Humanitarian Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - OCHA 2020

March 2020 – In response to the COVID19 global pandemic the United Nations launched the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) on 25 March 2020. The GHRP seeks to respond to the direct public health and immediate humanitarian consequences of the pandemic. The three strategic priorities include: 1) containing the spread of the pandemic; 2) decreasing the deterioration of human assets and rights social cohesion and livelihoods; and 3) protecting assisting and advocating for refugees internally displaced people migrants and host communities particularly vulnerable to the pandemic. The Global Humanitarian Response Plan is a joint and collective effort among all stakeholders facilitated at the global level by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). As leader of the Inter-agency Steering Committee OCHA works to oversee the global level coordination and liaise with other stakeholders such as the UN Crisis Management Team as needed. OCHA’s primary mandate is to oversee the coordination of international humanitarian responses in partnership with national and international actors in order to achieve more coherent and effective humanitarian action. This grant represents Canada’s support to OCHA in Afghanistan Central African Republic Democratic Republic of Congo Somalia South Sudan and Sudan. With the support of Canada and other donors OCHA fulfills its mandate by: (1) strengthening humanitarian leadership; (2) establishing and overseeing coordination systems; (3) monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (4) advocating on behalf of affected people; (5) supporting the assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (6) promoting emergency preparedness; and (7) mobilizing funding for humanitarian assistance.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) strengthened humanitarian leadership and coordination systems; (2) enhanced monitoring and reporting on humanitarian situations; (3) enhanced advocacy on behalf of affected populations; (4) strengthened assessment and prioritization of humanitarian needs and strategic planning; (5) improved emergency preparedness; and (6) increased funding for humanitarian assistance. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.