IFC ramps up impact investments in South Asia to protect jobs and livelihoods, drive green recovery

 In a bid to protect the most vulnerable people and help companies maintain operations and jobs, IFC's focused and sustained investments in South Asia continued to have strong impact in the fiscal year 2021, with support for medical facilities, vaccines and supplies, and to hard-hit micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) while also spurring investments in renewable energy, affordable housing, and distressed assets resolution.

In the midst of a difficult year with massive and ongoing social and economic disruptions caused by Covid-19, IFC committed over $3.8 billion, including mobilisation and short-term finance, in South Asia as of June 2021 — resulting in a record investment volume of over $14.9 billion in the last five years in the region, towards a green, inclusive, and resilient recovery.

In India, IFC’s largest client country globally, total commitments at the end of June stood at $1.7 billion representing an increase of over 51 per cent from last year, according to a press note issued by the IFC today. "Likewise, in Bangladesh, IFC made total commitments of $791 million, an increase of almost 33 per cent from last year."

"The Covid-19 crisis has drastically impacted the region’s private sector, which has severely affected the region’s most vulnerable people," IFC's vice president for Asia and the Pacific region Alfonso Garcia Mora said, adding that Covid-19 has laid bare the region’s existing vulnerabilities in the financial sector, disrupting businesses -- particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises -- and leaving so many people exposed. "That’s why we’ve focused our attention on supporting moves to improve resilience on multiple fronts, as all indications are that the road to recovery will be long."

IFC has committed $590 million in Covid-response deals in South Asia -- with additional deals worth over $100 million in the pipeline. IFC’s fast-track financial support has helped clients across sectors at a time when the economic fallouts of the pandemic have severely impacted market sentiment. Further, IFC committed $353 million in climate finance and $490 million in IDA/FCS (International Development Association/Fragile and Conflict-Affected Situations) countries in the region.

IFC already provided financing and advisory support for the production of critical pharmaceutical products and medical equipment such as personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccines, the press note reads, adding that IFC will further focus on providing much needed liquidity to private sector companies in the region so they can maintain operations, preserve, and create jobs.

"The impact of the pandemic coupled with the region’s vulnerability to climate change, has highlighted the need for a collaborative, resilient and climate friendly recovery that can withstand future shocks,” IFC’s new regional director for South Asia Hector Gomez Ang said, adding that it is especially important for South Asia, which is home to three of the top five countries in terms of vulnerability to climate change globally.

While South Asia is one of the fastest growing regions in the world, estimates suggest that climate impacts could reduce its annual gross domestic product by an average of 1.8 per cent by 2050, rising to 8.8 per cent by 2100, if the countries fail to take adequate measures. The region is also estimated to have an untapped climate investment potential of $3.4 trillion by 2030.

Under the World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan (2021-2025), IFC has committed to aligning all new real sector operations with the objectives of the Paris Agreement by July 1, 2025 and set the target of reaching 35 per cent financing for climate on average over the next five years. In addition, IFC will intensify its effort to create bankable investment opportunities and to mobilize private financing towards decarbonising five key sectors as outlined in the CCAP.

IOM plans to train local level officials on disaster risk reduction and management

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) plans a capacity building training for all elected representatives and officials of all 753 local levels of Nepal on disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).

The training seeks to enhance local authorities’ capacity on DRRM that will greatly assist in the development, drafting or revision of local DRRM Acts and or strategic action plans in the local context, according to the IOM press note.

Disaster Risk Management does not only curb losses from disasters but enhances the wellbeing and resilience of our communities,” said the UN resident coordinator for Nepal Sara Nyanti, in her video message for the participants of provincial level training of trainers (ToT) for Bagmati province organised on August 10 – 13 in Kathmandu.

DRM is our collective responsibility and I look forward to the collaboration between the UN and all of you as we strengthen the capacity of our communities and systems to understand risk, mitigate the impacts of disasters and transform to more resilient, stronger, healthy and prosperous communities in the future,” she added.

Previously, in March 2020, a five-day long national level training of trainers (NToT) was conducted to selected 21 participants (6 female, 15 male) in Kathmandu. Following the NToT, some 14 participants (4 female, 10 male) were selected based on the observation of performance during the NToT. A rescheduled refresher training, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was also conducted in February for the training schedules had to be halted.

The selected 14 master trainers will roll out a total of 19 four-days long Provincial ToTs (PToT) across all seven provinces to the participants from Provincial Ministries, District Disaster Management Committees, District Coordination Committees, Local Levels and project’s implementing partners. Consequently, the participants from those 19 PToTs will conduct capacity building trainings at all 753 local levels together with staffs from selected implementing partner, the press note adds.

"Disaster Risk Reduction and Management can only be achieved when three tiers of the Government work together in coordination," joint secretary of the Ministry for Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) Bishnu Gautam said, addressing the participants. "I believe these trainings contribute to government’s strategic vision on disaster management which aims to build resilient community with local level disaster management Act in all local levels."

The training is part of the Promoting Action for Disaster Risk Governance and Working to Achieve Preparedness for Risk Reduction through Technical Assistance in Nepal (PARIWARTAN) project being implemented by the IOM under the leadership of the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) with financial support of the USAID’s Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).

The project is designed basically to build upon the activities carried out through Phase I project that contributed into government’s effort in implementing DRRM Act endorsed in 2017 and amended in 2019 with the aim to contribute to improved federal, provincial and municipal DRRM legislative regulatory framework that facilitates timely and comprehensive disaster risk management with strengthened capacity to build resilient community.

IOM developed the training module in coordination with the MoFAGA and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) based on the findings of a needs and capacity assessment study conducted in 14 selected municipalities across all 7 Provinces in 2018.

The study highlighted the current DRM scenario at local level as the ‘Moment of Maximum Opportunity’ (MOMO) for building the capacity of elected municipal leaders and staff to design and implement robust DRRM policies and plans, and to further contribute to the localisation of the DRRM Act at provincial and local levels.

Nepal to get 4 million doses of Moderna vaccines through Covax

 Nepal is the second country globally to have completed agreements with GAVI to procure 4 million doses of Moderna vaccines, financed by the World Bank, through the Covax cost-share option, according to a press note issued by the World Bank. "This will diversify and strengthen the country’s Covid-19 vaccine portfolio."

"Nepal is an early mover in utilising the Covax cost-share scheme, and I am pleased to note that we have finalised an arrangement, despite very challenging circumstances, to bring safe and highly effective vaccines to Nepal,” said minister of state for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha. "Moderna vaccines have helped expand options for vaccinating Nepalis above 12 years of age and fast-track Nepal’s progress towards a safer post-Covid world."

Delivery of these vaccines is expected to start by March 2022 and will contribute to Nepal’s goal to vaccinate at least 72 per cent of its population, as well as children 12-17 years of age for whom the Moderna vaccine is deemed safe and effective.

“We are honoured to support the people and government of Nepal, along with our development partners, by financing the purchase of safe and effective vaccines through the Covax facility,”  World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said, adding that it is a key element of World Bank's overall Covid response by helping to meet emergency health needs and strengthening the healthcare and vaccine delivery system.

The World Bank has made available $104 million to support Nepal’s health response to the pandemic, with $67.5 million earmarked to purchase and deploy Covid-19 vaccines. Last month, 1,000 oxygen concentrators were brought in through the project while seven oxygen generation plants are being established, one in each province. These will help strengthen health preparedness in the event of future waves of the pandemic.

"We commend the government of Nepal for being the first country in South Asia, and one of the first in the world, to join and tap into the Covax cost-share option,” said World Bank vice president for South Asia Hartwig Schafer. "The World Bank is committed to continuing our support to Nepal’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, which is critical to helping the people and economy of Nepal build back better from this unprecedented crisis."

The World Bank supports countries’ Covid-19 vaccine implementation plans. Countries make choices based on their specific needs and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended policy and guidelines on vaccines, therapeutics, and other tools they adopt. As the threshold for eligibility for IBRD/IDA resources in vaccine purchase, the bank accepts as eligible for inclusion in the project Covid-19 vaccines that (i) have received regular or emergency licensure or authorisation from at least one of the Stringent Regulatory Authorities (SRAs) identified by WHO for vaccines procured and/or supplied under the Covax Facility, as may be amended from time to time by WHO; or (ii) have received WHO Prequalification or WHO Emergency Use Listing. The Moderna vaccine meets these criteria.

Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Bank Group has deployed over $157 billion to fight the health, economic, and social impacts of the pandemic, the fastest and largest crisis response in its history. The financing is helping more than 100 countries strengthen pandemic preparedness, protect the poor and jobs, and jump start a climate-friendly recovery. The bank is also supporting over 50 low- and middle-income countries, more than half of which are in Africa, with the purchase and deployment of Covid-19 vaccines and is making available $20 billion in financing for this purpose until the end of 2022.

Digital labour platforms offer young refugees a possible route to decent work

The digital economy can provide job opportunities for many young refugees but ensuring decent working conditions will require new directions in thinking and action, says a new International Labour Organisation (ILO) today.

The report, 'Towards decent work for young refugees and host communities in the digital platform economy in Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Egypt', finds that digital gig work has the potential to generate income for refugees. Since they often struggle to enter local labour markets, refugees may turn to prominent digital platforms such as Jumia or Upwork in the absence of local livelihood opportunities.

But there are two major concerns relating to refugee’s work on digital platforms; decent work deficits and a lack of connectivity. Kenya, Uganda and Egypt, the three countries studied in the report, have all invested heavily in the digital economy and adopted national strategies for increasing digital access. Yet in 2020 only 22.5 per cent of the Kenyan population was using the internet, compared with 57 per cent in Egypt and 24 per cent in Uganda.

Globally, while 93 per cent of refugees are covered by at least a 2G network, they are 50 per cent less likely than the general population to have an internet-enabled phone. For refugee youth, the access is even more limited.

Other significant challenges include difficulties obtaining work permits, unreliable electricity supply and internet connection, a lack of access to suitable hardware and software or access to digital payment mechanisms.

"The unequal spread of internet connectivity, inequalities in digital skills and digital literacy, alongside the specific obstacles that many refugee populations face in accessing digital economies and decent digital work make it difficult to apply for these jobs,” said the author of the report Andreas Hackl. “Without coordinated action, the digital economy can reinforce the deeply rooted social and economic inequalities that govern the young refugees’ lives.”

Initiatives are in place to facilitate refugees' access to the digital economy. Intermediary organisation like social impact labour platforms offer to redistribute work opportunities to refugees and negotiate fees and conditions with the platforms on their behalf.

Examples of digital skills training, such as coding academies, boot camps and digital technical and vocational education and training (TVET), have been established in Kakuma camp in Kenya, the Bidi Bidi settlement in Uganda and the large refugee-hosting cities in Egypt, such as Cairo.

The report recommends to promote digital jobs amongst young refugees including improve refugees’ access to the internet and to its economic and employment related dimensions. "The deepen efforts to build a variety of digital skills among refugees that increase their employability in a digitised future of work, while working with relevant employers and economic sectors to match skills with demands through stronger employment service institutions that cater to refugee populations," it recommends, adding that support existing remote employers of refugees with financial and technical assistance - including social enterprises and social impact work platforms – and promote formalisation strategies so as to achieve better payment and working conditions for their employees or self-employed workers. "Improve social dialogue related to digital labour, which is virtually absent in refugee hosting situations, through the access of workers’ and employers’ organisations to workers in refugee camps." 

The report also recommends to specifically address barriers and obstacles to digital livelihoods posed by legal and political refugee regimes through high-level advocacy and policy support.

Nepal will receive 10.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by mid-October

 Nepal will receive 10.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines by mid-October, claimed minister of state for Health and Population Umesh Shrestha.

Addressing the House of Representatives (HoR) meeting today, state minister said that Nepal has so far received 10,860,170 doses of Covid-19 vaccines and is going to receive an additional 10.2 million doses by mid-October, and 30.23 million by mid-February, next year. "By February next year, Nepal will have received 50.23 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines."

State Minister Shrestha also maintained that the government has already begun processes to procure Covid-19 vaccines for children and will be inoculating them with the vaccines soon.

Nepal today recorded 3,260 new cases of Covid-19 and 32 deaths. The past one week has seen above 20 per cent infection among the tested, which is more than the previous week.

Japan-gifted AstraZeneca vaccine arrive

 Nepal today received some 513,420 doses -- the first consignment of the 1.6 million doses -- of AstraZeneca vaccine gifted by Japan through the COVAX facility, an international vaccine-sharing scheme backed by the United Nations (UN).

The Health Ministry confirmed that some 513,420 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Nepal today morning. Some more doses -- the second consignment -- are expected to arrive tomorrow, according to the ministry. "The remaining doses of the vaccine will arrive after a week."

Japanese ambassador Kikuta Yutaka attended the hand-over ceremony of the Japanese-made AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) with the state minister of Health and Population Umesh Shrestha, joint secretary of North East Asia Division at the Foreign Ministry Lok Bahadur Thapa, representative of UNICEF Nepal Elke Wisch and WHO representative to Nepal Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav. "The vaccine donation from Japan for Nepal through COVAX facility was announced by minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Motegi Toshimitsu on July 13," according to Japanese Embassy in Kathmandu. "The remaining half of 1.6 million doses pledged by Japan will be shipped to Kathmandu shortly, once the arrangements of the relevant organisations finalised," the Embassy press note reads.

At the hand-over ceremony, ambassador Kikuta stated that this donation is 'From the People of Japan for the Friendship with Nepal'. He also appreciated the cooperation of all the concerned organisations including the government of Nepal and the international organisations such as COVAX, GAVI, WHO and UNICEF. He also mentioned that the Government of Japan strongly supports the vaccination campaign by Deuba administration, which is necessary for the progress of post-COVID Nepali society and its economic recovery. "We hope that this vaccine, together with other generous contributions from international community, will help Nepal to ease down various difficulties caused by the Covid-19," the ambassador added.

Japan has been providing various support for Nepal to tackle with the Covid-19 pandemic with medical equipment for Nepali hospitals to date, the Embassy of Japan will continue working together with Nepal to overcome the pandemic, the press note reads.

The vaccine from Japan arrived in Nepal a day after 230,000 doses of the same type of vaccine were delivered to Nepal by Bhutan. Nepal needs some 1.4 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine immediately to administer second doses to those aged 65 and above, who took their first doses in the second week of March.

The received vaccine will be provided as the second doses to those over 65 years from Monday,” the Health Ministry confirmed.

Nepal started the vaccination drive in January with the 1 million doses of Covishield, the AstraZeneca type vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, which were gifted to Nepal by India. Of the 2 million doses Nepal bought from the Serum Institute, only 1 million doses were shipped. Serum Institute of India is yet to ship the remaining doses.

According to the ministry, Nepal has received some 10,526,270 doses of vaccine from various sources.

Nepal so far has used India-manufactured Covishield, China's Sinopharm manufactured Vero Cell , The US manufactured Johnson & Johnson. "Of the total 5.8 million doses of Vero Cell, Nepal bought some 4 million doses from China whereas 1.8 million doses were provided by the Chinese government under grant assistance," according to the ministry, "On July 12, the US provided some 1,534,850 doses of Janssen through the COVAX facility, whereas COVAX itself had supplied 348,000 doses of Covishield to Nepal on March 7.

As of today, some 4,442,622 people have received their first doses (around 14.8 per cent) and some 2,359,793 people have been fully vaccinated (some 7.86 per cent). The government has unveiled a plan to procure 42 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine by February next year, and inoculate all eligible citizens above 12 years of age before mid-April.

As of Saturday, 4,442,622 people have received their first doses (around 14.8 percent) and 2,359,793 people have been fully vaccinated (7.86 percent).

Seven hospitals to improve healthcare waste management system

The Government of People’s Republic of China and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) jointly launched a new initiative in Nepal to support the country in Covid-19 response by improving the healthcare waste management system, under the framework of China’s South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF).

UNDP will work closely with department of Health Services under the Ministry of Health and Population and with seven Covid designated hospitals across the country, including Koshi Hospital, Biratnagar; Narayani Hospital, Birgunj; Janakpur Hospital, Janakpurdham; Shree Birendra Hospital, Chhauni; Rapti Provincial Hospital, Tulsipur; and Bheri Hospital, Nepalgunj, according to a press note issued by the UNDP.

The joint effort will support upgrading of hospital waste management systems by providing support in the form of autoclaves, setting up waste treatment areas, and training the healthcare workers on their use as well as proper means to manage medical waste. It is anticipated that 350 healthcare professionals will be provided with the required technical skill-set on proper management of healthcare waste, it reads, adding that alongside this, 100 officials from the local government will also be trained on better handling of health emergencies.

In parallel, the initiative works to increase the public’s knowledge and preparedness on medical waste management by developing Public Service Announcements in various local languages in Nepal. Youth volunteers from 300 urban and rural municipalities will be mobilised to conduct an online campaign to raise awareness on this important issue.

"We hope that Nepal will benefit from the project, and the haze of Covid-19 pandemic will disperse as soon as possible with the joint efforts of all countries around the world," The Chinese ambassador to Nepal Hou Yanqi, speaking of this initiative, said.

This initiative is part of the SSCAF-Covid-19 regional project in Asia and the Pacific and will directly and indirectly benefit over one million people.

"UNDP is privileged to enter into a tripartite agreement with the Ministry of Health and Population and China Aid to help demonstrate how we can improve the healthcare waste management system in Nepal," UNDP Resident Representative Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labe said, adding that besides Nepal, similar initiatives are initiated by UNDP and China Aid in the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.

This project is also expected to help the country meet its ambitious targets under the Sustainable Development Goals, and contribute to the most recently updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to support emission reductions particularly on waste management in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

"As a matter of fact, Nepal has set 10-year targets to adopt and implement waste segregation, recycling and waste-to-energy programs in at least 100 municipalities, and to enhance 1,400 healthcare facilities with proper management of healthcare waste through the application of non-burn technologies," she said, adding that UNDP wants to seize this opportunity to transform this crisis into an opportunity and bring changes to our behaviour to ensure a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all in Nepal.