Preparedness and contingency planning
GNC Preparedness Guidance: GNC has developed this guidance to help country level Nutrition Clusters, nutrition sector coordination and nutrition working groups, to strengthen collective preparedness toward effective protection of the nutritional status of populations.
IASC Interim Guidance - SCALING-UP COVID-19 OUTBREAK READINESS AND RESPONSE OPERATIONS IN HUMANITARIAN SITUATIONS - Including Camps and Camp-Like Settings - March 2020: This Interim Guidance addresses specific needs and considerations required in humanitarian situations, including camps and camp-like settings and the surrounding host communities, in scaling-up readiness and response operations for the COVID-19 outbreak through effective multi-sectoral partnership. The Guidance is developed in alignment with the WHO COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and WHO Technical guidance for COVID-19
WHO COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan: Operational Planning Guidelines to Support Country Preparedness and Response (Published 12 Feb 2020)
WHO COVID-19: Operational Planning Guidelines to Support Country Preparedness and Response
CDC Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Hospital Preparedness Assessment Tool (Reviewed 14 Feb 2020)
Strategic planning
GNC Joint statement on COVID 19 and Wasting 200407 An urgent and important statement from UNICEF and the GNC, calling for the inclusion of children affected by wasting, in the list of highly-vulnerable groups, as it they may be at higher risk of COVID-19 related pneumonia. As many countries, and in particular, are developing COVID 19 response policies, strategies and programmes, weighing in the effects on public health and their economies, it is critical that they do not underestimate the potential primary and secondary impact of COVID-19 on the survival of a large number of children.
Global Cluster Coordination Group (GCCG) Basic Information Package in support of COVID-19 response. The package aims to support response actors in a range of settings with essential resources and best practice on coordinating a response to COVID-19.
The United Nations released the third update of the Global Humanitarian Response Plan (GHRP) for COVID-19 on 17 July with funding requirements of $10.3 billion. This update reconfirms the geographic coverage of 63 countries, provides updates on the needs and challenges faced at the country level and acknowledges funding received and remaining gaps.
OCHA The first Progress Report against the GHRP, with a focus on Logistics as a sector and some countries, has been published. The next update to the GHRP is due on 16 July.
IASC Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 (GHRP) Information Update #2
IASC GHRP INFORMATION UPDATE 20 APRIL 2020 This the first information update on the coordinated, inter-agency Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 (GHRP) launched by the UN Secretary-General on 25 March. The GHRP is a global call for solidarity across the international community to help deliver life-saving assistance to millions of people around the world - particularly to the most vulnerable populations - at this unprecedented time.
OCHA has released a Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID19, covering more than 40 countries, mostly having HRP or RHRP, to present the needs, strategy, and requirements (USD 2Bn) to prepare and respond to non-health related consequences of the pandemic (the health related issues should be addressed by the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan (SPRP), targeting national Governments to develop their own country Preparedness and Response Plan (PRP)). The plan is now being revised and the new version will be published on the 7th of May.
IASC Activation of the IASC System-Wide Scale-Up Protocols Adapted to the Global COVID-19 Pandemic 16 April 2020 This document outlines the ‘light’ and ‘adapted’ scale-up protocols to be activated for IASC response to the COVID-19 emergency. It describes the collective approach and principles of action to guide the system-wide response. This activation may be updated to ensure it retains currency in view of the exceptional and rapidly evolving situation. These tailored protocols build on the IASC Scale-Up activation for infectious diseases, which reflects the roles of the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Director-General and Member States under the International Health Regulations (2005), and the importance of non-IASC organizations in responding to infectious disease events.
Joint statement by Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director, and Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees As COVID-19 pandemic continues, forcibly displaced children need more support than ever
SUN The Information note highlights priority actions SUN FPs and MSPs could take to help ensure nutrition is considered and addressed in the COVID-19 response and to help safeguard nutrition and food security during the pandemic and beyond. The note provides evidence-based arguments and links to relevant guidance documents from UN agencies and others. The document was developed with the help of MQSUN+.
SUN The key advocacy messages can provide inspiration and concrete messages in support of the collective effort to convince those in charge that nutrition needs to be prioritised and safeguarded during the COVID-19 response and recovery.
The Sphere standards and the Coronavirus response - multiple languages: In this page, you will be able to find Sphere and its partners’ guidance on the COVID-19 response in multiple languages, additional resources based on humanitarian standards, and information on upcoming learning events.
UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan on COVID-19 The GHRP aims to ensure complementarity, synergy, gaps and needs identification, and coordinated response by complementing and supporting existing government responses and national coordination mechanisms.
UNICEF UNICEF COVID-19 Programme Guidance_Feb 6
UNHCR’s global COVID-19 emergency response
OCHA has released humanitarian icons to help the COVID-19 response
Country level documents
Resource mobilization
As part of its Reimagine campaign, UNICEF calls for accelerated action to prevent and treat malnutrition caused by pandemic as humanitarian community appeals for $2.4 billion to improve maternal and child nutrition. An additional 6.7 million children under the age of five could suffer from wasting – and therefore become dangerously undernourished – in 2020 as a result of the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The United Nations Multilateral Response to COVID-19 document that outlines the three critical components of the UN’s multilateral response to COVID-19
UNICEF GUIDANCE NOTE ON FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OR CONTRIBUTIONS IN-KIND FROM FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES UNICEF Country offices have requested guidance on whether to accept financial contributions or contributions in-kind from food and beverage companies in the context of the response to the COVID19 pandemic. This guidance describes the context, provides recommendations to mitigate risks and steps for implementation. It was developed by UNICEF Nutrition Programme and Private Partnerships teams. The guidance note applies to UNICEF regional and country offices, national governments and partner organizations.
In a joint letter, the world's most senior humanitarian leaders issue a warning of the risk of COVID-19 to the world‘s most vulnerable countries and call for US$350 million to be specifically earmarked for the establishment of a rapidly enhanced and expanded UN global logistics system. READ THE FULL LETTER HERE. READ THE GUARDIAN COVERAGE HERE.
IASC Key Messages for the IASC Flexible Funding for Humanitarian Response and COVID19 The note reflects recommendations made by the IASC RG 5 on Humanitarian Financing (co-chaired by OCHA and ICVA), together with inputs from the EDG. These key messages reflect IASC commitments and are aligned with Grand Bargain principles aimed at putting assistance into the hands of people in need and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian action.
UNCTAD News about the UN call for a $2.5 trillion coronavirus crisis package for developing countries , published on 30 March on the UNCTAD website. UNCTAD also has a COVID-19 News, Analysis and resources page, and has published a report on the impact of the crisis on developing countries from a trade perspective.
IMPACCT COVID-19 Guidance to Import Goods for Humanitarian Operators It serves as a guidance note as to how to be prepared before dispatching medicines and medical equipment to countries affected by COVID-19.
Implementation and monitoring
GNC Nutrition Sectoral and Cluster Coordination Guidance in COVID19 Contexts Ver.3_05_05_2020 The purpose of this note is to give guidance to Nutrition Sector/Cluster coordination mechanisms at national level, on adaptation of the core cluster coordination functions and working modalities, due to COVID-19’s. The guidance is in English, French and Arabic.
WFP COVID-19 Nutrition Program Adaptations Interim Brief #1 This brief is based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and the transmission of other viral respiratory infections, as informed by the WHO and Centres for Disease Control (CDC) and complements the potential adaptations recommended by the Global Nutrition Cluster. WFP will continue to update the brief as needed, based on the availability of new information. The brief is developed for WFP staff and cooperating partners’ staff in charge of acute malnutrition prevention and treatment activities.
GNC has developed generic COVID 19 and Nutrition Technical Working Group (TWG) Terms of References (ToRs) in English, Arabic and French
Street Child UK’s (SCUK) global COVID-19 rapid assessment . SCUK interviewed over 12,100 respondents across 13 countries, including the 6 protracted crisis settings. With the help of a network of 50+ national partners, they asked questions on COVID-19 prevention and preparedness, on protection, education and household coping capacities.The findings from a protection perspective are highly concerning, and also very worrying in terms of nutrition: the major issues driving negative coping strategies, such as rising cost of living and the loss of income and livelihoods, were already taking their toll at the point of assessment in early May. Over half reported already restricting meals, with 17% eating seed stocks and 18% selling productive or domestic assets.
COVID-19 GHRP INDICATORS Final version - 5 June 2020 This is the final list of indicators that will be tracked through the GHRP based on OCHA’s review: those for Nutrition along with the full list of indicators across sectors. A number of these indicators have responsible agencies for providing results against them. This information is to complement regular processes for monitoring and reporting of nutrition in the context of COVID-19. Please note that work with partners including UNICEF, the Global Nutrition Cluster and the Global Technical Assistance Mechanism for Nutrition is underway on a comprehensive list of indicators and will be shared in the coming weeks.
Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19 Interim guidance 5 June 2020 This document is an update of the guidance published on 6 April 2020 and includes updated scientific evidence relevant to the use of masks for preventing transmission of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as well as practical considerations.
Session recording May 27- WHO/AFRO COVID-19 topics. Kindly download the presentation slides on Using the M&E System to Capture and Communicate COVID-19 Response Activities in Countries of Africa
Resources from Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Global Webinar Series Session 1 Triage of COVID-19 Patients: Operational Considerations and Practical Examples Thursday, May 14, 2020 has shared the session recording and link to the presentations.
Resources from Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Global Webinar Series Session 2 Triage of COVID-19 Patients: IPC Monitoring and Facility Readiness for COVID-19 Thursday, May 21, 2020 has shared the session recording and link to the presentations.
Food and Nutrition Essentials in COVID-19 - Focus on Africa Thursday, May 14 has shared the session recording and link to the presentations.
OCHA IM Toolbox on COVID-19 This page will provide links to IM reference material, guidance, standards, templates, and examples of products and services related to COVID-19 preparedness and response activities. It is intended for OCHA IMOs but other humanitarians may find helpful resources.
This page has been created to allow practitioners across the region to find resources related to the management and use of geospatial data and technologies during the response to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
WHO IPC during health care when COVID-19 infection is suspected (Published 25 Jan 2020)
Country level documents
