them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The economy, the environment and energy were three critical issues that the panel discussed as the “forgotten” SDGs are of critical importance for the BRICS to investigate...

This panel examined the latest developments in green energy and explored how BRICS can cooperate on green energy investments, research and development, financing, regulations and technology. The panel recommended that the BRICS Energy Research Cooperation Platform be expanded to include Renewable Energy Associations, local governments and academic institutions. It also suggested that International Relations ministries should engage their Consulate Offices to identify strategic partners via Re...

This panel discussion was a response to the significant challenges confronting women as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, from women’s weakened participation in the labour force to the escalation in unpaid work as carers. The panel examined the post-pandemic policy, business and socio-economic landscape for women and explored how BRICS can support women-led economic growth. The panellists proposed the establishment of a policy for labour-related care for women and a social security grant for wo...