H.E, Dr. Bandar Hajjar, IsDB President addressed the 11^th Open Dialogue about COVID 19 and SDGs: Impact and Opportunities, organized by SDGs Community of Practice.  The meeting which was virtually held was attended by many of IsDB Group staff.

Dr. Hajjar touched on the IsDB Group’s US$ 2.3bn ‘Strategic Preparedness and Response Program’ which offers immediate solutions to health challenges, adding that the (Three Rs) approach ( Respond, Restore and Restart) adopted by the Bank reflects the Bank’s support to its member countries until they are back on track of economic recovery post COVID-19. He also stressed that the MDBs, where he presides over the meetings of their heads, are giving a high priority for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. “As the current Chair of Heads of MDBs meetings for 2020, I hosted the first of such meetings on 30 April. The SDGs was high on the agenda and the Heads agreed to publish an initial outlook report in 2020 on the SDGs highlighting the contributions of their institutions to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda” he said. 

“Our world today is grappling with an unprecedented crisis of monumental proportions. noting that COVID-19 pandemic is making the road to SDGs a bit longer, yet it still can be handled” he said

Dr. Mahoud Mohi Eldin the UN Envoy for Financing 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, discussed the effects of COVID 19 on the implementation of the SDGs especially the implementation of the 3^rd SDG: (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages)

The session also was addressed by Mr. Bernard Woods, Director, Results Management and Aid Effectiveness Division at Asian Development Bank who emphasized the role of MDBs in helping member countries to address the difficult situation resulted from the pandemic.