OECD Ministers have endorsed a new initiative to promote safe international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of improving travel policy consistency and interoperability.

The G7 agreement is a landmark step towards international reform, which will play a vital role in building a resilient recovery as economies recover from the pandemic.

Sudden losses of income caused by COVID-19 have exacerbated the housing affordability challenges that many were already experiencing. Longer-term housing solutions are vital.

Women are more likely to work in sectors hard-hit by the crisis and do a greater share of unpaid domestic work. How do we build cultures of equality in which both women and men can thrive?

The faster and the more effective the global vaccination effort, the stronger will be the global economic recovery.

Continued cross-border co-operation will be essential for the development, distribution and uptake of vaccines, as well as for the safe and smooth resumption of international travel that vaccines may allow.

Increase supply, improve access, build trust: these are just three examples of where governments must redouble efforts to ensure the world emerges stronger in the years ahead.

The pandemic has been especially hard for children, teens and young adults. Those aged 18-30 were already at above-average risk of loneliness before COVID-19, but school and university disruptions and closures, along with limits on social interaction, have made things worse.

Reduced social contact and lost hours of schooling can have a lasting effect on children’s and young adults’ plans and prospects and their mental health, to their detriment and that of their communities and countries.

Prospects for the world economy have brightened, but the recovery is likely to remain uneven. Public health strategies, the speed of vaccine rollout, fiscal and monetary support, and the importance of hard-hit sectors are driving the differences between countries.

While advanced economies are expected to benefit from quicker access to vaccines and strong fiscal support, some countries with large tourism revenues, like Iceland and Spain, face a longer route to achieving recovery.

Emerging economies face the most challenges coping with COVID-19 outbreaks because of lower resource capacity and slower vaccine rollouts.