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UN allots $2 million for Indonesia's COVID-19 response
The United Nations is set to contribute $2 million to support Indonesia’s COVID-19 response.
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The United Nations logo is seen on the corridors of the United Nations headquarters in New York City, United States, on Sept. 25, 2018 during the annual general assembly. (AFP/Ludovic Marin)
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he United Nations is set to contribute US$2 million to support Indonesia’s COVID-19 response under its COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Fund (COVID-19 MPTF).
The funds would be disbursed through the Protecting People project, which aims to protect the most vulnerable people, particularly women and children of marginalized groups, from the social and economic blows of the pandemic.
"The Indonesian fund allocation aims to ensure that, in these times of socioeconomic crisis, no one, particularly children and women, is left behind. It is our priority to support the government in protecting progress made to date in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)." UN interim resident coordinator for Indonesia Niels Scott said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that the UN thanked the governments of several countries – the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark – for providing first contributions to launch the fund.
“[It] will help support Indonesia’s response to the pandemic and its impacts on human lives and livelihoods,” Scott went on to say.
According to the body’s estimation, around 150 million Indonesians have fallen into poverty because of the economic impact of the pandemic. Moreover, more face income loss, food insecurity and malnutrition.
The funding package would support the vulnerable groups through social and economic protection mechanisms by scaling up cash transfers, broadening social safety nets and providing educational support and food security for children.
Additionally, the funds would support digital innovation that could boost employment and strengthen social services and healthcare provision.
The support would be provided for the government and key partners – civil societies, the private sector and faith-based groups – in three categories: the inclusivity of social protection system, the governance of social protection response to COVID-19 and innovation for more efficient and effective social protection.
The UN said it would implement the program through its agencies in Indonesia, such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which would work with ministries to provide policy recommendations, as well as UNICEF, which would ensure child-responsive aspects of social protection services.
The UN’s Response and Recovery Trust Funds also support 45 other developing countries with a total approved budget of $41.3 million as of Saturday, with Indonesia and India receiving the largest portion of the budget with $2 million each.
The body would also readjust $17.8 billion in funds for sustainable development programs across its agencies in response to COVID-19 response needs.
