The start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 jolted philanthropy. A sector accustomed to making deliberated funding decisions found itself hastening its pace to provide grantees the kind of immediate, emergency assistance needed to help communities respond to lockdowns, the loss of income, hospitalizations, and other impacts of a global pandemic.
That marked the beginning of what experts are now calling a period of polycrisis, meaning there are multiple deadly and interconnected crises happening at the same time. There are ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen that are affecting global trade, causing mass displacement, and impeding the delivery of humanitarian aid. Climate change also has increased incidents of droughts, floods, hurricanes, and other disasters that have greatly impacted food and health systems.
This confluence of catastrophes is threatening to derail global development and jeopardize progress on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.