Additional Financing to Cambodia COVID-19 Emergency Response Project

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The Parent Project was prepared under the World Bank’s COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Program using the Multiphase Programmatic Approach. The scope and the components of the Project was fully aligned with the Bank’s Fast Track COVID-19 Facility, using standard components as described in proposed phase 1 of the COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Program using the Multiphase Programmatic Approach. It complements the longer-term development work in the health sector, including the H-EQIP which seeks to improve access to quality health services for targeted population groups with protection against impoverishment due to the cost of health services in the Kingdom of Cambodia, as well as the Cambodia Nutrition Project, which seeks to improve utilization and quality of priority maternal and child health and nutrition services for targeted groups in Cambodia. The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to assist Cambodia in its efforts to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for public health preparedness. The specific objectives that the project supports include to: (a) reduce and delay the transmission of COVID-19; (b) minimize serious disease due to COVID-19 and reduce associated deaths; (c) ensure ongoing essential health services particularly during epidemic peak periods; and (d) minimize social and economic impact through multisectoral partnerships. These objectives are fully aligned with the overall goal of the Cambodia COVID-19 Master Plan which is to control transmission of COVID-19, and to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in Cambodia.The Project will comprise the following components: Component 1. Case detection and management: establishing and upgrading laboratory, isolation and treatment centers and equipping them with medical supplies and furniture and network installation. The National Institute of Public Health will be upgraded; diagnostic capacity of the four provincial laboratories as well as laboratories attached to the 21 provincial referral hospitals will be built; and isolation and treatment centers in all 25 municipal/provincial referral hospitals will be established. Component 2. Medical Supplies and Equipment: This component will finance the procurement of medical supplies and equipment needed for activities outlined in the COVID-19 Master Plan, including business continuity of essential services, such as (1) case management; and (2) infection prevention and control. Specifically, items procured will include drugs and medical supplies for case management and infection prevention. Component 3. Preparedness, Capacity Building and Training: This component will finance activities related to preparedness, capacity building and training, guided by the different pillars and activities of the COVID-19 Master Plan. These include: (1) coordination at the national, provincial and district levels; (2) EOC functionalization; (3) human resources for implementation, supportive supervision and subnational support; (4) financing of operating costs; (5) support for screening people entering in to the country at designated points of entry; (6) strengthening call/hotline centers; and (7) strengthening community- and event-based surveillance for COVID-19. The Component will also support risk communication and community engagement; behavioral and sociocultural risk factors assessments; production of risk communication and community engagement strategy and training documents; production of communication materials; and monitoring and evidence generation.Component 4. Project Implementation and Monitoring: Implementing the proposed Project will require administrative and human resources that exceed the current capacity of the implementing institutions, in addition to those mobilized through the H-EQIP. Activities include: (1) support for procurement, financial management, environmental and social safeg uards, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting; (2) recruitment and training of staff and technical consultants; and (3) operating costs. To date, the Cambodia COVID-19 ERP’s progress toward achieving its PDO is satisfactory, and Overall Implementation Progress is also satisfactory. E&S performance has been also satisfactory, as the Project has carried out various activities highlighted in the ESCP, including establishing Project Implementing Unit (PIU), appointing E&S focal points at national and provincial level, as well as developing TORs for E&S consultants.The current disbursement stands at 48.45 percent.The Pandemic Emergency Financing Facility (PEF) Insurance has been triggered by COVID-19 and the Steering Body has approved a grant in the amount of US$1.21 million for Cambodia; the mandatory closing date for the utilization of this Fund is January 31, 2021. On June 29, 2020, the Cambodia Ministry of Economy and Finance requested the World Bank to process the US$1.21 million grant from the PEF as an additional financing to the existing Cambodia COVID-19 Emergency Response Project. The AF seeks to increase in the allocation to Component 1: Laboratory Equipment and Consumables, allowing for building diagnostic capacity of the four regional laboratories.