The Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic in West Africa is a devastating health emergency that is evolving into an urgent socio-economic crisis with growing long-term developmental impact. The outbreak quickly overwhelmed national health institutions in countries with no experience with the disease and that had only recently emerged from years of conflict and instability. The effects of the virus will last long after it has been brought under control, potentially affecting millions of the poorest and most vulnerable people while disproportionately affecting women and youth.
UNDP has realigned its programmes and budgets in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to better fight the disease and mitigate its impact. Accordingly, UNDP is focusing on two areas: support efforts to stop the epidemic; and ensure that affected countries, communities and individuals can recover quickly and sustainably. In close partnership with the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) and the broader UN System, UNDP’s Ebola Crisis Response and Resilience Programme (ECRRP) seeks to achieve three results: (1) strengthened coordination of, and delivery of essential services for, the immediate response to Ebola; (2) stronger community engagement in fighting Ebola, including a specific focus on addressing the gender-specific impacts of the disease; and (3) recovery from the socio-economic impacts of Ebola through emergency employment, and solidarity and enterprise start-up packages to most affected people, as well as support to national and community “build back better” plans. UNDP estimates that the ECRRP will cost $69.4 million to implement, divided as follows: Liberia $24.4 million; Sierra Leone $28.5 million; Guinea $16.5 million.
