CBE Hosts Launch of Report on Regional Human Development Resilience

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YEREVAN, Armenia — On May 2, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics (CBE) partnered with the EU Delegation in Armenia and the World Bank to host the launch of their latest Regional Human Development Resilience Report titled “Protecting Human Capital through Shocks and Crises.”

CBE Dean Dr. Vache Gabrielyan kicked off the event with opening remarks and introductions. Two keynote speakers took the podium, Sarah Coll-Black and Jamele Rigolini. Coll-Black, a senior economist at the World Bank’s Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice, reflected on her technical and functional experience spanning programs in social assistance, adaptive social protection, service delivery, and job creation. In turn, Rigolini, human development lead economist for the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia region, shared his expertise in social protection, job creation, human development, climate change, and poverty.

The report focuses on the rising risk and uncertainty in Europe and Central Asia, a region that was hit hard by crises, conflicts, and continued uncertainties that have negatively affected peoples’ livelihoods in the short term, as well as prosperity in the long term. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, inflicting massive harm on peoples’ well-being, livelihood, and capacity. Lockdowns ensued work restrictions, school closures that adversely affected student learning, and overwhelmed hospitals that were forced to defer scheduled treatments. The report also explores ways to strengthen the resilience of health, education, and social protection systems to safeguard human capital from the long-term effects of recurrent shocks and crises.

The report makes reference to a series of accompanying notes that review the impacts and responses to COVID-19 in the health, social protection, and education sectors of Eastern European and South Caucasus countries. It thus offers valuable insights into ways of protecting human capital and minimizing the long-term effects of such public health crises.

The full report can be accessed here. 

Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.