The coronavirus has rapidly spread across the world and was called a global pandemic on 11 March 2020. While Nepal so far has not seen a major spread of COVID-19, it is expected that the disease will severely affect developing countries, like Nepal, in the coming weeks and months, risking to throw hundreds of thousands people back to poverty. Weak health systems, combined with high rates of food insecurity, low access to water and sanitation services, and densely populated urban centres could result in high death rates. As a result, the Government of Nepal (GoN) has taken measures to impose a complete ‘lockdown’ to prevent a further spread of COVID-19 within the country. These restrictions have started to show devastating socio-economic impact at individual and country level. Early indicators suggest that vulnerabilities may increase disproportionately for migrant workers, informal labour, small businesses and rural communities due to potential loss of employment, travel restrictions, inflation, food and fuel shortages etc.

While the GoN is preparing to respond to the pandemic, the country severely lacks medical equipment and infrastructure. Preparedness measures should therefore start as soon as possible and in hand with relief and recovery efforts to reduce the socio-economic impact on the population.

Switzerland’s response capitalizes on the lessons learned from the 2015 earthquake experience. 

-    Affected people across the country with a special focus on Province 1 and disadvantaged groups;

-    Federal, provincial and local governments for capacity building components. 

Outcome 1:    Women and men, including disadvantaged groups, have equitable access to relief and recovery support to maintain their livelihoods and dignity.

Outcome 2:    Federal, provincial and local governments are better prepared for COVID-19 and provide effective, needs-based and inclusive responses to affected people.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

1.1.    Municipalities implement effective agricultural inputs vouchers mechanisms; 

1.2.    Financial intermediaries and Private Equity firms facilitate access to capital and provide advisory services to ensure business‘ continuity; 

1.3.     People, including returnee migrants, have access to livelihood opportunities, including through skills trainings in the agriculture sector; 

1.4.    Service providers have the capacities to extend GBV related, survivor-centered services in a COVID-19 conform manner across all 7 provinces; 

2.1.    Province 1 Government (P1) establishes a Provincial Pandemic Response Protocol (PPRP); 

2.2.    Hospitals in P1 have increased capacity to respond to the pandemic and Hospital Waste Management systems (HWMS) are in place.

2.3.    Government agencies are better equipped to provide support services to stranded migrants in destination countries as well as repatriation and reception of migrant workers in Nepal.