Coronavirus Disease

(COVID-19) Pandemic
UNFPA Global Response Plan
April 2020

"COVID-19 is the greatest test that

we have faced since the formation
of the United Nations."
António Guterres,
United Nations Secretary-General
 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

CONTEXT
The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes the in terms of how their work environment may
largest global public health crisis in a century, be impacted, their safety requirements, or
with daunting health and socioeconomic their sexual and reproductive health and
challenges. As the UN Secretary-General 1' psychosocial needs.
noted, this “is the greatest test that we have
faced since the formation of the United Shortages of vital supplies for sexual and
Nations”. Governments are taking reproductive health loom large. Life-saving
unprecedented measures to limit the spread of medicines for maternal health and
the virus, ramping up health systems and contraceptives are less available given the
restricting the movement of millions. The closure of production sites, and breakdown
pandemic has already severely disrupted of global and local supply chains. In Latin
access to life-saving sexual and reproductive America and the Caribbean, an estimated 18
health services. It is worsening existing million women will lose regular access to
inequalities for women and girls, and modern contraceptives. It is essential that
deepening discrimination against other women, adolescent girls and couples can still
marginalized groups. Sexual and access a choice of effective short- and
reproductive health and rights is a long-acting modern contraceptives,
significant public health issue that information, counselling and services
demands urgent and sustained attention (including emergency contraception) during
and investment. the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Health and social systems across the globe

are struggling to cope. The situation is
especially challenging in humanitarian, fragile STRATEGIC PRIORITIES
and low-income country contexts, where
health and social systems are already weak. Continuity of sexual and
Services to provide sexual and reproductive reproductive health services
health care risk being sidelined, which will 1 and interventions, including
lead to higher maternal mortality and protection of the health
morbidity. All women and girls must have workforce
access to a continuum of sexual and
reproductive health services, including
Addressing gender-based
antenatal, perinatal and postnatal care, and
screening tests according to national
2 violence
guidelines and standards.

The pandemic is compounding existing gender Ensuring the supply of

inequalities. There are growing reports of 3 modern contraceptives and
increases in gender-based violence and reproductive health
sexual exploitation and abuse, even as commodities
related services for prevention and response
are under pressure. With restrictions to
freedom of movement, combined with the fear, ACCELERATOR INTERVENTIONS
tension and stress related to COVID-19, and
the negative impacts on household incomes, 1 Leaving no one behind
risks of violence will grow. Women are also
more vulnerable to economic fragility during 2 Data
confinement and movement restrictions, for
reasons that include their far greater 3 Risk communication and
representation in informal sector jobs, stigma reduction
particularly in Africa and Asia. This
vulnerability in turn affects family income and 4 Youth engagement
food availability, and leads to malnutrition,
especially for children, andpregnant and
breastfeeding women. Furthermore, since RESOURCES REQUIRED
$ 1 8 7 . 5 M I L L I O N*
women represent nearly 70 per cent of health-
care workers globally, it is critical to support
their needs, including on the frontlines of the FOR UNFPA GLOBAL RESPONSE
COVID-19 response. Yet not enough attention
has been given to women health-care workers
* As of 6 April 2020.

1 United Nations (2020). Shared Responsibility, Global Solidarity.

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 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

UNFPA STRATEGIC PRIORITIES AND

INTERVENTIONS
The UNFPA Global Response Plan is fully better disease prevention in maternity care,
aligned to and part of the UN Secretary- and by building stronger national capacities
General’s three-step plan to respond to to respond to future outbreaks.
the devastating socioeconomic impacts
of COVID-19. UNFPA’s plan complements UNFPA’s response at the country level is
the WHO COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness based on national contexts and operational
and Response Plan. At the global and realities, and is focused on the following
regional levels, UNFPA is part of the three strategic priorities.
coordinated UN response under the Inter-
Agency Standing Committee (IASC) COVID-
19 Global Humanitarian Response Plan. At
the country level, UNFPA works within UN
country teams under the leadership of the
UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and
designated
Coordinator.
COVID-19
Under the IASC
Outbreak
cluster COVID-19 IN
system, UNFPA leads coordination of the
gender-based violence area of responsibility
HUMANITARIAN
within the protection cluster. SITUATIONS
Active in more than 150 countries and UNFPA's pandemic response is a
territories, UNFPA operates across the “whole of organization” approach,
humanitarian and development spectrum. integrating enhanced humanitarian
Its country and regional office network is a and development assets. It aims to
considerable asset given the scale of the effectively respond in all country
pandemic. It also offers close partnerships contexts struck by the pandemic.
with governments, in particular with
ministries of health, and other national and An increasing number of COVID-19
international actors, especially cases are appearing in countries with
implementing partners comprising
ongoing humanitarian operations,
international and national non-governmental
organizations, civil society groups, and where containing the rapidly
women’s and youth groups. spreading virus is even more
daunting.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the Decade of Action to The world cannot forget the most
deliver the SDGs frame UNFPA’s COVID-19 vulnerable and marginalized.
global response,which further operates in Supporting people affected by existing
line with the UNFPA Strategic Plan 2018- humanitarian crises is the right and
2021 with its three transformative results. the smart thing to do to save lives and
These are to end unmet need for family avoid the threat of COVID-19 circling
planning, preventable maternal deaths, and back around the globe.
gender-based violence and all harmful
practices. UNFPA’s engagement in
countries covers the continuum of
preparedness, response and early recovery,
with the ultimate aim of saving lives and
building back better through more resilient
societies and communities. Its response will
create long-term benefits for health systems
by supporting improved quality of care and

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 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 1:
Continuity of sexual and reproductive health services and
interventions, including protection of the health workforce
UNFPA is supporting governments to keep weaker health systems, a problem that is
health systems functioning, to maintain the often most acute in countries facing long-
provision of sexual and reproductive health and running crises, conflict, natural disasters,
rights information and services, to protect displacement and other emergencies. Such
health workers and to limit the spread of situations make it particularly difficult to
COVID-19. These essential efforts aim at provide health care to infected people and to
avoiding higher rates of maternal mortality and sustain health services to the general
morbidity, unintended pregnancies, teenage population.
pregnancies, unsafe abortions, HIV and
sexually transmitted infections (STIs). UNFPA will also provide dignity kits to
address the hygiene needs of women and
UNFPA is developing and implementing girls, based on local needs and procurement
interventions that strengthen the capacity of realities, so that homebound/quarantined
health systems to respond effectively to women and girls have access to essential
COVID-19, including quality sexual and sanitary items.
reproductive health services. UNFPA works to
ensure that women and girls, especially
pregnant, delivering and lactating women, and
including those under quarantine, have timely
access to safe and quality health care,
including sexual and reproductive health care.
This includes a full range of maternal, newborn
COUNTRY ACTION
and comprehensive reproductive health care In China, UNFPA is supporting
services (in accordance with national policies public health efforts, including by
and legislation), sexual health services and delivering critical medical supplies
treatment for STIs, HIV and AIDS, and support for front-line health workers as well
for survivors of gender-based violence. UNFPA as sanitary items for women, girls
applies a human rights focused approach to and vulnerable populations such as
ensure that no one is left behind. older persons.
Achieving safe and quality services depends on In the Philippines, UNFPA provided
an adequate workforce, in terms of numbers, handheld thermometers, surgical
skills, and relevant medical supplies, masks and other personal protective
equipment and material for infection prevention equipment to front-line health
and control. These elements are particularly workers.
important in containing and responding to
COVID-19 in countries and communities with

© UNFPA Yemen
 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 2:
Addressing gender-based violence (GBV)

UNFPA is ensuring the continuity of life-

saving, multisector services for survivors
of gender-based violence and the most
at-risk women and girls. Within national
REGIONAL ACTION
COVID-19 strategies, UNFPA is helping to In the Caribbean, UNFPA is working with
adapt service provision based on partners to develop and disseminate
implications for service providers and case communication materials to support
management. It will ensure that referral vulnerable populations, and is supporting
pathways and risk-mitigation information referral pathways for gender-based
are updated and disseminated regularly to violence survivors and those most at-risk.
facilitate access to services throughout the
pandemic. It is prioritizing strengthened
response capacities for hotlines and remote
services, including through the adaptation
of interventions like Women and Girl Safe
Spaces. This will decrease the risk of
exposure and provide remote service
delivery, including for case management
and mental health and psycho-social
support (MHPSS), while encompassing
protection measures for counsellors.

To address gender-based violence and

harmful practices in all settings, UNFPA
emphasizes prevention, protection,
response, coordination and capacity
development. It is integrating prevention
into COVID-19 response plans; extending
the reach of hotlines (assuming service
availability); supporting the dissemination
of messages on gender-based violence in
the context of COVID-19 through social
media, radio and/or TV programmes; and
establishing remote social support such as
virtual chat groups.

Partnerships with civil society are defining

who remains in place in providing front-line
© UNFPA Democratic Republic of the Congo
support, and, of paramount importance,
how to assist them to safely scale up their
work. UNFPA is investing in support
shelters or one-stop centres, safe spaces,
etc. that minimize COVID-19 transmission
COUNTRY ACTION
and address specific risks of violence In Nigeria, UNFPA has mobilized the
among those infected. Work with uniformed private sector to contribute to procurement
services and other responders will improve and ensure safe health services for women
their capacity and responsiveness to and girls, including gender-based violence
gender-based violence prevention and survivors.
response.

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 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

STRATEGIC PRIORITY 3:
Ensuring the supply of modern contraceptives and
other reproductive health commodities
UNFPA is acting to mitigate the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive health
supplies, including modern REGIONAL ACTION
contraceptives and maternal health
medicines. Established mechanisms in all In the Pacific, UNFPA has provided risk
UNFPA programme countries monitor and communications for women and girls,
track stock levels, consumption rates, risk of including through social media. Outreach
stock-out or overstock, and pipeline orders touches on pregnancy, contraception,
for every contraceptive method and life- gender-based violence and mental
saving maternal health medicine. health.

UNFPA is communicating with countries

regarding their inventory levels by product;
reviewing purchase orders, shipments and
production; and continuing to work
proactively with suppliers to understand and
mitigate the impact of delays and price
increases on family planning in developing
countries. Data collected by forecasting,
monitoring and tracking will be used for
decision-making on where transfers from one
country to another might be needed, or
where increased stocks now might prevent
shortfalls later.

UNFPA will support ministries of health and

other institutions to provide online
screening, information, and reproductive
health and contraception counselling
services, using means such as mobile
technology in countries with high COVID-19
burdens. It will partner with private-sector
health-care providers to extend counselling
and contraceptive services while relieving
pressure on public health systems. UNFPA
will also promote primary health-care and
community empowerment programmes to
shift commodity distribution from clinical
settings to communities.

© UNFPA MK/Tomislav Georgiev

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 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

ACCELERATOR INTERVENTIONS
Under these three strategic priorities, four positions them to positively influence the
accelerator interventions are critical to design and implementation of prevention
UNFPA’s response: activities and community engagement.

Leaving no one behind: UNFPA is Youth engagement: UNFPA is

acutely aware that overcoming the strengthening the capacity of youth
multiple dimensions of social inequality organizations to engage safely, effectively
represents a key challenge to sustainable and meaningfully in ways that enable young
development. Leaving no one behind people to augment their knowledge on the
implies training a spotlight on gaps among virus and play an effective role in the
different population groups and areas of prevention and response, including as
residence. UNFPA’s interventions focus social and community workers and as
on and advocate for those most at risk assistants to professional health staff,
from COVID-19, including older persons where needed and possible. UNFPA will
and the immunocompromised. Special ensure that measures are in place to
attention goes to those left furthest mitigate risk of all forms of violence
behind, as they are the most vulnerable to against adolescents and youth, particularly
the secondary impacts of COVID-19 on adolescent girls and young women, in
societies and economies. They include quarantine settings, isolation processes
women, adolescents, persons with and procedures. UNFPA country offices will
disabilities, indigenous people, people of adopt creative and flexible outreach
African descent, refugees and migrants. strategies to reach young people through
digital platforms that UNFPA is already
Data: UNFPA supports governments to using to promote comprehensive sexuality
collect and analyze data to track COVID- education. UNFPA is leveraging the
19 cases, including disaggregated data on Compact for Young People in Humanitarian
specific vulnerable groups, and with a Action to provide concrete operational
view towards informing targeted guidance to steer humanitarian action
interventions to address the pandemic. A towards young people.
particular focus is to identify the absolute
numbers of older persons, where they are
clustered, and how many live in dense
urban areas or alone without support.
Where recent census data are available,
these quick mappings can go far in
bolstering government preparedness and
response.
COUNTRY ACTION
In Moldova, UNFPA helped launch an
Risk communication and community online dashboard, updated in real time,
engagement: UNFPA offers extensive showing caseloads disaggregated by
expertise in community engagement and location, sex, age, and pregnancy status.
social mobilization, and longstanding
multistakeholder partnerships, including In Liberia, UNFPA is working with the
with youth networks, religious and National Public Health Institute of Liberia
traditional leaders, and women’s rights on disease surveillance and contact
and women-led organizations. It will tracing. This includes supporting the
leverage these to support risk training and deployment of community
communication and community residents, as well as general and
engagement in primary prevention and community health workers, to serve as
stigma reduction, with a constant focus on contact tracers and health supervisors.
people’s safety, dignity and rights. A In Iran, UNFPA acquired supplies such
multisectoral approach will protect and as masks, disinfectants and gloves for
support families and communities, and more than 400 centres for older persons
build their knowledge and capacities to and those living with disabilities.
protect themselves and prevent further
spread of the virus. In particular, women’s
front-line interaction with communities

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 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

GLOBAL TECHNICAL GUIDANCE

UNFPA has launched the following six
technical guidance notes:

Technical Brief on the Implications of Sexual and Reproductive Health and

COVID-19 on Census Rights: Modern Contraceptives and
Other Medical Supply Needs, Including
Sexual and Reproductive Health and for COVID-19 Prevention, Protection
Rights, Maternal and Newborn Health & and Response
COVID-19
Adolescents and Young People &
Gender Equality and Addressing Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)
Gender-based Violence (GBV) and
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) COVID-19: A Gender Lens
Prevention, Protection and Response

RESULTS INDICATORS BY STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

STRATEGIC PRIORITY INDICATORS 2

1. Continuity of sexual 1.1: Proportion of COVID-19–affected countries with

and reproductive health emergency obstetric and newborn care coverage, as
services and per the international recommended minimum
interventions, including standards
protection of the health 1.2: Number of safe deliveries in UNFPA-supported
workforce facilities in COVID-19 affected countries
1.3: Number of women and young people who have
utilized integrated sexual and reproductive health
services in COVID-19 affected countries

2. Addressing gender- 2.1: Number of women and girls, including disabled,

based violence subjected to violence who have accessed essential
gender-based violence services

3. Ensuring the supply 3.1: Proportion of COVID-19 affected countries that

of modern reported no contraceptive stockouts
contraceptives and 3.2: Total couple-years of protection for
other reproductive contraceptives procured by UNFPA, including
health commodities condoms in COVID-19–affected countries

2
Indicative indicators to be further refined.

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 COVID-19 - UNFPA Global Response Plan – April 2020

UNFPA RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS

AND PARTNERSHIPS
UNFPA’s financial requirement for the global contributions of goods and services, such
response is $187.5 million (as of 1 April). as personal protective equipment and
UNFPA is part of the UN’s Global materials needed to operate mobile clinics
Humanitarian Response Plan and $2 billion and scale up dignity kits, as well as
appeal (UNFPA: $120 million) for managing financial donations. UNFPA is also working
the COVID-19 threat in humanitarian with visibility partners to expand
situations. Additional need outside of communication of risk-related messages
humanitarian situations, and until the end of and stories regarding the broader drive to
April, is US$67.5 million. As the pandemic promote and protect access to services for
evolves and expands, UNFPA will revise its sexual and reproductive health and gender-
overall appeal, factoring in needs and based violence. UNFPA’s new digital
appropriate responses within its mandate and fundraising campaign will reach new
across all settings – humanitarian, fragile audiences and raise additional funding from
contexts and development. individuals to fuel life-saving operations
during the crisis.
Core resources are contributions without
restrictions that form the bedrock of UNFPA In all settings, UNFPA is responding to the
operations. Core contributions are more COVID-19 pandemic with the critical
important than ever as UNFPA responds to support of its key partners to achieve
the COVID-19 pandemic. They enable global maximum impact across our three strategic
reach and the leveraging of additional priority areas. UNFPA is partnering with
resources, especially in emergency contexts. governments, civil society and the private
It is critical that the existing response to sector, UN entities, international financing
COVID-19 does not divert resources from institutions and philanthropic organizations,
UNFPA’s ongoing life-saving interventions in so that we can deliver more and faster
humanitarian settings. towards life-saving interventions and
sustainable results to the people we serve.
UNFPA is reaching out to existing private
partners globally, and at regional and country
levels, to solicit support for the COVID-19
appeal. The request focuses on in-kind

"Now is a time for solidarity, resolve and selflessness. We must not forget that
there are people we may not immediately see, who are at great risk as a result of
the consequences of the crisis."
- Dr. Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director

CONTACT INFORMATION
ARTHUR ERKEN
DIVISION OF COMMUNICATION AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS, DIRECTOR
[email protected]

JACQUELINE MAHON
POLICY AND STRATEGY DIVISION, ACTING DIRECTOR
[email protected]

SHOKO ARAKAKI
HUMANITARIAN OFFICE, DIRECTOR
[email protected]

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