Regional : Mitigating the Impact of COVID-19 through Community-Led Interventions

Health / Disease control of communicable disease

This knowledge and support technical assistance (TA) supports the implementation of measures to prepare for and respond to needs arising from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by civil society organizations (CSOs), including community-based organizations and nongovernment organizations (NGOs). The TA supports civil society organizations (CSOs) to provide services in three areas: (i) community-based mitigation and prevention activities; (ii) social protection for vulnerable communities, including elderly care; and (iii) economic support for those with livelihoods affected by COVID-19. The TA focuses on opportunities for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to create new partnerships with CSOs in several countries where civil society activity in the COVID-19 response complements the ADB portfolio.

On 29 June 2021, additional financing from the Republic of Korea e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund (EAKPF), People's Republic of China Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund (PRCF), and the Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund (RCIF) was approved. The additional financing increased the TA amount from $2.0 million to $4.480 million and expands the TA coverage to engage an additional 5 CSOs, for a total of 10 CSOs across 7 of ADB's developing member countries (DMCs).

The TA is aligned with ADB's Comprehensive Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and supports Strategy 2030's aims of engaging with CSOs in the delivery of development assistance.

The TA also supports Operational Priorities (OP) OP1, OP2, OP6, and OP7 under ADB's Strategy 2030.

Adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced in selected communities Asia and the Pacific

Collaboration with CSOs and community-based organizations in supporting COVID-19 affected communities increased

Community-based crisis prevention, mitigation, and adaptation capacity increased

Informal social protection programs stressed by COVID-19 impacts supported

Economic support provided for people with livelihoods affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

OUTPUT 1: As of September 2022:

170 communities have received support for increased capacity to implement COVID-19 prevention measures, exceeding TA targets. Countries where community engagement activities have been conducted include: Mongolia (33), Cook Islands (31), Philippines (71), Armenia (15), and Cambodia (20). Engagement encompasses a broad array of activities, but includes: (i) livelihood support, (ii) hygiene training, (iii) support for installing hand wash points and distributing PPEs, (iv) awareness-raising on COVID-19 prevention, (v) deployment and training of community/local health coordinators and social workers, and (vi) provision of informatics infrastructure for telehealth and equipment support for project operations

Work on community plans are ongoing with 8 complete as of September 2022, 3 of which directly address the needs of women and girls. Countries where community plans have been concluded include: Mongolia (4) and Philippines (4). Activities for the community plans are diverse, but include: (i) town hall meetings/health and economic summits to solicit inputs from the communities, and (ii) preparation of contingency and preparedness/prevention, mitigation and adaptation plans.

Output 2: As of September 2022:

Basic needs of 17,707 poor and vulnerable people (including 9,387 women and girls) have been met, exceeding TA targets. Countries where community engagement activities have been conducted include: Mongolia (7,575 total; 4,445 women and girls); Philippines (1,420 total; 540 women and girls); and Cambodia (8,712 total, 4,402 women and girls). Basic needs include food packs, winter clothes and other basic needs.

33 community groups have thus far confirmed improved capacity to provide social safety nets, 16 of which are led by women. Activities include: (i) hotline and telehealth services; (ii) counselling services for survivors of domestic violence; (iii) family development programs and support to family-based groups; (iv) training for community social/health workers on basic stress management; and (v) establishment of informal social protection and referral systems.

Output 3: As of September 2022:

2,037 vulnerable people have confirmed improved livelihoods, 1,320 of whom were women, which exceeds targets. Countries where improved livelihoods were reported include: (i) Mongolia (1,670 total and 1,069 women), (ii) Cambodia (334 and 227 women), (iii) Armenia (33 total and 24 women). Activities under this output include: (i) paper and online versions of farming and livestock production training materials for livelihood support activities, (ii) provision of livelihood assets including vegetable seeds, greenhouses, beehives, chicken farms, bio-fertilizer, sewing, bakery and dairy equipment, , (iii) support to SMEs, and (iv) fast-track reskilling courses and vocational training conducted.

809 jobless and/or unemployed workers have been employed, 469 of whom are women. Countries where improved employment has occurred include: (i) Mongolia (256 total and 109 women); (ii) Philippines (25 total and 17 women), (iii) Cambodia (528 total and 343 women).