Uzbekistan: COVID-19 Emergency Response Project

Sovereign Project | 54282-001

The proposed project is part of a comprehensive ADB package which also includes budget support for the COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program. The proposed project will be co-financed by ADB and AIIB to urgently increase Uzbekistan's resilience to COVID-19 pandemics and other epidemics. The project will support the testing, surveillance, and case management of COVID-19 in Uzbekistan by equipping and refurbishing the national laboratory system, establishing an

IT-based national surveillance and monitoring system, and improving and expanding the COVID-19 treatment capacity. Activities will be coordinated with, and complementary to, assistance of the World Bank, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and fill remaining gaps in medical equipment and supplies.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Huitzing, Hiddo A.
    Central and West Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Uzbekistan
  • Sector
    • Health
Project Name COVID-19 Emergency Response Project
Project Number 54282-001
Country / Economy Uzbekistan
Project Status Active
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Loan
Source of Funding / Amount
Loan 3956-UZB: COVID-19 Emergency Response Project
Concessional ordinary capital resources lending US$ 100.00 million
Loan 8383-UZB: COVID-19 Emergency Response Project
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank US$ 100.00 million
Strategic Agendas Inclusive economic growth
Regional integration
Drivers of Change Gender Equity and Mainstreaming
Governance and capacity development
Partnerships
Sector / Subsector

Health / Disease control of communicable disease - Health sector development and reform
Gender Equity and Mainstreaming Effective gender mainstreaming
Description

The proposed project is part of a comprehensive ADB package which also includes budget support for the COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program. The proposed project will be co-financed by ADB and AIIB to urgently increase Uzbekistan's resilience to COVID-19 pandemics and other epidemics. The project will support the testing, surveillance, and case management of COVID-19 in Uzbekistan by equipping and refurbishing the national laboratory system, establishing an

IT-based national surveillance and monitoring system, and improving and expanding the COVID-19 treatment capacity. Activities will be coordinated with, and complementary to, assistance of the World Bank, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and fill remaining gaps in medical equipment and supplies.

The proposed project is aligned with four operational priorities of Strategy 2030: (i) addressing poverty and reducing inequalities through improved health access; (ii) accelerating gender equality through occupational safety and training targets for women; (iii) strengthening governance and institutional capacity; and (iv) fostering regional cooperation through reducing risks of cross-border disease transmission. The project further aligns with Uzbekistan's National Actions Strategy for 2017 2021, and the government-adopted _The Concept of Development of the Healthcare System of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2019 2025._ Reforms will address systematic health systems issues such as fragmentation, inefficiency, and the insufficient emphasis on non-communicable diseases prevention and early detection.

The project is aligned with (i) concept for the development of the health system of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2019 2025, and (ii) the SPRP. The project will have the following outcome: resilience to outbreaks of COVID-19 and other epidemics reinforced. The project will have three outputs: Output 1 - national laboratory system strengthened; Output 2 - national surveillance and response system established for COVID-19 and other epidemics; and Output 3 - COVID-19 treatment capacity expanded.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy The COVID-19 pandemic. On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. On 11 March 2020, WHO declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic. By 9 June 2020, approximately 7.0 million people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 with over 404,000 deaths, globally. On 15 March 2020, the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan announced the first confirmed COVID-19 case, a returning citizen from France. By 9 June 2020, the government confirmed 4,520 COVID-19 cases with 18 deaths.
Impact

Efficiency, quality, and accessibility of health care increased

Human-to-human transmission of COVID-19 contained
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome Resilience to outbreaks of COVID-19 and other public health emergencies reinforced
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

National laboratory system strengthened

National surveillance and response system established for COVID-19

COVID-19 treatment capacity expanded
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment B
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Business Opportunities
Procurement The response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires quick procurement actions in a disrupted market characterized by production and supply shortages, price fluctuations, logistics constraints and a limited number of potential bidders. These impact directly on timely availability and quality of goods, and calls for more flexible procurement arrangements, while maintaining the necessary level of due diligence. Procurement of goods, works, and (consulting and non-consulting) services financed by ADB and AIIB will follow ADB Procurement Policy and Procurement Regulations for ADB Borrowers (2017, both as amended from time to time), as well as the additional exemptions as endorsed as per ADB's Comprehensive Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, which amongst others, allows for universal procurement. Limited tendering or direct contracting with UN agencies or existing government framework contracts will be used when deemed appropriate. Details on procurement arrangements are found in the PAM.
Responsible ADB Officer Huitzing, Hiddo A.
Responsible ADB Department Central and West Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division CWSS
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Health
12 Navoi Street
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Timetable
Concept Clearance -
Fact Finding 27 May 2020 to 29 May 2020
MRM 25 Jun 2020
Approval 13 Aug 2020
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 02 Aug 2020

Loan 3956-UZB

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
30 Jul 2020 31 Dec 2020 07 Jun 2021 31 Jan 2023 - -
Financing Plan Loan Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 157.00 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 100.00 09 Aug 2022 17.51 0.00 18%
Counterpart 57.00 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 09 Aug 2022 12.40 0.00 12%
Status of Covenants
Category Sector Safeguards Social Financial Economic Others
Rating - Satisfactory Satisfactory Unsatisfactory - Satisfactory

Loan 8383-UZB

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
13 Aug 2020 31 Dec 2020 14 Jun 2021 31 Jan 2023 - -
Financing Plan Loan Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 100.00 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 0.00 09 Aug 2022 0.00 17.50 18%
Counterpart 0.00 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 100.00 09 Aug 2022 0.00 12.25 12%

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) recognizes that transparency and accountability are essential to development effectiveness. It establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced.

The Accountability Mechanism provides a forum where people adversely affected by ADB-assisted projects can voice and seek solutions to their problems and report alleged noncompliance of ADB's operational policies and procedures.

In preparing any country program or strategy, financing any project, or by making any designation of, or reference to, a particular territory or geographic area in this document, the Asian Development Bank does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Safeguard Documents See also: Safeguards
Safeguard documents provided at the time of project/facility approval may also be found in the list of linked documents provided with the Report and Recommendation of the President.

Title Document Type Document Date
COVID-19 Emergency Response Project: Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Jun 2020
COVID-19 Emergency Response Project: Updated Draft Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Environmental Assessment and Review Framework Jun 2020

Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

None currently available.

Related Publications

None currently available.

The Access to Information Policy (AIP) establishes the disclosure requirements for documents and information ADB produces or requires to be produced in its operations to facilitate stakeholder participation in ADB's decision-making. For more information, refer to the Safeguard Policy Statement, Operations Manual F1, and Operations Manual L3.

Requests for information may also be directed to the InfoUnit.

Tenders

Tender Title Type Status Posting Date Deadline
Finance Coordinator Individual - Consulting Closed 17 Mar 2022 13 Apr 2022
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed 17 Mar 2022 13 Apr 2022
PIU Manager for CERP Individual - Consulting Closed 17 Jul 2021 26 Jul 2021
Procurement Coordinator Individual - Consulting Closed 17 Jul 2021 26 Jul 2021
Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist Individual - Consulting Closed 17 Jul 2021 26 Jul 2021
Finance Coordinator Individual - Consulting Closed 17 Jul 2021 26 Jul 2021

Contracts Awarded

Contract Title Approval Number Contract Date Contractor | Address Executing Agency Total Contract Amount (US$) Contract Amount Financed by ADB (US$)
Ambulances Loan 3956 06 Oct 2021 Sergeli Avtotexxizmat LLC | 39 Obikhayot str. Tashkent, Uzbekistan Ministry of Health 35,000,000.00 17,500,000.00

Procurement Plan

Title Document Type Document Date
COVID-19 Emergency Response Project: Procurement Plan Procurement Plans Sep 2021