Morocco - Social Protection Improvement Support Programme – Covid-19 Additional Financing

The additional financing for the Social Protection Improvement Support Programme in response to the health emergencies linked to the COVID 19 crisis (PAAPS – COVID-19 SF) aims to contribute to the Government of Morocco’s response to the health crisis declared a pandemic by WHO on 11 March 2020. PAAPS – COVID-19 SF is in line with the “COVID-19 Rapid Response Facility (CRF)” approved in April 2020 by the African Development Bank Group to mitigate the health, economic and social effects of COVID-19 on regional member countries. This additional financing which concerning an AfDB loan of EUR 117.82 million, is a response to a request by the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Administrative Reform (MEFRA) dated 19 March 2020. The number of cases that have tested positive for COVID-19 in Morocco currently exceeds the symbolic threshold of 100 000 and there is a strong possibility of a second wave of coronavirus. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the achievement of PAAPS-I objectives as the pandemic spreads. The Bank’s support will therefore help to upgrade public health facilities and build their response capacity to contain the spread of the virus. Thus, PAAPS – COVID-19 SF will complement the objectives of the initial programme and directly support the Kingdom of Morocco in its emergency response to COVID-19 shocks by ensuring swift and effective patient care. The activities to be carried out under PAAPS – COVID-19 SF mainly concern: (i) the upgrading of hospital facilities by providing them with equipment; (ii) procurement and supply of drugs and pharmaceutical products; and (iii) the mobilization of medical and administrative staff. It will, therefore, contribute to community health care during the pandemic and the post-crisis period by continuing to improve health care quality in adequately equipped health facilities.