Promoting resilience, preparedness, adaptation and response in 4C (COVID-19, conflict, climate change and rising cost-of-living) emergencies

The complex 'Äú4C'Äù crises 'Äî the COVID-19 pandemic and other epidemics, conflict, climate change and the rising cost-of-living 'Äî put major strain on the health and nutrition of women and children globally and highlight major challenges in emergency preparedness, prevention and response measures. Poverty and food insecurity, coupled with extreme weather events, are at the core of health systems being further weakened during the pandemic. Developing resilience is crucial to ensure that communities mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses. Translating guidance into policy for change is also imperative. The overall goal of this work is to inform efforts to improve national, regional and global capabilities for planning and implementing preparedness, promoting resilience and adapting (PRA) in complex 4C crises within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. Working with regional expert teams, this project strives to develop a conceptual/analytical framework to map evidence gaps and lessons learned, identify key lessons for preparedness, suggest strategies, develop regional implementation research agendas to address PRA-related evidence gaps, and establish/expand partnerships to answer key PRA implementation research questions through local collaborations. This will inform efforts to improve capabilities in the areas of translating knowledge, planning and implementing capacities and practicing preparedness at the national, regional and global levels. The research will support enhanced partnerships and collaborations in preparedness implementation at regional and country levels that will recommend strategies linking climate change adaptation and sustainable development, particularly for the health of vulnerable groups, as one continuum of all-hazards preparedness. Project results will establish a prioritized research agenda to better implement preparedness and maintain essential health service delivery at the country and global level. This three-year research project will be carried out by a global research consortium led by the Sick Kids Hospital and Aga Khan University. 'ÄÉ