Support to Liberia COVID-19 Preparedness Response Plan

Overview/Background

The Corona Virus (COVID-19) declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a global pandemic has infected millions of people worldwide. The burden of the pandemic is affecting people all over the world and government responses in managing COVID-19 have ranged from developing health protocols, surveillance, contact tracing, prevention measures, and containment (including restricting internal movement and international travels).

To control the rapid spread of COVID-19, the WHO  called for increased efforts for isolation, testing, tracing, and treatment. The global pandemic has resulted in disruptions in human activities, with dire socio-economic consequences for countries and citizens, particularly for the most vulnerable. The pandemic is regressing human development gains, including aggravating poverty, and widening inequalities.

Using its Global Policy Network, UNDP has leverage its global experience in supporting COVID-19 in other countries to identify and adapt solutions to the Liberian context, and build multi-sectoral partnerships to support Liberia’s recovery and sustainable development.

Leveraging its integrator role and work on the humanitarian-development nexus, UNDP works in close collaboration with other members of the UN country team in delivering results in the agreed intervention areas.

UNDP works to support a multi-sectoral approach in responding to and recovering from COVID-19, and in particular, to ensure that: (i) COVID-19 transmissions are limited and brought to zero; (ii) Social and economic impact is minimized; (iii) Post-pandemic recovery is accelerated to long term sustainable development; (iv) Capacity of national institutions to prepare, respond, and recovery is bolstered; and (v) Resilience of citizens and communities to cope with and recover from the pandemic.

Goals

This intervention is underpinned by the principle of ‘Leaving No-one Behind’ during this critical time of the pandemic. It seeks to; (i) Urgently and effectively respond (ii) Safeguard Liberia’s development gains; and (iii) Build the resilience of citizens and their communities.

Three-Track Approach

The interventions supporting Liberia’s COVID-19 preparedness and response are aligned with; (i) The UN country team COVID-19 Response support; (ii) UNDP’s corporate offer in response to COVID19; and (iii) Liberia’s COVID-19 National Preparedness and Response Plan.

Activities

The project is supporting the following areas: (i) Health systems’ strengthening by supporting immediate functionality of health systems in Liberia to ensure an efficient response to COVID-19. (ii) Prevention measures and responding to the needs of communities during the pandemic. (iii) Communication and advocacy to reduce stigma and promote social cohesion. (iv) Promoting sustenance of livelihoods in COVID response programmes. (v) Post-pandemic recovery and transition to longer-term development working through the Early Recovery programmes, which aim to create and scale up opportunities for livelihoods in communities; foster financial inclusion, particularly for women, youth, and the rural poor; and strengthen cross-border cooperation for enhanced trade.

Anticipated Results

1. Overcome massive vaccine hesitancy in counties by working with the Ministry of Health and other UN agencies, notably the UN Volunteers to raise awareness so that more people get vaccinated.

2. Provide solar energy at Bo Waterside as part of the recovery process.

3. Provide Livelihood to 10,000 petty traders/informal businesses to absorb the shock of the pandemic.

What have we achieved so far?

• Supported End-to-End Case Management platform.

• UN Volunteers fully supported an Information and Reporting Management Officer to Office of the Resident Coordinator.

• 50 Community Volunteers deployed as mobilizers and contact tracers in Grand Cape, Mount-Bo Waterside, Grand Gedeh-Zleh Town & Janzon; Grand Kru-Buah District, Nimba-Ganta, Luguatuo Butuo & Tapitta; and LofaVahun, Yeala & Samudu.

• Supported National COVID-19 public awareness messages.

• Provided COVID-19 materials to the Executive Committee on COVID-19 for delivery to all 15 counties. These included laptops, 3000 surgical masks, liquid soap and alcohol-based sanitizers, 500 thermometers, 2000 veronica buckets, 2000 rain coats and 2000 rain boots, 2000 reflective vests, laptops, 10,000 IEC posters.

• Procured 300 Zoom licenses for use by government ministries, agencies and commissions for business continuity.

Impact

START DATE

April 2020

END DATE

December 2022

STATUS

Completed

PROJECT OFFICE

Liberia

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER

United Nations Development Programme

DONORS

AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Dept of Forgn Afrs Trade & Dev

GOVERNMENT OF GERMANY

Peacebuilding Fund

UNDP Funding Windows

UNEP-TEEB

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS

$1,902,171

DELIVERY IN PREVIOUS YEARS

2020$1,560,237

2021$272,312

2022$18,921

Full Project information