Strength in numbers in times of solidarity

Now, more than ever, individuals, organizations and governments must adopt a shared vision to combat COVID-19 on a global, regional, national and local level. With all areas of business, home and foreign policy affected, the decisions we make today will define the future we live in tomorrow. Explore Sustainable Development Goal  17  – Partnerships for the goals, how it connects to the global situation, and what you can do to help.

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How is #TOGETHERBAND helping?

We all have a responsibility to slow down the proliferation of the novel coronavirus by practicing social distancing and proper hygiene but in this turbulent time, #TOGETHERBAND wants to do more.

That's why until the end of July, our campaign partner the Bottletop Foundation created TOGETHER FUND. It will support Coronavirus emergency relief by raising funds to help the WHO-led COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) bring live-saving aid to those in need in addition to the life-changing projects advancing the 17 UNSDGs  that are part of the #TOGETHERBAND campaign.

So, despite being apart, we can help fight together. Visit the #TOGETHERBAND website to discover how you can contribute to delivering emergency aid to those who need it most.

FIND OUT HOW #TOGETHERBAND COMBATS COVID19
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The UN foundation COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund is the first of its kind allowing individuals, philanthropies and businesses to contribute to the WHO-led effort to respond to the pandemic. You can learn more about the COVID-19 Response Fund here.

Médecins Sans Frontières is an international, independent, medical humanitarian organization and UBS Optimus Foundation partner that delivers emergency aid to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, natural disasters and exclusion from healthcare. You can learn more about MSF here.

How else is UBS helping?

Partnering with the federal government and other banks in Switzerland

With lockdowns enforced in many countries and restaurants, bars and shops being forced to close, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are struggling to keep their heads above water. In Switzerland, we are supporting emergency measures announced by the Federal Council to support Swiss SMEs in conjunction with other Swiss banks. In addition, we are providing liquidity of several billion for our clients with an intact business model and enabling the suspension of amortization.

So far, we’ve provided 10,000 SMEs over CHF 1 billion in liquidity as part of the Federal Council's emergency lending program.

Partnering with foundations and non-profits

To assist the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus and alleviate suffering in the most impacted communities, UBS Optimus Foundation has launched an emergency response with our trusted partners Americares and the Beijing United Charity Foundation (BUCF) as well Médecins Sans Frontières and the Swiss Red Cross working in the areas of emergency relief. The goal is to facilitate front-line health and prevention needs around the globe, detect cases as they emerge and respond by ensuring emergency treatment capacity.

Through our UBS Community Affairs program, we’re also working to support local communities where we have a business presence. For example, in the United States we are collecting funds for No Kid Hungry (Share Our Strength). Emergency grant funds will support a wide-range of efforts, including home delivered meals and other steps to help reach kids and families who don’t have access to meals following school closures and massive displacement.

We’ve also committed USD 30 million to Swiss and global aid programs to address the most vulnerable in our communities, support our existing partners and match the donations from employees and clients.

What are the experts saying?

  • Listen to UBS Global Visionaries Kennedy Odede and Suzan Murray discuss the potential impact of COVID-19 on developing countries and why partnerships are crucial in times like these.
  • Read the latest predicted COVID-19 market scenarios from UBS's Chief Investment Office here.
  • Want to know how to plan your pennies for the pandemic? Find out in this CIO article.
  • Read how COVID-19 explains how policy decisions of social exclusion, reduced access to free healthcare, and increased inequality will be felt by all.
  • Protecting yourself and your portfolios against COVID-19, a podcast featuring Dr. Suzan Murray, UBS Global Visionary, specialized in the transmission of viruses from animals to humans.
  • Watch UBS Global Visionary Dr. Suzan Murray explain how we can stop pandemics before they start.
  • Find out how one company's partnership with UBS is using technology to provide universal healthcare to those in need in this article. 

Find out how other Global Visionaries are responding to COVID-19

"Like sailing a boat through a serious storm"

Covid-19 response series: Enrique Lomnitz here.

'We need to stick together'

Covid-19 response series: Victor Ochen more.

'Our role will become more important'

Covid-19 response series: Dr Sebastian Groh more.

More related articles

Coming together in the time of social distancing

Partnering for a goal in response to COVID-19. Read more about it here.

What is the economic policy response to the coronavirus?

There are two things policy can do: limit the slowdown, and speed up the bounce back. Quick read.

How much does a lockdown hurt spending?

No need to fear, total consumer spending will not fall to zero. Quick read.

UBS Evidence Lab makes available Coronavirus datasets to global media

UBS Evidence Lab is unlocking insight-ready Coronavirus datasets to support our media partners. Read more about it here (PDF, 281 KB).

Coronavirus Congress hearing

Dr Suzan Murray speaks at the House of Representatives. Read more about it or watch the full testimony here.

Keeping hope alive

Preventing a COVID-19 catastrophe in Kenyan slums. Read more about it here.

1 http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/globalpartnerships/ visited in March 2020

2 https://www.economicshelp.org/blog/5882/trade/the-importance-of-international-trade/ visited in March 2020

3 https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2017/goal-17/ visited in March 2020

4 https://unctad.org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ditcinf2020d1.pdf   visited in March 2020

5 https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20200319-evidence-lab.html visited in March 2020

6 https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=400&nr=2478&menu=35 visited in March 2020

7 https://www.ubs.com/global/en/media/display-page-ndp/en-20200319-evidence-lab.html visited in March 2020

8 https://www.msf.org/vulnerable-communities-are-bracing-impact-covid-19 visited in March 2020

9 https://www.ubs.com/global/en/wealth-management/chief-investment-office/market-insights/2020/live-stream-update.html visited in March 2020

10 https://www.ubs.com/global/en/wealth-management/chief-investment-office/market-insights/house-view/2018/monthly-spotlight.html visited in March 2020

UBS joined forces with BOTTLETOP to create #TOGETHERBAND to raise money for selected charities. Bottletop and UBS Financial Services Inc. are not affiliated.

The UBS Optimus Foundation is a grant-making foundation that helps UBS clients use their wealth to drive positive social and environmental change. The Foundation selects programs that improve children’s health, education and protection, ones that have the potential to be transformative, scalable and sustainable as well as programs tackling environmental and climate issues.
This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice or the basis for making any investment decisions.
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