The pandemic has already had profound impacts on education. But it is possible to counter those shocks, and to turn crisis into opportunity. The policy responses to achieve this can be summarized in these three overlapping phases.

‘New normal’ for workers: Recent graduates, first-time job seekers, and workers who have lost jobs form the core of what could be called the “COVID-19 Generation.” Governments need targeted support for them to help avoid unemployment and underemployment.

Food as medicine: With so many people falling ill from the coronavirus (COVID-19), unhealthy diets are contributing to pre-existing conditions that put them more at risk. What would it take to get healthy food right?

Preventing corruption: As governments continue to grapple with COVID-19, transparency and accountability are crucial to prevent corruption from diverting funds from people who need it the most.

On the front lines: This pandemic provides three main lessons to national and city governments as they launch recovery efforts and plan for the new normal.

Keeping it flowing: The World Bank is working with a local utility in Ethiopia to increase water supply and promote handwashing behavior change amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Related: With World Bank support, Egypt is reforming its health financing and service delivery towards universal health care. How could such reforms help other Middle East and North African countries in responding to COVID19?

Energy for vaccines: We need a global effort to establish and sustain medical supply chains to deliver a COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available. What would it take to deploy those vaccines through sustainable cold chains?

Innovative efforts: There are nearly 17 million motorbikes in Pakistan, a primary asset of the middle class. Find out how this transport and logistics app is connecting people impacted by COVID-19 and goods via motorbikes in major cities across the country.

Podcast: The World Bank’s Global Director for Education, Jaime Saavedra, walks us through COVID-19’s impact on schools, students, learning, and the solutions countries are implementing. Listen now!

Go deeper: Learn how the World Bank Group is responding to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. Bookmark and come back for updates!