Beyond Recovery: Towards 2030

 

 

Beyond Recovery: Towards 2030

Our evolving response for Palau

The country recorded its first case of COVID-19 in May 2021. The Ministry of Health Emergency Operations Center was activated in January 2020 to implement preparedness and response measures to minimize the risk of importation and potential local transmission of the virus to Palau. COVID-19 testing is ongoing based on priority groups including persons meeting COVID-19 case definition, symptomatic patients, first responders and front-line workers, and quarantined inbound travelers. 

Alternative Care Site is currently being prepared to receive and care for positive cases. Health screening continues at Palau International Airport for chartered and private aircrafts; health screening at Malakal seaport continues for incoming vessels. 

As of 24 May 2022, there have been 4,967 confirmed cases and 6 deaths due to COVID-19. As of 20 April 2022, a total of 47,030 vaccine doses have been administered. For more information, please visit the Palau Ministry of Health and Human Services or the WHO Country Overview

UNDP's Offer 2.0 

 

 

Building a new social contract

UNDP is supporting the Government in the following areas:

Institutional continuity of the National Parliament of Palau to fulfil its constitutional mandate with a specific focus on its continuity despite COVID-19 restrictions through: 

  • strategic and technical advice for review and adaptation of parliamentary procedure to the new working context 
  • support the development of internal Standard Operating Procedures and Business Continuity Plan to ensure administrative continuity
  • assist the digitalization and capacity to work remotely by providing ICT equipment to allow virtual meetings of committees, virtual public consultations and budget discussions. 

A specific assistance is proposed on strengthening parliamentary oversight of the Executive response to the pandemic and provide a ‘surge’ capacity to conduct an independent parliamentary budget analysis on COVID-19 response packages through the Pacific Floating Budget Office, especially on cross-cutting thematic issues such as gender inclusivity and climate change finance.

Provide technical policy and advisory support on COVID-19 and corruption. An advisory note on ‘COVID-19 and Corruption in the Pacific’ has been prepared and distributed to Pacific governments. A series of COVID-19 activities are being implemented, including in relation to addressing the procurement risks, capacity building for corruption risk assessment in the health sector, alerting of human-rights implications of corruption under COVID-19 and awareness raising of COVID-19 corruption risks across all sectors of society.

Specific efforts to promote ethics and integrity in the private sector including focus on women-owned enterprises and young entrepreneurs. 

Build the capacity of Pacific journalists to report on and investigate anti-corruption and integrity issues with specific focus on integrity impacts of COVID-19. A regional webinar is being developed with planned assistance to media associations to include Palau, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. 

 

 

Uprooting inequalities

UNDP is supporting the Government in the following areas:

COVID-19 information campaigns to create awareness on basic COVID-19 facts, symptoms, protection measures and to reinforce stay at home and quarantine messages. Detailed support included the 

  • procurement of laptops used for training of health care workers on prevention and infection control, COVID-19 preparedness, as well as disease surveillance; provided catering support for the training of health care workers and supported 15 trainings.
  • procurement of projector to support health care workers’ trainings, meetings and webinars all contributing to enhancing learning and skills in response to COVID-19.support vehicle leasing and fuel to aid the transporting of samples from community health centers to the main laboratory for testing. The vehicle leased is also used to support community campaigns and assessments and other COVID-19 response activities.
  • use electronic billboards to disseminate COVID-19 awareness messages
  • procurement of smart televisions for two sites in the country’s health department including the Communicable Disease Unit and the Outpatient Department to educate and create awareness to members of the community visiting. 

 

 

Rebalancing nature, climate and economy

UNDP is supporting the Government:

Climate Promise: enhancing and updating its Nationally Determined Contribution through six service lines: 

  1. build political will and societal ownership at national and sub-national levels 
  2. review, align, and update existing targets, policies and measures
  3. incorporate new sectors and/or greenhouse gases
  4. assess costs and investment opportunities
  5. monitor progress and strengthen transparency and
  6. support communications, learning and others.

 

Strengthening the health system through the provision of industrial cart for waste disposal, personal protective equipment and other protective supplies for the Ministry of Health.  

 

 

Crisis management: support national capacities for planning, coordination and crisis management