This proposal is to supply refrigerator of medical grade powered through grid power supply / battery / solar energy / hybrid systems, to store medical goods such as vaccines, tests, reagents and medicines, in disadvantaged areas in urban environment as well as remote areas where there is unreliable or lack of electric power. This equipment will ensure the effectiveness of the cool chain for medical products so to be able to delivery of quality lifesaving services to communities, reducing needs for displacement, and cost for the services. The high-energy efficiency, reliability and flexible energy source applied represent a step forward to the provision of lifesaving medicals services in remote and disadvantaged areas in Brasil and Latin America. The project will supply, free of charge, a number of units to kick off the service to key beneficiaries across Brasil and will provide the engineering plan and guidelines to a network of refrigerators manufacturers across Brasil. All of them are well-known and trained by UNIDO as they are part of the ongoing Refrigeration and Air Conditioning project implemented by UNIDO and will be able to fulfil quickly government procurement.

Brazil has numerous refrigeration equipment manufactures that already produce standard medical grade refrigerator equipment sold in Brasil therefore, the product is assembled based on existing technologies and expertise mastered by the UNIDO/Montreal Protocol team in Brasil and participating manufacturing companies and service providers. Local manufacturer and suppliers of key components such as engineering design, compressors, evaporators, condensers, cabinets, battery, solar power solutions, etc. are available in Brazil to fulfil the entire value chain necessary for the manufacturing and delivering of the refrigerator in Brasil and Latin America. Flexible power source have been tested and are commercially available, including car plug at 24V, solar power, battery backup for up to 48h, and of course regular grid power supply.

Everywhere at hospital and medical premises in Brasil.

Present equipment meet national and international standards for medical grade refrigerators. The equipment to be produced through this project represent a step forward in terms of energy efficiency, reliability, flexibility of power supply, etc. This equipment will best cope with the present crisis and so the medical services will be able to provide quality services in disadvantaged areas in urban environment as well as remote areas where there is unreliable or lack of electric power.

The product meet the national and international standard and will be further tested at testing unit available in number enterprises in Brasil.

35,000 USD for engineering design, first prototypes assembly and testing. 35,000 USD for procurement of components and consumable for prototypes. 35,000 USD for online training and technical assistance for manufacturing companies. 800,000 USD to produce and distribute between 180 to 200 prototypes to kick off the programme and distributed selected medical units in Brasil.

905,000 USD

UNIDO FIELD OFFICE BRAZIL Centro Empresaria Brasil 21 SH-SUL, Quadra 6 Conjunto A, Bloco A-Sala 612 Brasilia-DF, CEP 70.316-102 BRAZIL Email: office.brazil@unido.org Tel: +55 61 3037-8440. +55 61 3037-8441. HQ: 81582

ICGEB mission foresees on site educational and tech transfer activities in its Member States. Yet, travels and shipment of samples are extremely difficult in the course of the pandemic emergency. To overcome these limitations, on March 28, the ICGEB launched an online, Open Access Covid-19/SARS-CoV-2 Resource Platform to provide Resources, Tools and Know-how to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19, free of charge, to its Member States The ICGEB COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Resource Page provides information on procedures and essential reagents that can be developed ‘in house’, without bought in kits. Information is also provided for isolating and working with the virus and for sequencing for subsequent surveillance purposes. In particular, three Protocols downloadable in pdf format are made available for: i. Preparation of Sars-CoV-2 multitarget RNA. ii. Detection of Sars-CoV-2 RNA by RT-qPCR. iii. Isolation of viral RNA from samples. In addition, positive control reagent can be shipped upon request. Protocols are backed up by direct technical assistance with on-line video tutorials on the isolation and detection of Sars-CoV-2 RNA. If needed, additional remote Technical Assistance can be provided upon the signature of an Agreement between the requesting institute/company and the ICGEB. Finally, upon request, the ICGEB is making available its protocols for interferons (IFN beta 1 a, IFN beta 1 b, IFN alpha 2a/2b) as developed by the ICGEB Biotechnology Development Unit. Rationale is to assist ICGEB Member States to organise their own diagnosis protocols for COVID-19 according to their own clinical regulations and to provide any additional support.

All protocols and procedures have been developed and tested at the ICGEB Molecular Virology laboratory during February / March 2020.

At the moment the protocols and positive control reagents have been shipped to three companies active across ICGEB constituency.

Not available yet

ICGEB

ICGEB has requested funding to be able to provide dedicated/personalized remote technical assistance to requesting laboratories (with current staffing thsisi and to develop additional tools to be made available to members, including E-Learning modules on Epidemiology and Surveillance. 100,000 Euro.

All the information displayed above can be published. Alessandro Marcello Group Leader, Molecular Virology International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Padriciano 99 34149 Trieste, Italy E-mail: covid_resources@icgeb.org Tel: +39-040-3757384/85

Transparent System Dynamics model-based strategy development, policy design and decision making for vulnerable populations at risk from COVID-19. This proposal addresses a need for preparedness and response of vulnerable populations to the COVID-19 pandemic through the development of generic online accessible System Dynamics models (SD-COVID) that will assist national health authorities in various countries in sub-Saharan Africa to understand and plan customized responses for the COVID-19 pandemic at a national level. It has been observed that African countries face varying levels of risk that will require adapting a diversified set of response strategies to the coronavirus (Africa Centre for Strategic Studies April 3, 2020). The SD-COVID models will be based on the System Dynamics modelling paradigm, that allows for the modelling, simulation, analysis and visualization of non-linear, accumulating feedback processes, such processes characterize epidemics such as COVID-19. What distinguishes SD-COVID models from more traditional pandemic models is that they enable a more intuitive understanding of causation, thereby allowing a wider range of users to benefit from the learning. The models are portrayed in an intuitively understandable, graphical language that also allows for the inclusion of specialists across a variety of disciplines in model building and analysis. SD-COVID models can be adapted to the specific countries to which they will be applied and capture explicitly the capacities of the nation-wide health care system, based on a representation of the workforce and equipment available, so as to portray the consequences of such capacities. SD-COVID models will exist at various levels of aggregation / granularity. The most aggregate level is applicable when data and supplementary assumptions are scarce. The most granular level is applicable when data is readily available to allow for a detailed initialization and parameterization. The co-existence of various levels of aggregation / granularity, allows for the assessment of the appropriate level required to address the challenges facing strategy developers, policy designers and decision makers in the health care system. SD-COVID models also allow for the development and assessment of policies, including the sensitivity of the epidemic to various policies and the robustness of such policies in view of the uncertainties existing. SD-COVID models are knowledge repositories that allows for the transparent interpretation of empirical data and for learning and that informs strategy development, policy design and decision making. SD-COVID models also allow for the visualization of the relationship between the dynamics of the epidemics and the underlying, structural origin of such dynamics. Based on the model, a variety of interactive learning environments, targeting a variety of audiences, e.g. specialists, politicians, and the public at large, may be developed and deployed on the web.

In 2007 similar System Dynamics modelling influenced the global health policy related to effective polio management. (Using system dynamics to develop policies that matter: global management of poliomyelitis and beyond. Kimberly M. Thompson and Radboud J. Duintjer Tebbens (www.interscience.wiley.com) DOI: 10.1002/sdr)

Worldwide. In 1988 the World Health Assembly committed to the global eradication of wild polioviruses by the year 2000. Toward the end of 2005, a debate began about abandoning the goal of eradication. In 2006 a prominent editorial questioned whether polio eradication is “realistic” and expressed concern that “international assistance for polio could have negative effects on other public health efforts”. The editorial suggested that “the time has come for the global strategy for polio to be shifted from ‘eradication’ to ‘effective control’”. In February 2007, the WHO Director- General, Dr Margaret Chan, convened an urgent stakeholder consultation to discuss the option of switching from eradication to control. The preliminary results of the modelling work were presented by Thompson and Duintjer Tebbens and they demonstrated the dynamics that helped key stakeholders appreciate the options quantitatively and with a much longer time horizon.

The same journal as the editorial mentioned earlier noted that the system dynamics based analysis provided “a nail in the coffin for the idea that there is a cheap and painless way out”. Since then, efforts have continued to focus on finding the resources needed for the complete eradication of polio and on dealing with the other complex challenges that remain. National and global health leaders and financial supporters have recommitted to completing eradication, and this has led to further funding resources.

The United Nations Environment Programme in collaboration with the University of Bergen in Norway, and other partners, have developed competency in System Dynamics modelling that provide systemic insights into policy options for complex ecosystems problems in sub-Saharan Africa. This competency can be further extended to develop SD-COVID models that will help policy makers understand and plan customized responses for the COVID-19 pandemic at a national level. This initiative would also draw on joint collaborations with the High-Level Committee on Programmes Strategic Foresight Network as well as the United Nations Geospatial Network.

Staff time & modelling consultants: US$250,000

Modelling consultants: US$180,000

alexandre.caldas@un.org sandor.frigyik@un.org

The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its second generation development, that allow to see the PCR reaction amplicon accumulation in real time (the so called Real-Time PCR), are a molecular diagnostic technique, originally derived from nuclear technology, based on detecting specific sequences in the genetic material of humans, animals and disease pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. This technique allows for the specific and sensitive rapid identification and characterization of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes the COVID-19 disease. Real-time (RT)-PCR is the most sensitive technique currently available for detecting pathogens, and one of the most accurate laboratory methods for identifying, tracking, characterizing and studying viruses. Originally, the method applied photo-stimulated luminescence using Phosphorus-32 (P32) or Sulfur-35 (S35) radioactive isotopes. In the early 2000, this methodology was widely replaced by fluorescent dyes that do not require the use of a dedicated laboratory and the use of radioactive isotopes, thus providing a more user-friendly analysis. Real-time PCR has therefore become the gold standard method for validating results obtained from array analysis or gene expression changes on a global scale, permitting scientists to see the results in real-time, while the process is still ongoing (conventional RT-PCR only provides results at the end of the reaction). In the case of the SARS-Cov2 COVID-19 coronavirus, the real-time PCR is employed after a reverse transcription step and is called real-time Reverse Transcription PCR or RT-PCR. A virus is a microscopic package of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, surrounded by an envelope. Some viruses, such as the SARS-Cov2 COVID-19 coronavirus, only contain RNA, which means they rely on infiltrating healthy cells to multiply and survive: once inside the cell, the virus uses its own genetic code (RNA in the case of the coronavirus) to take control of and ‘re-programme’ the cells so that they become virus-making factories. In RT-PCR, the RNA template is first converted into a complementary DNA (cDNA) using a reverse transcriptase. the cDNA is then used as a template for exponential amplification using PCR. At the end, detection is performed. Scientists amplify a specific part of the transcribed viral DNA billions of times. Amplification is important so that, instead of trying to spot a minuscule amount of the virus among billions of strands of genetic information, scientists have a large enough quantity of the target sections of viral DNA to accurately confirm that the virus is present. The first step for an accurate diagnosis is the collection of an adequate sample, its rapid transport to the laboratory and the adequate storage before laboratory testing. In the case of COVID-19 the sample is typically collected from the respiratory system, most commonly nose or the throat, using specific swabs. The sample is then treated with several chemical solutions to remove substances such as proteins and fats, and extract only the RNA present. this extracted RNA is a mix of a person’s own genetic material and, if present, the coronavirus’ RNA. The RNA is reverse transcribed to DNA using a specific enzyme. scientists then add short fragments of DNA that are complementary to specific parts of the transcribed viral DNA. These fragments attach themselves to target sections of the viral DNA if the virus is present in a sample (some of the added genetic fragments are for building DNA strands during amplification, while the others are for building the DNA and adding marker labels to the strands, which are then used to detect the virus). The mixture is then placed in a RT-PCR machine. The machine cycles through temperatures that heat and cool the mixture to trigger specific chemical reactions that create new, identical copies of the target sections of viral DNA. The cycle repeats over and over to continue copying the target sections of viral DNA. Each cycle doubles the previous amount: two copies become four, four copies become eight, and so on. A standard RT-PCR setup usually goes through 35 cycles, which means that by the end of the process, around 35 billion new copies of the sections of viral DNA are created from each strand of the virus present in the sample. As new copies of the viral DNA sections are built, the marker labels attach to the DNA strands and then release a fluorescent dye, which is measured by the machine’s computer and presented in real time on the screen. The computer tracks the amount of fluorescence in the sample after each cycle. When the amount goes over a certain level of fluorescence, this confirms that the virus is present. Scientists also monitor how many cycles it takes to reach this level in order to estimate the severity of the infection: the fewer the cycles, the more severe the viral infection is. The RT-PCR technique can deliver a reliable diagnosis as fast as three hours, though usually laboratories take on average between 6 to 8 hours. Compared to other available virus isolation methods, RT-PCR is significantly faster and has a lower potential for contamination or errors as the entire process can be done within a closed tube: it continues to be the most accurate method available for detection of the coronavirus. While RT-PCR is now the most widely used method for detecting coronaviruses, many countries still need support in setting up and using the technique for identification of SAR-COV2. As part of its response to the emergency, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is dispatching a first and second batch of equipment/kits to more than 75 countries to enable them to use a nuclear-derived technique to rapidly detect the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (more than 105 IAEA’s Member States have requested support in controlling the increasing number of infections worldwide). Dozens of laboratories in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean will receive RT-PCR machines, biosafety cabinets, other lab equipment and consumables. They will also receive biosafety supplies, such as personal protection equipment and laboratory cabinets for the safe analysis of collected samples, and, as detection kits, reagents, primers and personal protection equipment to speed up national testing, which is crucial in containing the outbreak.

The specific diagnostic kit uses three techniques: the one established by Charité Virology, Berlin, Germany, the one established by the Hong Kong University (both recommended by WHO) and the new, validated and certified BGI ready to use RT-PCR kit.

In recent weeks, the IAEA, in collaboration with the FAO, has provided guidance on coronavirus detection to 124 laboratory professionals in 46 Member States through VETLAB, a network of veterinary laboratories in Africa and Asia originally set up by the two organisations to combat the cattle disease rinderpest. The support included the provision of Standard Operating Procedures to identify the virus following WHO recommendations.

The capacity of the equipment depends on the experience of the laboratory in the use of molecular diagnostic platforms. If the laboratories have no or limited experience, the capacity will be between 20 and 40 samples per day. Experienced laboratories can process between 100 and 200 samples per day. Each standard IAEA package of RT-PCR kits is sufficient for approximately 2,000 tests.

Diagnostic detection on COVID-19 by rRT-PCR protocol and preliminary evaluation – January 17, 2020

The IAEA is using its own resources as well as extrabudgetary funding for its emergency COVID-19 assistance. Showing strong support for the initiative, several countries have announced major funding contributions for the IAEA’s efforts in helping to tackle the pandemic.

IAEA, Department of Technical Cooperation/Strategy and Partnership Section Ms. Emma Webb, e.webb@iaea.org Ms. Laura Vai, l.vai@iaea.org

Space technologies and geospatial data can support governments in improving situational awareness and responding to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Several institutions have published information products, such as web maps of confirmed infections and deaths, that are making use of remote sensing images. Yet others are using remote sensing combined with global navigation satellite systems technologies which allow better geo-location to map the position of critical infrastructure in geographical areas where there are reported cases.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, through its UN-SPIDER programme, has created this COVID-19 emergency response overview page to facilitate the discovery of examples of contributions of space technologies to addressing COVID-19 that are being published by government agencies, international and regional organizations, academia, civil society and the private sector: http://www.un-spider.org/advisory-support/emergency-support/covid-19

Examples: Africa Dashboard for Tracking the COVID-19: The dashboard provides an overview of cases, countries affected, total deaths and total recovered in Africa. It is maintained by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases Dashboard by CSSE at JHU The Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA, developed an interactive dashboard to visualise and track reported cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in real time. The dashboard shows the location and number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. COVID-19: Luxembourg grants access to the SATMED platform free of charge In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Government of Luxembourg will make access to the SATMED platform available free of charge for healthcare professionals’ community of selected health organisations to fight the pandemic. SATMED is a multi-level software-as-a-service eHealth platform owned by the Government of Luxemburg aimed to help healthcare providers make better use of information technology and mobile health solutions specifically in remote and underdeveloped areas. It has been in operation since 2014 in hospitals, remote medical centers and hospital ships in multiple locations across Africa and Asia Pacific, after its initial roll out in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak. FAO’s Big Data tool on food chains under the COVID-19 pandemic This open-access tool developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Data Lab gathers and analyses real time information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and agriculture, value chains, food prices, food security and undertaken measures, with the aim of providing countries with facts and information to build their decisions. The maps provided by FAO represent some of the daily analyses that this tool enables: a hunger map combined with covid-19 incidence, a map of food chain disruptions highlighted by newspapers' tweets worldwide, a map of food prices variations and a trend line of the COVID impact on food chains in the newspapers' tweets. GNSS Apps for COVID-19 response Since the outbreak of the coronavirus earlier this year, a number of apps have been developed that use Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) precise location to monitor the global spread of the virus. The European GNSS Agency (GSA) is maintaining a list of location-GNSS-Galileo based applications that, in GSA’s view, may be useful in response to the outbreak of COVID-19. The applications cover a wide range of uses, from the support to public authorities in understanding the dynamics of the outbreak to the support of citizens in their everyday life, for example by checking and possibly limiting queues at supermarket. Developers who have developed an app that is already working and being used to map the spread of the coronavirus, to monitor incidences of the disease, or to alert users about possible risky contacts, can forward information about it to GSA for inclusion in their list.

UNOOSA

Markus.woltran@un.org A link to the UNOOSA and UN-SPIDER page with a generic description of the importance of space technology in combating COVID-19 can be provided and included in any reference on the website.

Telemedicine PPPs to reach all, including the most vulnerable Description of stakeholders: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, time is of the essence. A concrete practical approach builds on the infrastructure available – bringing together key stakeholders in the public and private sectors that, together, can get the job done. While these solutions will be helpful in the current crisis, this will also lay the foundation for improved access to healthcare in the long run. Using its convening power, the ILO will bring together stakeholders from the following sectors/industries: telemedicine, telecommunications, financial services and relevant government institutions. Each industry brings something different but complementary to the table: Telemedicine: Telemedicine is defined by the European Commission as “healthcare services, through the use of information and communication technology, in situations where the health professional and the patient are not in the same location. It involves the secure transmission of medical data relating to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up consultations”. In the current crisis, where face-to-face consultations are best avoided, telemedicine can play a crucial role. Telemedicine ranges from simple medical help-lines to diagnostics and the delivery of care over the phone. In a world without COVID-19, telemedicine offers convenient medical care to the user, as less time is wasted traveling to clinics and in waiting rooms and critically, less time is needed away from work, which is especially important for those working in the informal sector, where time away from work means lost income. Telemedicine also offers the possibility of extending access beyond primary care to specialists in resource-poor settings, which is advantageous in remote areas. Ultimately, telemedicine can support efforts to achieve UHC and could be impactful given the dramatic shortage of healthcare workers in developing countries and especially in rural areas. It may also be cheaper to provide care through telemedicine than in person. Telecommunications industry: It is often said we are more connected than ever before, and given the latest statistics, it is likely to be true. According to the latest data from GSMA Intelligence, there are 5.19 billion unique mobile phone users in the world today. This means that telecommunication organisations have the ability to communicate and transmit information and services, such as telemedicine and health advice, to the far corners of the earth. Financial services sector: The financial services industry also has a highly developed network for reaching, communicating and serving people in the informal sector through microfinance and other such institutions. The question of how to set up distribution partnerships to reach low-income populations with financing services such as savings, credit and insurance, has long been the preoccupation of many working on the inclusive finance agenda. There are many examples of this “last mile distribution”, especially where those with mobile phones do not necessarily have smart phone. The financial services sector also works closely with the telecommunications sector to deliver mobile money solutions, which are becoming increasingly popular in developing countries. The innovation to focus on here is telemedicine that is bundled with financial services. Relevant government bodies: These bring the authority to communicate information about COVID-19 and primary healthcare to all citizens. In such partnerships and for global health crises, governments can also help pay for the health services delivered through telemedicine as part of their UHC initiatives, delivering on promises of access to healthcare as a human right. Description of solution The partnerships work as follows: the financial services provider is a key stakeholder, bringing together telecommunications, telemedicine and public sector partners. Telecommunications organisations provide the communication technology and telemedicine organisations, the remote medical services. Furthermore, financial services partners use their marketing and distribution expertise to deliver the medical services to the end users while also laying the foundation for possible flows of finance and other financial services between stakeholders (with the end user also being a stakeholder). Of particular importance is the distribution experience and capability of the financial services partner. How this could be extended in the current COVID-19 Crisis? The solution suggested could be adapted to the current global environment. The examples given are mostly voluntary and paid for solutions, but could be sponsored by government, with the financial services partners acting as third party administrators, enrolling members into government schemes and/or doubling up to deliver social security and other payments. These payments could potentially linked to COVID-19 key indicators (akin to parametric insurance, of which we have much experience at the ILO’s Impact Insurance Facility). Telemedicine is an inexpensive and efficient solution to the global health crisis. A COVID-19 symptom checker, such as those developed elsewhere, could easily be disseminated and testing kits distributed through networks already established.

Tonic – a mobile phone delivered health package in Bangladesh Tonic is a mobile phone distributed health insurance product (with other bundled health benefits) operating of a bespoke digital platform. They have 5 million “freemium” users and half a million paid for. Tonic is offered to Grameenphone customers (with a reach of 60 million potential users). Established in 2015, Telenor Health aims to use technology to help make quality health and wellness information, advice and services accessible to people, particularly in emerging markets. Launched in June 2016, Tonic provides the following services: Consultations and advice: Personalised health content (SMS, app, web) including advice on preventative health Telemedicine, namely mobile-based consultations with doctors (calls and in-app chat) – called “Tonic Doctor” Healthcare services: Nationwide appointment booking service Discounts on health tests and specialist care, called “Tonic Discount”, through Tonic’s country-wide network of partners providing discounts on services (health checks, labs, medications, procedures) Financial coverage: Hospital cash insurance called “Tonic Cash” AXA Indonesia and Alodokter The ILO’s Impact Insurance Facility recently worked with AXA Indonesia to develop a telemedicine product. This involved setting up all partnerships as listed above. AXA Indonesia partnered with Alodokter, one of the leading mobile health companies in Indonesia, that provides doctors’ consultations through a chat function embedded in its mobile application. Since the relatively recent launch, there are currently 30,000 customers. Cheaper versions of the product are being developed for lower-income populations.

"In Indonesia with AXA Indonesia. See Case Study, written in November last year. Since then, the product has enjoyed huge success. Also watch our webinar: ""Making inclusive insurance work"" webinar series: Health (part 1): Telemedicine, insurance and Universal Health Coverage” Paper: Financial inclusion and health Paper: Value-added services in health microinsurance"

Tonic Bangladesh: 5.5 million users of telemedicine AXA Indonesia: recent telemedicine product already reaching 30,000 customers.

Milliman, Microinsurance Network (MIN), GIZ Pakistan

The cost of the project diagnostic and advisory functions (see next section for more information) is from USD 100k to USD 150k per country (countries to be decided). This would not pay for the actual telemedicine services, but for the cost of setting it up.

Funding is being sought for a package of support services. The ILO would bring together different consortia of partners and assist with partnership establishment and project management. The ILO’s Impact Insurance Facility provides a one-stop-shop for technical advice and information on how to implement telemedicine systems, establish the necessary partnership ecosystems and reach unreached populations.

Lisa Morgan morgan@ilo.org +41795586388

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, the need to address unsafe sanitation globally has become more urgent than ever especially in developing countries. COVID-19 is a global humanitarian crisis, which requires concerted action as indicated Mr. António Guterres, UN Secretary General’s statement: “This human crisis demands coordinated, decisive, inclusive and innovative policy action from the world’s leading economies – and maximum financial and technical support for the poorest and most vulnerable people and countries.” For this purpose, FAO, UN-Habitat, UNEP and WHO have developed a collective response to support Member States in addressing the COVID- 19 crisis through enhancing water and sanitation availability with a focus on youth. Currently, approximately 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water services and 4.2 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services affecting people’s health and access to safely produced food worldwide. Addressing this issue is at the heart of SDG6 Water and Sanitation. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) are essential to combating the spread of COVID-19. Without clean water, hand washing is not possible therefore largely affecting quarantine measures advised by governments. Basic WASH practices such as hand washing can diminish the spread of the virus with youth as central advocates for this. The use of geospatial technologies can help locate vulnerable areas in developing countries where unsafe sanitation is a widespread problem. The role of location in human health studies is vital and considered an important and useful factor to test etiological theories. Combining the spatial and demographic analyses can help locate areas in need and adequately distribute the essential resources required for prevention. These elements can also help researchers in public health in developing appropriate databases to identifying and analysing areas of COVID-19 cases. This joint UN project proposal aims to address the current crisis by enhancing the rapid response of the UN to COVID-19 through enhanced use of geospatial technologies for improved facilities for hand washing through youth-driven involvement. The proposed project will focus on enhancing access to handwashing station in the slums of two pilot countries - Kenya and Pakistan. According to the United Nations World Cities Report 2016, around a quarter of the world’s urban population lived in slums in 2014, and this figure is on the rise. To prevent COVID- 19 from spreading in slums, geospatial technology will be a key element combined with information sharing. Today, COVID-19 is mapped in real- time, from global to local level and must be taken into consideration for an efficient response plan. The project proposal will use geospatial technologies for vulnerability assessment, prioritising area of intervention, geolocation of handwashing stations (e.g. to support the implementation of 200 handwashing options), using very high-resolution satellite images and involving the youth through the geospatial open data community. Access to water in the slums is limited by many factors including lack of legal rights to land which makes the struggle worse, threatening people’s homes and efforts to invest in essential services. In addition, the quality of the water used in slums is often problematic, leading to human health issues, which can make communities more susceptible to disease. The available water is not enough to ensure handwashing with soap many times a day and shared toilets in slums and informal settlements can further increase the spread of disease. COVID-19 has clearly demonstrated that safe water and sanitation are crucial to saving lives. In parallel, the proposal builds off of the work undertaken by UN- Habitat in the informal settlements of Kenya, where youth-led organizations have been engaged to set up handwashing and COVID-19 information stations, These station address the immediate need of allowing residents of informal settlemens a chance to wash their hands, while as well receiving masks to stop the spread of the virus. The stations will also raise awareness on basic water, sanitation and hygiene information to prevent the spread of COVID-19 according to the advice issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) on basic protective measures including: a) washing your hands frequently. b) maintaining social distancing. c) avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth. and d) practicing respiratory hygiene. Kenya Kenya is home to some of the largest slums in Africa. Kenya’s Kibera and Mathare slums, account for about 600k to 1.5M people. Why youth? Kenya is a country with a young population where approximately 75 percent of the percentage of population is aged between 18 and 35. A high number of Kenya’s population is unemployed. Pakistan Pakistan is home to some of the largest slums globally. Orangi town in Karachi was named among the largest slums worldwide according to the United Nations World Cities Report 2016. Orangi town is home to more than 2 million people (Habitat for Humanity). Pakistan’s slum lack basic sewage systems and social distancing in times of COVID-19 is not a reality, which could be a fatal combination for the spread of the virus. Why youth? Pakistan has a young population where UNDP estimates that 64 percent of the nation is younger than 30 and 29 percent of Pakistanis are between 15 and 29. The project will have the following components (all involving youth): 1) Geo-spatial analysis to prioritize best geographic locations for handwashing stations considering people’s vulnerability to COVID-19. Innovative geospatial technologies will be used with very high-resolution satellite images in close collaboration with the open data community such as open street map to assess the most vulnerable and priority areas considering population density, infrastructure, access to water among others. 2) Improve access to water, sanitation and hygiene by building 200 point of use washing stations in 20 slums in each country considering the results from above, and establish handwashing and information stations. 3) Improve awareness raising initiatives using social media and popular apps (e.g. tik tok) on basic hygiene and COVID-19 prevention practices such as: social distancing, food production sanitary precautions and food handling, hand washing and use of masks and gloves based on WHO guidelines and any other relevant guidelines to help preventing the spread of COVID-19.

In response to the declaration of a COVID-19 global pandemic on March 11, 2020, the Mathare Environmental One Stop Youth Centre (One Stop)1 partnered with UN-Habitat and other partners to establish the Exponential Potential campaign to engage and empower youth from the informal settlements of Nairobi in the fight against the spread of the Corona virus. The campaign brings together local action – the establishment of handwashing stations, the provision of masks and the COVID-19 information – with community and remote sensor geo-spatial data. The first stage of the campaign was to establish two pilot handwashing stations in the Mathare slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Starting on March 23rd, handwashing stations were staffed by volunteers from the One Stop, supported by UN-Habitat In the following 10 days an average of 800 handwashes a day were done between the two sites totalling 8000 handwashes per day, with people traveling to the sites from all over Mathare. With the success of the pilot, UN-Habitat through its Participatory Slum Upgrading programme committed to increasing the number to 10 sites, 5 in Mathare and 5 in the largest slum in East Africa, Kibera. Following this the Kenyan Embassies of Norway and Canada committed to fund 20 more sites. It is conservatively projected that the 30 sites over the 4 months of the project will undertake 937,500 handwashes with the goal of lessening the transmission of the virus. I added innovation at the programmatic level will be the provision of masks, now recommended by WHO as a way to prevent the spread of the virus, and a clear way for those living in slums to “socially distance” themselves. FAO’s Land and Water Division Geo-Spatial Unit has access to global data and is experienced in geospatial mapping and remote sensing to carry out vulnerability assessments. FAO has more than 30 years of experience in the development and use of geospatial data, methods and tools, which are applied to national, regional and global sustainable development planning and implementation. FAO supports countries implement appropriate geospatial solutions that can assist their efforts to create sustainable food systems. This work is organized and delivered to developing countries through projects and programs carried out both at Head Quarters and regional, sub-regional, and national offices to ensure that best practices and standards are adopted and implemented. FAO has a myriad of databases and tools for with access to data and remote sensing vulnerability assessments. FAO’s large country presence and relationship building experience can facilitate communications with its joint UN partners.

The Mathare Informal settlement, village of Mlango Kubwa. There are approximately 2.5 million slum dwellers in about 200 settlements in Nairobi, representing 60% of the Nairobi population and occupying just 6% of the land. The Mathare Informal Settlement is one of approximately 22 slums that are found in Nairobi. Mathare has a population of approximately 500,000 people, and is made up of 13 “villages”, one of which is Mlango Kubwa, population approx. 50,000. Mathare, as of most of sub-Saharan Africa, is predominantly made up of children and youth, who make up approximately 70% of the population. Thirty handwashing stations have been placed in Mathare and Kibera at the entrance to youth and community centres, bus and matatu stands, markets and other public venues. Community Driven and Remote Data Strategy One of the greatest challenges of working in slums is the informality of both the interventions as well as the knowledge that drives the intervention. Often national and international agency will set up projects adjacent to one another that service the same need, yet have no jointly coordinated planning. Additionally, there is very little formal knowledge within slums on basic habitation – information that often comes from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) that are perceived cannot be done because most people have no fixed address. The mapping will include vulnerability assessments to determine locations of vulnerable populations (elderly, children, persons with medical conditions, or low-income groups) and their access to healthcare facilities, water and sanitation points, food distribution facilities etc. to plan for temporary/emergency facilities in collaboration with service providers, private sector actors, NGOs etc. Data will include institutional and stakeholder mapping where relevant. The mapping of assets/ facilities like libraries, schools, community centers, sports facilities etc. to support the expansion of services like centers for testing, quarantine facilities, confinement places, shelters for homeless people, food distribution centers, etc. in areas of need. The Geospatial analysis will produce a rapid planning assistance in different cities/neighbourhoods. The rapid planning assistance will include: data collection (using primary and secondary sources, including open sources and data collection through cell phones) risk assessments to individuate potential hot-spots for disease transmission. vulnerability assessment (localize most vulnerable population based on age, income, gender) and their access to specific facilities (food/water distribution, healthcare facilities, ...) maps of assets (libraries, schools, sport facilities, etc...) that can be used as temporary facilities for quarantine, food distribution, additional shelters, etc... Strategic advice to partners and Community Driven response on the field in order to increase impact and efficiency Explore appropriate strategies and solutions to allow temporary social-distancing, as for example temporary expansions of markets and determined facilities. FAO’s specialized land and water management as well as geospatial units, use distribution and temporal dynamics of natural resources as well as human activities to identify land and water management interventions, particularly in zones with protracted crises and severe environmental challenges (e.g. inefficient management of natural resources, frequent natural hazards and displacement of people). Competition for natural resources such as water, grassland and wood among different stakeholders with multiple visions and interests is not only responsible for land degradation but often a driver of tensions and violent conflicts. Working with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) remote sensed imagery and thematic maps, supports a participative process where different stakeholders and communities are invited to discuss their needs and develop an understanding of the causes and dynamics of conflicts in a transparent and inclusive environment. FAO’s One Water One Health Initiative has also quickly responded to the COVID-19 crisis to continue the work on making water more safely accessible and to ensure food security during the pandemic. FAO has a dedicated website that reflects the work of FAO throughout its various specialized divisions on its rapid response to fight COVID-19 and the role of key food supply workers: http://www.fao.org/2019-ncov/q-and- a/en/. In addition, FAO has a Framework for the Urban Agenda to work on improving food systems and that make the linkages between urban, peri- urban and rural settings. COVID-19 requires a concerted approach recognizing the need for action to develop sustainable cities with WASH facilities. Together with the other UN agencies collaborating in this proposal the knowledge base is expanded, and a concerted response is guaranteed and strengthened.

Handwashing Stations The results are demonstrated through self-monitoring by the youth groups. The current total handwahses are in Appendix B. A projected total for the current project with 30 sites (5 in Kibera, 25 in Mathare) is 937,500. Actual to date (April 13, 2020) handwashes is 58,250. The projected number of handwashes per site if we expand to 15 new informal settlements in Kenya (5) and Pakistan (10), 200 new handwashing sites in total over 4 months are in Appendix C. Total handwashes are 9,600,000. For geo-spatial data, the following outcomes will be sought: ● Short-term outcomes o Support local and national governments to control the spread of the infection by containing the virus in high-risk areas through effective response strategies o Limit vulnerable populations’ exposure to the virus by minimizing social interactions and movement and preparing the communities with improved access to basic services. ● Longer-term outcomes o Improve the urban environment to mitigate adverse effects of urbanization and widespread disease outbreaks through improved landscape, urban design and planning o Reduce health inequalities through inclusive design and equitable distribution of services and response strategies FAO’s geospatial analysis and One Water One Health Initiative - in support of member countries – provides the following: FAO has a global database on water resources as well as a specialized geospatial unit, which has provided land cover datasets, vulnerability datasets, food security assessments. etc. throughout FAO projects worldwide. Access to data and maps to visualize areas of land and water use distribution and therefore assess food security levels. FAO’s One Water One Health concept provides an integrated water resources management approach that embraces the value of water in all its forms and recognizes the intrinsic role of water in protecting human, animal and ecosystem health. FAO has offices in both project countries with a long-standing history of experience as well as a solid relationship with Member Countries such as Kenya and Pakistan. Solid and consolidated FAO wide response to COVID-19: http://www.fao.org/2019-ncov/q-and-a/en/

See Appendix A: Media Coverage Mathare / Kibera Handwashing Stations Project

Kenya – 5 slums – 50 stations 300,000 USD Pakistan – 10 slums – 150 stations 900,000 USD Provision of Masks – 500,000 500,000 USD Geospatial data 300,000 USD Total 2,000,000 USD

2,000,000 USD

Douglas Ragan, Children and Youth Specialist, UN-Habitat douglas.ragan@un.org +254706110135 FAO: Eduardo Mansur, Director, Land and Water Division, Eduardo.Mansur@fao.org Sasha Koo Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, Sasha.Koo@fao.org Doug Muchoney, Head of Geospatial Unit, Doug.Muchoney@fao.org UN-GGIM: Kyoung-Soo Eom, Chief UN Geospatial Information Section, UN-GGIM Secretariat, eom@un.org Guillaume Le Sourd, Geospatial Information Officer UN-GGIM, lesourd@un.org UNEP Alexandre Caldas, Chief, Country Outreach, Technology, Innovation and Big Data Branch, Director of the United Nations Organisation, alexandre.caldas@un.org WFP: Lara Prades, Head of WFP geospatial unit, lara.prades@wfp.org

Support for policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa to build sustainable and resilient futures post COVID-19 with the iSDG Model The COVID-19 crisis presents an opportunity to address systemic issues that worsened the pandemic’s impacts and to institute policies that foster inclusive and equitable sustainable development, and enhance our resilience to future shocks. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted societies in ways that were unimaginable just a few months ago, and the impacts will be with us long after the immediate crisis is over. Many governments have responded to the predicted reduction in global economic output resulting from COVID-19 with fiscal stimulus plans meant to mitigate the economic and social impacts. In addition to these short-term reactionary planning to peaks in infection and developing strategies to control and/or mitigate the effects of future new infections, we must also plan for a post-COVID-19 future. The decisions we make today directly impact that future. What are the broad and longer term impacts and consequences of the pandemic on our lives and societies beyond the economic sphere? What are the impacts on efforts to achieve SDG 3 for good health and well-being and its connections to other SDGs? What impacts will there be on the future landscape of work in sub-Saharan Africa? What effective and cost efficient solutions should we adopt to increase the resilience of our social and economic systems to the present and future shocks, and protect our finite environmental resources? These are some of the questions policymakers in government and the international community must also confront as part of a holistic response to this crisis. The Integrated Sustainable Development Goals (T21-iSDG) model is a policy simulation tool well suited for examining the whole-of-society impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the short to long term, and for designing country-specific policy responses that mitigate negative impacts and enhance societies’ resilience to future shocks. The tool allows policy makers and country planners to define and conduct foresight analysis and simulations of different future scenarios, assess their synergies, and find the best solutions within acceptable trade-offs. The tool is particularly useful for testing innovative policy proposals that are needed, but for which little or no history exists from which to assess their potential impact. This strategic development approach is essential for establishing a coherent cross-sectoral policy response for efficient budget (re)allocation decisions within limited financial resources, and to monitor implementation and adjust strategies based on new data. The iSDG modeling framework features 30 interacting sectors that closely align with the dimensions of the of the STEEP analysis horizon scanning approach. Some iSDG sectors or structures directly relevant to STEEP are: Social (e.g., demographics including one year age/sex cohorts, mortality and fertility. health. education. gender equality. income distribution. and poverty), Technological (e.g., renewable energy. adoption of electric vehicles. knowledge-based ecological agriculture and R&D), Economic (e.g., industry, employment, services and agricultural production. international trade. taxation. household consumption and savings.), Environmental (e.g., GHG emissions and warming. PM2.5. water quality and quantity. soils. biodiversity. fisheries. and forest), and Political (e.g., rule of law. voice and accountability. political stability. regulatory quality. and control of corruption). Due to its modular structure, existing sectors can be revised and new specialized sectors can be developed and readily integrated into the iSDG framework. This will be instrumental in incorporating environment-related COVID-19 responses, for example COVID-19 related medical waste management and zoonotic risks and response policies, into the model structure. The current iSDG features environmental factors that can predispose to COVID-19 such as drinking water quality and particulate air pollution. The model can also examine investments in climate adaptive infrastructure, renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture and food security, sustainable consumption and how these relate to human health and livelihoods, and post COVID-19 development. Furthermore, in conjunction with UNEP as lead agency and with expertise in foresights, dynamic modeling, simulation, analysis and systems thinking initiatives, the proposed modeling framework featuring 30 interacting sectors allows for extensive cross-cutting collaboration on the UN System Strategy on the Future of Work with other HLCP informal Strategic Foresight networked entities in the UN system (e.g. ILO, FAO, WHO, UNESCO, UNCTAD, UN-WOMAN, UNDP and others) interested in collaborating. The modeling framework also recognizes that adapting to the changing landscape of jobs is critical to the achievement of the SDGs, and provides an ideal tool to explore, through the foresight lens, simulations of the future landscape of work in sub-Saharan Africa that will inform and orient a regional, context-specific plan for the Strategy’s roll-out in a post-COVID-19 future

T21-iSDG has been demonstrated at various international forums, including the High Level Political Forum, SDGs Summit, and African Forum on Sustainable Development.

T21-iSDG has been used in countries including Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Uganda. and the Sahel Region of West Africa. Previous to iSDG the T21 model was developed for Kenya to examine policies for climate change impacts and for environmentally sustainable agricultural systems.

Policy recommendations derived from testing different options with the iSDG model help identify priority investments for faster achievement of policy objectives. Due to the synergetic nature of policy interventions, the recommendations typically focus on combinations of interventions, rather than on individual policies. Accordingly, results from our studies have been used to prepare holistic strategic plans. In Senegal, the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Planning used the iSDG model to develop the country’s SDG roadmap. Similarly, in Kenya, the Green Economy and Implementation Strategy produced by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources relied on analysis conducted with the T21-iSDG. In Eswatini, the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development produced its Economic Recovery Strategy (2011), Budget Analysis (2012), National Development Strategy (2014 & 2016) using T21-iSDG. The ECOWAS Commission used the model’s analysis to identify 230 priority projects representing over $48 billion investment towards achieving the objectives of its Vision 2020. and UNECA used the analysis to identify coherent strategic orientations for the transformation agenda of the Sahel Region.

The iSDG model is included in the OECD Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development Toolkit and the UNDG SDG Acceleration Toolkit as integrated policy planning tools. Several peer reviewed papers about the application of the model have been published in academic journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature Sustainability, and Sustainable Development. T21-iSDG was ranked highest among 80 policy planning models in a review published in Environmental Science and Policy journal.

$300,000 (two pilot applications, one in Nigeria and one in Kenya)

$300,000

ao@millennium-institute.org alexandre.caldas@un.org sandor.frigyik@un.org

ASYCUDA is a customs automation and capacity building programme delivered by UNCTAD. The programme brings IT solutions to improve customs clearance and accelerate customs processes and transit in a paperless environment, including for medical equipment. The programme allows for a number of administrative processes to be carried out through computers and online, replacing numerous face to face contacts and minimizing the use of paper. The ASYCUDA IT solution is designed in the context of developing countries, transition economies, LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. Since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, many user countries have issued instructions to accelerate and reinforce the use of ASYCUDA to ensure business continuity and replace face to face interactions with online ones within the context of a 100% paperless environment.

Over 100 countries and territories run ASYCUDA to support their customs operations. ASYCUDA has evolved since the early 1980’s mirroring technological progress and developments in IT. Its application now includes single windows that coordinate trade-related operations from numerous government agencies, as well as e-payment facilities, further cutting the needs for face to face interactions and use of paper.

Over 100 developing countries and territories (see www.asycuda.org for details).

"• Improved and faster customs clearance processes, boosting economic competitiveness from beneficiary developing countries • Increased revenues from custom tariffs and other trade related taxes for countries for beneficiary countries, providing additional budgetary resources to beneficiary developing countries • Increased transparency at customs, trade facilitation reforms • Reduced needs for face to face interactions through electronic exchange features • Reduced use of paper by implementing paperless trade-related processes, e-forms and exchange of electronic data between agencies."

Many transition economies and developing countries, including LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS provide their own funds to implement ASYCUDA nationally, demonstrating ownership and their sense this is a national priority.

Varies according to project size, scope, country etc.

asycuda@unctad.org www.asycuda.org

The project proposal is part of the Food and Agriculture Organization’s response to reduce the impact of disruption to food systems due to COVID- 19. The proposal focuses on providing in vulnerable urban and peri-urban areas impacted by the pandemic in eight countries across the globe. The overall objective is to accelerate digital transformation by providing geospatial technologies in support to proven, affordable and scalable digital transformation technology solutions related to improved food systems. The ultimate goal of the proposal is to contribute to basic health functions through improved systems for vulnerable people impacted by the disruption of the food value chain. The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a virus that causes respiratory illness and has fast-rates of contagion. It was first identified at the end of 2019 and by March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a pandemic. In this context, FAO is aware that immediate priority is given to health systems response. In parallel, FAO is focusing on the need to maintaining healthy food systems and access to water resources as they are essential to containing the impacts of the pandemic on vulnerable populations. Maintaining healthy food value chains are essential to reducing collateral effects of COVID-19 by protecting livelihoods, and enabling access to food and water resources. As part of its priority work areas, FAO is supporting countries to address the pandemic’s impacts on agri-food systems by scaling-up interventions to meet immediate food needs – support through digital transformation technologies is one of its support priority areas. The project proposal focuses on - at risk cities – that are densely populated and therefore can easily become hot spots for the spread of COVID-19 and that in parallel, can rapidly become food insecure due to either a disruption in the food chain or through immediate loss of income. The proposed project targets vulnerable cities in eight countries in: Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific. The objective of the proposal is to identify different vulnerable situations, help local authorities gain a better understanding of context specific situations through digital transformation, and maximise knowledge and experience sharing between countries (see Box 1.)1 The selection for the indicators were based on a series of criteria that make these selected areas vulnerable to shocks. Under these criteria, cities were selected in the below-listed countries (Box 2): The following text describes the proposed project outcome, outputs and activities. Outcome: COVID-19 response plans in vulnerable cities have access to digital transformation in immediate service delivery through high spatial resolution geospatial information in support to improved water accessibility and food security for enhanced cities’ resilience Output 1: COVID response plans supported with improved digital transformation in immediate service delivery to save lives and build community/cities’ resilience through geospatial information about urban and peri-urban vulnerability related to food security, clean water and sanitation This Output will enhance digital transformation through innovative geo- spatial technologies to carry out a geo-spatial analysis to identify vulnerable households and/or people in selected cities in each of proposed countries. The project will work with the open data community, government partners and local administration authorities in the use of very high-resolution satellite imageries and updated information about access to food, clean water and sanitation. Vulnerability will be assessed and mapped, response plans will be supported with geospatial data and information (e.g. vulnerability, suitability, prioritization) for short and long term responses. Activity 1.1: Update geospatial data and information to enable digital transformation of key urban areas in the selected cities and countries (data collection, harmonization, preparation) using newly available high spatial resolution satellite images and cloud computing platforms e.g. GEE (https://earthengine.google.com/) and SEPAL (https://sepal.io/). Activity 1.2: Conduct an assessment on water accessibility, food security and map vulnerability areas in close collaboration with local authorities and the open data community. Activity 1.3: Disseminate information to relevant stakeholders (city council, private sector companies, government entities, local authorities and civil society organizations, etc.). Output 2: Local administration response plans supported with digital transformation innovative solutions prioritising the most vulnerable areas With the data obtained from Output 1, this Output has been designed to support local authorities design and prepare response plans to address their specific water accessibility and food security needs. The following activities have been panned out: Activity 2.1: Support local authorities in the preparation of response plans with the identified vulnerability data and information. Activity 2.2: Propose innovative solutions for data acquisition (e.g. mobile apps for water food, and other related identified needs as per the response plans), improved access to water (e.g. improved soil and water management including soil and water decontamination and remediation, enhanced access to water e.g. rainwater harvesting) and safe access to nutritious food (e.g. urban and peri-urban food production systems such as communal garden rooftops, peri-urban farming tool kits). Activity 2.3: Assess key solutions in support of national response plans. Output 3: Enhanced knowledge on resilient response plans in urban and peri-urban areas Activity 3.1: Enhance knowledge sharing on existing platforms (e,g. Governmental, UNs and others) through promotion south-south cooperation Activity 3.2: Promote local research and innovations on improved food security and water accessibility through improved public-private partnerships Activity 3.3: Document lessons learnt and recommendations in support to response plans for improved access to food and water in vulnerable areas Timeframe: 2 years Budget: US$2 Million

FAO’s Land and Water Division (CBL) has the knowledge and expertise in digital transformation and has been using geo-spatial technologies, and has expertise in land and water management practices. CBL promotes the One Water One Health approach and integrates its knowledge to design tailor-made technical assistance for the countries in need of support. FAO’s water programme is responding decisively to the needs of its member countries in key areas such as water quality and water scarcity while supporting an integrated food systems approach to all its interventions. More recently the Division has quickly responded to COVID- 19 needs by developing policy briefs (e.g. http://www.fao.org/3/ca8712en/ca8712en.pdf), technical reports, designing projects and partnering with other agencies to support the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Digital technology has been incorporated into FAOs work agenda to accelerate cities’ resilience. FAO uses geospatial tools developed, and the organization has developed its own tools, which are in use in several countries where it provides technical assistance and by the geospatial community for land, water and agriculture monitoring. They are being used in a number of humanitarian response programs for safe access to fuel and energy, drought, flood and fire monitoring, forest monitoring, impact on agriculture production e.g. Locust crisis. FAO has more than thirty years’ experience in the implementation of geo-spatial data. In addition, FAO’s Land and Water Division’s One Water One Health Initiative directly addresses water availability and quality issues and incorporates WASH. The Land and Water Division has been implementing project to enhance food security by increasing water use efficiency and making water more accessible.

Digital transformation has been enabled through in-country geospatial platforms are made operational and geospatial data and information used in support to national statistics, land use planning, land cover monitoring, water management, food security, as well as humanitarian response (early warning, impact assessment and recovery) among others. The One Water One Health Initiative works with the use of nonconventional waters in urban, peri-urban and rural areas.

FAO is a specialized agency of the UN with specialized skills in agriculture and extensive experience in digital transformation in urban, peri-urban and rural settings in support of sustainable food systems.

US$2 Million

US$2 Million

Sasha Koo Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, FAO Sasha.Koo@fao.org . CBL-Director@fao.org Dough Muchoney, Senior Officer, Land and Water Division, FAO Doug.Muchoney@fao.org

The “Humanitarian Access Project” aims to cut traffic and reduce the number of visitors to the world’s biggest refugee camp, Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh. With 860,000 refugees living in overcrowded conditions, physical distancing is difficult. After multiple coronavirus cases were confirmed in Bangladesh, access to the camps was severely restricted to mitigate the risk to Rohingya refugees. The Humanitarian Access Project is designed only to let authorized vehicles through. Initially, the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner would approve a list of vehicles each day. Using this list, local and national law enforcement agencies would manually check each vehicle to ensure access was approved, a process that created waiting times of up to three hours, leaving less time to deliver the humanitarian assistance needed in the camps. The Logistics Sector, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) came up with the Humanitarian Access Project to reduce waiting times and to make the process efficient. The project leverages processes previously developed for WFP’s Building Blocks project, which allows authorities to digitize the entire approval and tracking process for entry using blockchain technology. Each organization and vehicle is given a digital identity that is encoded into a QR code. Authorities simply need to scan each QR code to validate the driver and let them through — this does away with the time-consuming hassle of juggling paperwork, putting workers at higher risk of transmitting COVID-19.

The Humanitarian Access Project was developed in April 2020, in the span of 48 hours, to help the Government regulate vehicles’ access to the camps and for the humanitarian community to continue critical work.

Cox’s Bazaar refugee camp, Bangladesh

Previously, there were lines of cars up to five kilometres and it took five to 15 minutes per car to get through, but now it takes 15 to 30 seconds. At present, there are eight checkpoints where 13 WFP staff are crosschecking the vehicles alongside the Bangladeshi army and police.

The system is currently in use in cooperation with local and national authorities.

Mohammad Dabdab, Building Blocks Operations Manager at WFP: mohammad.dabdab@wfp.org

GrainATM is an automated dispensing machine to provide people with any-time access to the grains of their choice, quickly, hygienically and accurately. Typical dispensed grains include: wheat, maize, rice and soybeans. GrainATM allows people to get the exact amount of grains that they should receive, without any manual interference. WFP’s digital SCOPE smartcards can be used for verification. Faced by the COVID-19 pandemic, GrainATM’s potential to reduce face-to-face interactions while still providing access to rations could be a game-changer for WFP and other humanitarian agencies.

WFP’s India Country Office. After having participated in a WFP Innovation Bootcamp in San Francisco in October 2019, the project is developing and testing six GrainATMs, providing a proof of concept for the Government of India to scale-up. The first prototype GrainATM has already been built and is currently being tested in a factory setting.

India

The project is developing and testing six GrainATMs, providing a proof of concept for the Government of India to scale-up. The first prototype GrainATM has already been built and is currently being tested in a factory setting.

Government of India has approved pilot project.

US$244,680

Team Lead: Ankit Sood, Head, Systems Reform Unit, WFP India Sponsor: Bishow Parajuli, Country Director, WFP India.