'Evidence-based policy needed to address future challenges': Indonesian minister

By Gokhan Ergocun

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AA) - Referring to global issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the national development planning minister of Indonesia said a high-quality policy innovation based on quality data and evidence is very much needed to address future challenges.

"There is no better time than now to take part in the process of generating high-quality evidence-based policies in our countries," Suharso Monoarfa said on Thursday during the Islamic Development Bank Group's annual meeting in Egypt.

Research is vital to the creation of high-quality public policy innovation, he added.

Evidence-based policy refers to making governmental decisions based on high-quality information collected via research.

The minister said that due to the pandemic, the global economy has plunged into the biggest recession since the 1929 Great Depression.

But the pandemic has created economic and social pressure, he said, noting that many people reduced food consumption and medical needs.

He also recalled that the pandemic caused long-term environmental problems such as rises in hazardous, medical plastic, and medical equipment wastes.

An appropriate policy combination and policy balance among health, economic, and social policies are needed to fight the pandemic, Monoarfa noted, adding: "The pandemic was an unprecedented situation, so an unprecedented intervention is needed to overcome this."

Touching on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that started on Feb. 24, he said the crisis will damage global growth.

Organized in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, the four-day meeting began on Wednesday under the main theme of Beyond Recovery: Resilience and Sustainability.