The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic is the defining global health crisis of our time

and the greatest challenge we have faced since World War Two. Since its
emergence in Asia late last year, the virus has spread to every continent except
Antarctica. Cases are rising daily in Africa the Americas, and Europe.

Countries are racing to slow the spread of the disease by testing and treating
patients, carrying out contact tracing, limiting travel, quarantining citizens, and
cancelling large gatherings such as sporting events, concerts, and schools.

The pandemic is moving like a wave—one that may yet crash on those least able to
cope.

But COVID-19 is much more than a health crisis. By stressing every one of the
countries it touches, it has the potential to create devastating social, economic and
political crises that will leave deep scars.

We are in uncharted territory. Many of our communities are unrecognizable from

even a week ago. Dozens of the world’s greatest cities are deserted as people stay
indoors, either by choice or by government order. Across the world, shops, theatres,
restaurants and bars are closing.

Every day, people are losing jobs and income, with no way of knowing when
normality will return. Small island nations, heavily dependent on tourism, have empty
hotels and deserted beaches. The International Labour Organization estimates
that 25 million jobs could be lost.

UNDP response
Every country needs to act immediately to prepare, respond, and recover. The UN
system will support countries through each stage, with a focus on the most
vulnerable.

Drawing on our experience with other outbreaks such as Ebola, HIV, SARS, TB and
malaria, as well as our long history of working with the private and public sector ,
UNDP will help countries to urgently and effectively respond to COVID-19 as part of
its mission to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and
shocks.

“We are already hard at work, together with our UN family and
other partners, on three immediate priorities : supporting the
health response including the procurement and supply of
essential health products, under WHO’s leadership,
strengthening crisis management and response, and
addressing critical social and economic impacts.”UNDP
Administrator, Achim Steiner
 

Responding with people at the centre

Pakistan has witnessed a massive increase in its confirmed cases from the initial two
confirmed on 26th February 2020. As a country whose economy is highly reliant on
manufacturing and service industries, shutdown measures and disruptions in supply
chains will negatively impact on the economy and society, particularly the poor. 

As in other countries, the pandemic is likely to stress the capacity of the public health
system and result in loss of human lives.  Severe repercussions on livelihoods,
especially of the most vulnerable, dependent on government support, are expected. 
The shutdown measures have already impacted small businesses, small and
medium enterprises and daily wagers associated with various sectors of the
economy. Considering that the informal sector in the country accounts for a major
share of the national economy[1] and employs 27.3 million individuals, an increase in
un(der)employment and poverty coupled with implications on food production and
overall food security are anticipated.

The Government of Pakistan is concerned with the social and economic implications
of COVID-19 and has established, with the help of UNDP, a COVID-19 Secretariat in
the Planning Commission to prepare a coordinated economic and social response
and design evidence-informed interventions. The Secretariat is required to ensure
adequate coordination between Federal and Provincial Governments, with UN and
Development Partners.  

In this regard, the federal government as well as provincial government of Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa have requested UNDP’s support on a range of areas including
coordination, strategic communications, crisis management, business continuity and
digital solutions to manage government response to the pandemic. Assistance with
procurement of medical supplies and equipment is also being discussed.
Against this background, UNDP is currently in the following activities in response to
COVID-19 in Pakistan. (This page will be updated regularly.)

Supporting the Federal Government in coordination and strategic

communications:

 Supporting the Planning Commission in establishing a Secretariat

for coordinating socio-economic impact of COVID-19;
 Supporting the Federal Government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government
with Strategic Communications and Awareness;
 Supporting Economic Affairs Division to design ODA coordination system (aid
effectiveness).

Supporting Ministry of Health and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government in health

system response:

 Capacity support in crisis management and provision of digital solutions to

enable business continuity;
 Supporting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government to enhance supply chain
management (including procurement of health supplies and equipment).

Coordination of UN socio-economic impact needs assessment to identify

mitigation responses:

 Impact assessment on the most vulnerable, policy recommendations &

proposed programme interventions, to feed into the national action plan for
COVID-19.

[1] The figure ranges from 18.2% to 71% based on different analysis