To respond to and mitigate the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness in the Maldives.

This project will be co-financed with the World Bank and have the following components: Component 1 (Emergency Response for COVID-19 Prevention): Procurement of essential protective equipment and other essential items to protect healthcare workers and patients; risk communication, community engagement and behavior change, including social distancing measures and associated mitigation strategies. Component 2 (Emergency Health System Capacity Strengthening for COVID-19 Case Management): Strengthening the centralized and decentralized health system capabilities for disease surveillance, case management and infection prevention and control. Component 3 (Implementation Management and Monitoring and Evaluation): Strengthening of public institutions for the coordination and management of the project, including central and regional arrangements for coordination of activities, financial management, procurement and social and environmental management. Component 4 (Contingent Emergency Response Component): Zero-dollar component to ensure additional flexibility in response to the current and any potential other emergency that might occur during the lifetime of this project.