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Foreign support to ease Pakistan's economic pressures in wake of COVID-19

Foreign support to ease Pakistan's economic pressures in wake of COVID-19

Islamabad, April 22(inp): Amid Coronavirus surge and easing lockdown, Pakistan switches on COVID-19 Emergency Response and Effectiveness Project under strategic preparedness and response program (SPRP) using the multiphase programmatic approach (MPA) with finance envelope of US $ 2.7 billion and $ 1.3 billion approved by World Bank. It aims to cushion socioeconomic dynamics preventing, detecting and responding to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness.

According to Gwadar Pro App, the primary target groups for the support to mitigate socioeconomic impacts are affected households/persons with high vulnerability to shocks, particularly the poorest and most vulnerable who tend to have limited assets and other mechanisms to protect themselves from shocks and households/persons who are affected due to mobility restrictions or are quarantined that disrupt their ability to meet basic needs.
Households may benefit from multiple interventions under the proposed project.
The social risks are also considered substantial.
One major social risk is that marginalized and vulnerable social groups (e.g. women, elderly, differently-abled, indigenous people (IPs) of Kalash and other areas of Pakistan, religious minorities, communities in remote locations etc.) are unable to access and benefit from facilities and services which could undermine the objectives of the project.

To mitigate this risk, the Ministry of National Health Services will commit to the provision of services and supplies based on the urgency of the need. The project’s communication strategy will facilitate the access of vulnerable groups to information on how to prevent and respond to COVID-19 in ways they can understand.

There is a potential risk of social tension and conflict within communities due to the adverse impacts on containment strategies on people’s livelihoods, and in quarantine/isolation facilities servicing marginalized groups such as religious minorities.
A Gender and Social Assessment will be conducted to address the concerns and needs of vulnerable and marginalized groups, particularly the Kalash, (including issues of access, prevention of social tensions and conflict, mental health and psychosocial support of healthcare workers and trauma survivors etc.).
This will also encompass the impact of increased unpaid care work on women, impact on their economic participation and gender-based violence concerns.

The recommendations of the gender and social assessment will be incorporated into the updated Environment and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and, as relevant, into SOPs, operation manuals, guidelines etc. to be used for project implementation.

This SEP will be revised within one month of project effectiveness, as noted in the ESCP. The SEP will include a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM), built upon existing provincial and federal complaints/help lines, for addressing any concerns and grievances arising in the context of project implementation.
The Interagency Coordination Committee of NISP, which will provide overall governance, includes representation from Civil Society Organizations – providing an additional mechanism for stakeholder feedback to the project.
INP/javed

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