With UNDP’s extensive experience in supporting the GoP to strengthen institutions, uphold rule of law and human rights, mitigate risks of disasters, overcome crises and build resilience, while ensuring the inclusion of those left furthest behind, UNDP has adjusted its on-going projects, and expanded its interventions towards immediate, medium- and longer- term socio-economic recovery measures. This includes cash for work and labour intensive interventions, particularly targeting women and youth, as well as diversifying revenue streams for local government units (LGUs) and fostering local economic development through support to SMEs and promoting public-private partnerships.

1. Supporting livelihoods and short-term jobs linked to longer-term employment through

• Cash for work modalities, labour intensive interventions, and decent job opportunities focusing on areas of need such as public and basic services. (For example, those employed are given the opportunity not only to earn an income to meet the needs of their families, but also gain the experience and expertise to improve their employability in the future).
• Digital literacy, economic empowerment and skilling programmes targeting women and youth.
• Support to small scale farmers and women in agriculture, through provision of essential inputs, technical capacity building and linkages to markets amidst current closures.

2. Protecting and promoting businesses, including

• Support businesses that  could respond to demand created by COVID-19, such as production of PPE, sterilisers, hygiene material, etc., as well as food production/ processing.
• Provide comprehensive support to SMEs (focusing particularly on women- owned businesses), including technical expertise and access to financial and non-financial resources for grants or no-interest loans, integrating their products and services into public procurement and supporting the adoption of e-commerce and digital solution. Well-being and childcare support services will be provided to women-owned businesses in coordination with relevant UN agencies.
• Support SMEs to ensure business continuity/development, including risk-sharing grants to alter business models towards emerging needs/opportunities in the local market.
• Foster public-private partnerships towards local economic development, including rehabilitating cultural assets for private sector operation to support tourism development.

3. Enhancing capacity of local actors (incl. LGUs, schools and civil society) to deliver services, including

• Develop capacities of local actors on crisis management to support continuity of vital service provision.
• Ensure ministries’ responses extend to ‘out of reach’ areas (e.g. supporting the Ministry of Education response in East Jerusalem private and Waqf schools).
• Improve the fiscal sustainability of LGUs through cost-saving/ revenue generating initiatives, including domestic solar energy production.
• Support local government in coordinating and communicating with local stakeholders, including participatory decision-making, to strengthen community ownership, through digital means where appropriate.
• Strengthen the role of local government in recovery interventions, particularly in marginalized communities.