Panels Seek Ways to Avoid Global Post-COVID Recovery That Leaves Some Behind, as Forum on Financing for Development Continues Format ECOSOC/7036 The Economic and Social Council continued its annual Forum on Financing for Development today, holding two interactive panel discussions, during which speakers proposed potential solutions to COVID-19’s devastating impact on infrastructure investment — lagging even before the novel coronavirus struck — and sought ways to avoid a global post-pandemic recovery that leaves some behind. Munir Akram (Pakistan), President of the Economic and Social Council, opened the meeting by emphasizing the global need for increased investment in sustainable infrastructure to meet development goals. Noting the untapped potential of the private sector to that end, he suggested that the upcoming investment fair based on the Sustainable Development Goals — which will allow Governments to present specific projects and concrete opportunities to the investor community — could evolve into a permanent fixture that promotes public-private partnerships to finance infrastructure development.