CITIZEN’S ENGAGEMENT IN COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY CONTEXT
More than ever, the current crisis emphasizes the importance of a coherent, targeted, innovative and effective collaboration between the Government, institutions, and citizens. To cope with the pandemic, the State needs to be a unifier and collaborator, establishing and strengthening partnerships with the private sector, civil society, and international partners as to inclusively engage all stakeholders in finding solutions and to efficiently mobilize resources.
The “social contract” that will arise must be based on solidarity, mutual trust, and two-way communication. People need to listen to the State and the State needs to listen to its people, who often understand better their challenges and may have solutions to propose or may respond through social cohesion and collaboration.