Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing non-governmental organisations to help the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The UK has so far pledged up to £744 million of UK aid to support the global effort to combat COVID-19. This includes £200 million for charities and international organisations, who are critical partners in meeting the huge challenge of tackling the virus. As part of this package, there is funding for international NGOs, including UK charities. In addition, extra funding has been allocated to NGOs through the DFID Unilever COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition.
DFID is also adapting its programmes across its country network to respond to COVID-19 and has committed significant funding through the multilateral system. We also expect NGOs to play a key role in delivery through these channels.
Additionally, The Small Charities Challenge Fund is open on an ongoing basis for applications for grants of up to £50k from the very best small British development charities. Applications will next be reviewed on 24 September 2020 and projects which address the impacts of COVID-19 will be prioritised.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role they have in the programme to contain the spread of Ebola.
Answered by Baroness Northover
To date, the UK government has contributed £897,324 to the Ebola Virus Disease response in the three affected countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia through multilateral partners and the DFID bilateral programme. In addition, DFID is finalizing arrangements to send out three Public Health England disease control specialists to Sierra Leone to support the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) response.
In Sierra Leone, DFID funds are being used to support improved coordination at the national level; training and equipping of health workers competently to manage Ebola cases; improving EVD case detection and supporting appropriate radio messaging and community mobilisation activities on EVD prevention in affected districts. In Liberia, DFID has provided chlorine and other materials for hygiene and sanitising; and training in their appropriate use. Along with colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we are closely monitoring the outbreak from Sierra Leone and Liberia (where we have DFID country offices) and internationally through Whitehall. We are working with WHO and national government agencies to improve our understanding of the outbreak and help to guide the response in-country and regionally.