COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Project

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This project responds to a request by the Government of Mozambique to receive support from the World Bank for theacquisition and deployment of COVID-19 vaccines as enabled by the Global COVID-19 Multiphase Programmatic Approach Additional Financing (P175450). The operation builds on ongoing support provided through CERC activation through the Mozambique Cyclone Idai & Kenneth Emergency Recovery and Resilience Project (P171040), partly replenished through the Immediate Response Mechanism (IRM) of the parent project of the Global COVID-19 MPA (P173789), among other sources.The project objective is to support the Government of Mozambique in COVID-19 vaccine acquisition, management, and deployment, and to strengthen its pandemic preparedness, response, and health systems' capacity. The project will support the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines, medical supplies and equipment, including for vaccine distribution and cold chain upgrading. It will also support vaccine administration, follow-up and community engagement. Technical assistance, training, and support will be provided for key institutions in the immunization system. This will be guided by the development of an appropriate and costed vaccination plan, in line with the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) framework, to ensure safe, effective, and equitable distribution, with measures to improve data quality and data use for decision-making. The project will also support the development of a national risk-communication plan, and activities to ensure community engagement in COVID-19 vaccination efforts and outreach to vulnerable groups. The project includes a component co-financed by the Global Financing Facility to strengthen continuity of essential services during the vaccine roll out, focused on primary and community care, and maternal, child, and adolescent health. A functional Program Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Health will be established to support effective implementation and monitoring to achieve development objectives.