International Cooperation and Development Fund
12-15F, No. 9, Lane 62, Tien Mou West Rd., Taipei 111047, Taiwan Tel.886-2-28732323 Fax.886-2-2876-6475
www.icdf.org.tw
Partnerships for Progress and Sustainable Development
International Cooperation and Development Fund Annual Report
60th Anniversary of Taiwan's Foreign Aid2020TaiwanICDF Annual Report
The cover design is inspired by hot air balloons to symbolize freedom, dedication, and hopes for the future. Under the threat of the pandemic, Taiwan has attracted global attention with its outstanding success in combating COVID-19, as well as its excellent healthcare and high- tech deployment. We have utilized this advantage to assist allied and friendly c o u n t r i e s w i t h s t re n g t h e n i n g t h e i r resilience through a variety of projects and funding, in hopes of soaring into the sky together like hot air balloons.
About the cover 60th Anniversary of Taiwan's Foreign Aid
International Cooperation and Development Fund 12-15F, No. 9, Lane 62, Tien Mou West Rd., Taipei 111047, Taiwan Tel.886-2-28732323 Fax.886-2-2876-6475
www.icdf.org.tw Partnerships for Progress and Sustainable Development
International Cooperation and Development Fund Annual Report
60th Anniversary of Taiwan's Foreign Aid2020TaiwanICDF Annual Report
2 Introducing the TaiwanICDF 4 Preface
6 Strategic Planning and Direction
7
Building Resilience amid Crisis and Moving Toward Sustainable Development12 Operations
12
2020 Cooperating Countries and Projects14
Key point 1Participating in international society and exporting Taiwan's epidemic prevention experience
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Key point 2Strengthening the epidemic prevention capabilities of allied and friendly countries
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Key point 3Providing supplies and technologies to strengthen local food security
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Key point 4Providing funds for relief and social and economic recovery
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Key point 5Expanding business opportunities from epidemic prevention
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Key point 6Introducing diverse forms of online teaching
48 Special Reports
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60 Years of Foreign Aid: The Past and Future of Taiwan's Development Assistance62
Interview 1Dr. Eugene Chien, Chairman of Taiwan Institute for Sustainable Energy
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Interview 2Dr. Chih-Cheng Lo, Member of the Legislative Yuan
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Interview 3Dr. Dante Mossi, Executive President of CABEI
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Interview 4Santiago Huang, Member of the TaiwanICDF's Consultative Committee
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Inaugural publication of Development Focus Quarterly and ceremony celebrating 60 years in foreign aid72 Administration
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Financial Management74
Accounting Management75
Auditing76
Human Resources77
Information and Communications Management77
Public Communications78
Legal Affairs80 Appendix
80
Organization Chart81
Board of Directors, Supervisors, and Consultative Committee82
Report of Independent Accountants104
Cooperation Projects in 2020111
Cooperation Projects with International Organizations and NGOs in 2020Contents
Partnerships for progress Sustainable development
Vision
Mission
Strengthen international cooperation and enhance foreign relations to promote economic development, social progress, and the welfare of all mankind
Introducing the TaiwanICDF
Since the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) was founded in 1996 as Taiwan's professional development assistance organization, we have been dedicated to assisting friendly or developing countries in economic, social and human resource development, and in promoting economic relationships among these countries through technical cooperation, lending and investment, international education and training, and humanitarian assistance. By utilizing the organization's funds and their yields to engage in direct and indirect investments, and by implementing bilateral and multilateral technical cooperation, humanitarian aid, or educational training programs, the TaiwanICDF's mission is to provide humanitarian assistance for countries that suffer from natural disasters, or for international refugees.
• Respond to international development trends
• Draw on Taiwan's comparative advantages
• Integrate public and private sector resources
• Strengthen cooperative partnerships
Strategy
The TaiwanICDF was established with an initial
endowment of NT$11.6 billion, which was the net value of the IECDF's funds at the time of its dissolution. Sources of funding include the general fund, interest, returns on investments and income from commissions by the government or other institutions. As of December 31, 2020, the total balance of all funds was NT$15.47 billion.
Sources of Funding
Cooperating Partners
The TaiwanICDF's main partners are governments, international organizations or their designated agencies, corporate bodies, and
non-governmental organizations.
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Partner Countries To ensure that our core strategies can be
implemented with tangible effect throughout the normal course of operations, we have developed a set of project planning principles designed to improve effectiveness and results by standardizing the way we carry out our assistance projects.
• Implementing a Project-oriented Methodology
• Replicating Successful Experiences
• Considering Effectiveness and Efficiency
• Coordinating the Use of Resources
• Safeguarding Project Outcomes, Sustainable Development
Project Planning
Principles
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History
Cooperating with international organizations, institutions, or governments to facilitate social and economic development in our partner countries.
Facilitating social and economic development in our partner countries.
Promoting better economic ties to partner countries.
Providing humanitarian assistance to international refugees or countries hit by natural disasters.
Operating overseas missions to improve and develop agricultural, industrial, economic, medical, and education sectors in our partner countries.
Providing technical and human resources training to partner countries, and providing technical assistance or services in order to foster industrial capacity.
Other initiatives designed to bolster international cooperation and development or foster good relations with other partner countries.
The operational scope of the TaiwanICDF covers seven duties and responsibilities:
Operations
Accurate as of December 31, 2020 Domestic Personnel
Overseas Experts
1959
Republic of China (Taiwan) initiates overseas technical assistance, sending its first group of agricultural specialists to Vietnam.
1961
Under Operation Vanguard, technical missions help to improve agricultural production in many African countries, expanding its operations to become the Sino-Africa Technical Cooperation Committee (SATCC) the following year.
1972
SATCC merged into the Committee of International Technical Cooperation (CITC), leading Taiwan's overseas technical cooperation work and assisting partner nations in their agricultural development.
1989
At a time when Taiwan enters a period of rapid economic growth, the government establishes the International Economic Cooperation Development Fund (IECDF) to provide economic assistance to developing partners.
1995
To integrate Taiwan's foreign aid resources in response to the expansion of the nation's foreign aid operations, the government drafts and passes the Statute for the Establishment of the International Cooperation and Development Fund.
1996
The government dissolves the IECDF and establishes an independent organization, the International Cooperation and
Development Fund, on July 1. The following year, the CITC is incorporated into the TaiwanICDF.
The year 2020 was fraught with changes and challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic hampered global progress on the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The pandemic devastated vulnerable communities and increased inequality between nations. The UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development met to discuss the theme “accelerated action and transformative pathways: realizing the decade of action and delivery for sustainable development.”
Participants focused on how science, technology, and innovation can be harnessed to strengthen the postpandemic recovery, ensuring that sustainable development and epidemic prevention run in parallel.
As the pandemic spread around the world, Taiwan effectively controlled COVID-19 and reduced the impact of the disease on the livelihoods of its people through professionalism, trust, and unity. Our government fulfilled its global responsibility concerning epidemic prevention and shared its experience of Taiwan’s antipandemic miracle. In the spirit of steadfast diplomacy, Taiwan worked with the international community under bilateral and multilateral frameworks to fight the pandemic.
The transparency and integrity shown through the Taiwan Model as part of our global cooperation is a demonstration of our democracy and resilience; it also received international acclaim. As Taiwan’s professional development aid agency, the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) went to greater lengths in 2020 to fulfill the spirit of Taiwan is helping by applying its resources and expertise. In addition to making proactive adjustments to projects as the pandemic developed, we also provided rapid, timely assistance to support our partner countries on their path to sustainable development.
Public-private partnerships for sustainable development
According to the Development Co-operation Report 2020 published by the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development, through October 2020, US$12 billion had been mobilized by members of the Development Assistance Committee in response to the pandemic. However, despite an increase in total Official Development Assistance around the world in 2019 over 2018, funding still fell US$201.5 billion short of global commitments. Resources were constrained worldwide, meaning that the public and private sectors and civil society were needed to meet the shortfall. The TaiwanICDF has demonstrated its value in recent years as a platform connecting government agencies at all levels, the private sector, and civil society in Taiwan with the international
A Golden Beacon of Light—Taiwan is Helping
development aid field. This became more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, our public sector partnerships saw the TaiwanICDF work with the Ocean Affairs Council, six municipalities, and relevant ministries to address how official resources could be used in many areas to boost the effectiveness of foreign aid as well as feasible ways for promoting international cooperation. We also signed memorandums of understanding with national- level research institutions such as the National Applied Research Laboratories, National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction, and Taiwan Design Research Institute. These agreements aim at leveraging our nation’s technological advantages and soft power to promote interdisciplinary assistance projects that help allied and friendly countries cultivate the talent they need.
As to the private sector and civil society, this year, the TaiwanICDF launched innovative crowdfunding projects such as the TWilight Project and Café 3 Volcanes: Where There Is Coffee, There Is Me. The projects connected nearly one hundred businesses, media outlets, and opinion leaders from different fields that support our nation’s foreign aid activities. More than four hundred members of the public also took part, fully demonstrating the strength of the public-private-people partnership in Taiwan. This public participation model not only gave the people of Taiwan a better understanding of our international aid activities, but also illustrated the key values of the Taiwan Model by allowing like-minded citizens to contribute to the development of our partner countries.
Expanding networks and becoming a partner in global cooperation
Taiwan made significant advancements in international relations this year. The TaiwanICDF recruited more partners and expanded its cooperation network on topics of global concern. In Somaliland, for example, the TaiwanICDF supported the establishment of the Taiwan Representative Office by launching Maternal and Infant Health Care Improvement, E-government Capability Enhancement, and Improving Production and Quality of Vegetables and Fruits projects. Through these initiatives, we are leveraging Taiwan’s strengths to help Somaliland create greater capacity for development.
The expansion of international cooperation saw the TaiwanICDF build upon its recent collaboration with the US and join forces with global development partners the US International Development Finance Corporation and Singapore’s Impact Investment Exchange to collectively promote the Women’s Livelihood Bond Series.
The initiative aims to encourage more private sector
Preface
upon project resources and the expertise of local hospitals to organize a number of online seminars focused on sharing antipandemic experiences to support our allies’
efforts to fight COVID-19.
This year, the TaiwanICDF also supported key global initiatives through direct action, and shared contributions and best practices from Taiwan with important international platforms. One example is the Climakers initiative launched by the World Farmers’ Organisation.
Their publication Stories from the Field: COVID-19 Special Edition featured case studies of how Taiwan’s technical missions in Latin America are helping farmers fight climate change and supporting epidemic prevention.
It was shared with the organization’s many member organizations. The TaiwanICDF and the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry also jointly drafted a best practices report on Taiwan’s use of technological innovation and public-private sector partnership strategies that was submitted in writing to the 2020 High-level Segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The report called on the UN to review and provide successful experiences and model strategies to other countries around the world to emulate.
We’re all in this together, and Taiwan is helping
The global pandemic dealt a serious blow to the world over the past year and had a major impact on sustainable development. But we are all in this together. As a democratic force for good in the world, it is only natural for Taiwan to reach out to our allies as well as like-minded and friendly countries in the postpandemic era and continue strengthening our partnerships. The proactive efforts of the TaiwanICDF over the year not only highlighted the selfless contributions of Taiwan, but also emphasized our national spirit of resilience and determination. In the future, the TaiwanICDF hopes to expand its cooperation with the public and private sectors as well and all Taiwanese people so that we can show the world our desire to help and that Taiwan is helping.funding of economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods for women in Southeast and South Asia.
On the environmental front, the TaiwanICDF signed an agreement with the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to coorganize the Earth Observation Knowledge Sharing Webinar and establish a common platform between Taiwan’s technology sector and the ADB. The platform was used to share Taiwan’s best practices in agriculture development and disaster management. On economic development, the TaiwanICDF partnered with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration to jointly promote the Emergency Support and Preparedness Program for COVID-19 and Economic Reactivation. The program assists partner countries affected by COVID-19 to obtain access to financing channels in preparation for postpandemic economic recovery.
In addition, the TaiwanICDF made progress this year in our cooperation with key international NGOs, including Good Neighbors in Korea, the Terre des Hommes Foundation in Switzerland, Catholic Relief Services in the US, and the Polish Center for International Aid. All became important global partners of the TaiwanICDF. Besides integrating efforts on socioeconomic development and humanitarian assistance efforts, this network also allows us to dispatch international volunteers to expand opportunities for Taiwan’s youth to volunteer overseas.
Substantive collaboration of this sort will strengthen the effectiveness of our respective aid efforts and generate synergies whose effects are greater than the sum of the individual parts.
Achieving new levels of bold international engagement despite the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic spread quickly in 2020, but the TaiwanICDF remained undeterred and turned obstacles into bridges. We hosted or were invited to take part in more than 20 important global conferences addressing a diverse range of topics including gender, epidemics, oceans, climate finance, and social innovation.
These forums were used to share Taiwan’s outstanding development experience with the international community.
At the global level, the TaiwanICDF joined with important international organizations to host side events at the World Health Assembly and the High-level Political Forum, sharing Taiwan’s successful experience of promoting high-tech epidemic prevention. At the regional level, the TaiwanICDF participated in a strategic symposium hosted by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Japan to discuss how to help Pacific Island countries improve disaster management. At the national level, the TaiwanICDF drew
Jaushieh Joseph Wu Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, TaiwanICDF
Strategic Planning and Direction
COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to the world, creating a series of health, economic, and social crises that have made the path towards sustainable development even more difficult.
At this key moment, the TaiwanICDF has utilized Taiwan's comparative advantages to incorporate epidemic prevention concepts and contingency measures into current projects to help friendly countries become more resilient and overcome this difficult time. We have also utilized our role as a platform to develop diverse collaboration mechanisms between the public and private sectors, and worked together with like-minded international institutions to leverage our combined capabilities and scale in order to fight the crisis and move towards sustainable development without leaving anyone behind.
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nternational aid was instrumental to the economic advancement of Taiwan and is a driving force behind global development. As the organization responsible for Taiwan's development aid, the TaiwanICDF actively promotes projects that align with the development agendas of partner countries in accordance with our country's foreign policy. The COVID-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 had a serious impact on global health and economic systems and filled the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with obstacles. In these challenging times, the TaiwanICDF has adjusted our approach. In addition to developing a variety of cooperation mechanisms with the domestic public and private sectors, we also increased the scale and capabilities of our cooperation with like-minded international organizations. Together, we can follow the path of sustainable development and strive for a future of global stability and harmony.COVID-19 severely impacts progress on the SDGs and hinders sustainable development
2020 marked the start of the Decade of Action on the SDGs, commencing a 10-year countdown to the realization of the Goals. The international community was to have accelerated the investment of resources from industry, government, academia, research as well as civic groups to draft more sustainable solutions.
However, statistics published by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that 86 million people had been diagnosed with COVID-19 by December 2020.
More than 1.8 million people have died due to the virus and the number is still increasing. This has had a serious negative impact on almost all SDGs. The UN Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020 noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening all the progress and accomplishments made in poverty, hunger, health and education over the years, and has exposed many hidden problems as well.
In food security, the economic recession and disruptions to the agricultural value chain caused by the pandemic led to a deterioration in food insecurity.
The number of people suffering from hunger worldwide continued to climb, with 35 million people exposed to severe food insecurity in countries facing the desert locust upsurge, and up to 132 million more people suffered from undernourishment.
In terms of health, the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 not only resulted in serious loss of life but also overwhelmed many national health systems and disrupted regular health services. In 2020, mortality among children under five is estimated to have increased by several hundred thousand, and maternal mortality also may have increased by several tens of thousands.
Regarding education, school closures to slow the spread of the pandemic directly affected the education of nearly 1.6 billion children and youth, reversing progress in universal education. Although online courses were provided, children and youth living in remote regions, impoverished or vulnerable countries, and refugee camps did not have access to the same online learning opportunities so the existing gap in education equality continued to widen.
On the gender front, there was an increase in the risk of domestic violence for many women and children as the pandemic forced them to stay at home. Domestic violence cases jumped by 30 percent in some countries.
COVID-19 also imposed additional burdens at home for many women as they had to spend more time on household chores and looking after their children and family. With women accounting for nearly 70 percent of health and social workers globally, the pandemic pushed them into the front line of epidemic prevention efforts as well.
In regards to economic systems, the pandemic wreaked havoc on the global economy. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), part-time workers, the self-employed, and daily wage workers were among the groups that bore the brunt of the impact. Least developed countries, landlocked developing countries, small island developing states, and other disadvantaged countries were particularly hard hit due to their limited financial resources, overreliance on international trade and vulnerability to external shocks.
In terms of the environment, the economic slowdown caused by travel restrictions and the pandemic reduced greenhouse gas emissions by six percent and improved air quality in 2020 though these were only transitional improvements. Governments as well as industrial and commercial enterprises should learn from the experience and accelerate their fulfillment of the Paris Agreement.
The relationship between development and the environment must be redefined and systemic changes
Building Resilience amid Crisis and Moving Toward Sustainable Development
Strategic Planning and Direction 7
made so that the economy and society can be reshaped to achieve low greenhouse gas emissions and high climate resilience.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to health, the economy, and society. A return to the vicious cycle of extreme poverty and hunger caused by rapid population growth wiped decades of gains made in international development. To ensure steady global growth in the post-pandemic era, the top priority for governments and development partners today is how to stay on the path of sustainable development.
Supporting partner countries in their time of need
In the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, “Everything we do during and after this crisis must be with a strong focus on building more equal, inclusive and sustainable economies and societies that are more resilient in the face of pandemics, climate change and the many other global challenges we face.”
The TaiwanICDF has long invested in providing friendly countries with assistance in agriculture, healthcare and education. After the outbreak of COVID-19, we immediately incorporated epidemic prevention concepts and practices into our existing projects in order to help partner countries build resilience in these difficult times.
In food security, the TaiwanICDF actively reviewed the difficulties faced by beneficiaries in the project area and their actual needs. Essential resources such as food, fruit and vegetables were supplied to help allied and friendly countries mitigate the impact of supply chains disrupted by the pandemic. We also partnered with the World Farmer’s Organisation (WFO) to co-organize the Farmers’
Solutions to Climate Crisis: Latin American Stories in the Era of COVID-19 Digital Workshop to share strategies for coping with the challenges of COVID-19 and assist farmers to identify best practices for adapting to climate change in the post-pandemic era. On the health front, the TaiwanICDF leveraged information technology to help partner countries track COVID-19 developments. We also organized online networking events that combined project resources with the expertise of domestic partner hospitals to provide allies with assistance based on their COVID-19 situation and epidemic prevention requirements. In education, we integrated virtual and real-time methods to set up online teaching
channels for distance learning courses. The interactive lessons improved the effectiveness of long-distance education and ensured the continuity of learning. For gender issues, the TaiwanICDF organized workshops, scholarships and micro-loans during the pandemic to improve women’s access to education, technology, and funding. These helped bridge gender-related gaps in access to resources. We also attended the Women’s Leadership: Redesigning the Post COVID-19 Era Webinar and other seminars to share our nation’s experience with more development partners. To assist partner countries in maintaining social stability through economic empowerment of women, the TaiwanICDF implemented a number of women-oriented projects such as the Assisting the Economic Empowerment of Women in Latin America and the Caribbean in the Post-Pandemic of COVID-19 Project. In terms of economic development, the TaiwanICDF joined forces with the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) to launch the Emergency Support and Preparedness Program for COVID-19 and Economic Reactivation to prepare for economic recovery in the post-pandemic era.
Serving as a platform and adding value to international aid
The global pandemic and border closures should have limited our international aid activities. But as Nietzsche once said, “What doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.” Taiwan’s exceptional epidemic prevention performance saw the TaiwanICDF draw upon our relative advantages to develop a strategy for public–private–
people partnerships. We used our role as a platform to create a leverage effect that strengthened the connection between Taiwan’s public-private-people partnerships and foreign aid affairs.
In terms of the private sector and the general public, the TaiwanICDF launched its first crowdfunding project in May, the TWilight Project, in collaboration with Impact Hub Taipei and Sun Jen Textile out of concern for the welfare of our allies. The people of Taiwan were asked to donate masks for the teachers and students taking part in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Enhancement Project in Eswatini, which allowed the teachers and students to return to school and weather the pandemic. In October, we furthered collaborations with Just Go Coffee and Impact Hub Taipei to support 8
the sustainable coffee industry, and implemented the Café 3 Volcanes: Where There Is Coffee, There Is Me crowdfunding project. Based on the successes of our Project for the Strengthening of Marketing Capacity in Family Farming in Guatemala, the TaiwanICDF expanded promotion of the three volcanic coffees that Taiwan assisted in developing to support small farmers in Guatemala. Our nation’s international aid projects connected with like-minded people and companies in Taiwan to show our allies that Taiwan is helping.
Regarding greater integration of major domestic research organizations and public sector resources, the TaiwanICDF continued to sign memorandums of understanding with the National Applied Research Laboratories (NARLabs), National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (NCDR) and Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI) to introduce Taiwan’s expertise in technology in design for the Pilot Project for the Implementation of Emergency Management System to Reduce Medical Emergencies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and other international aid projects. The TaiwanICDF and the Ocean Affairs Council also codeveloped a roadmap for global engagement for the first time. We jointly organized side events and exhibitions for the Our Ocean Conference to provide a unified response to international expectations of global ocean issues and maximize the resources of both
parties. In terms of cooperation with the six municipalities in Taiwan, this year the TaiwanICDF strengthened our discussions with local governments on the feasibility of collaborating on international cooperation affairs. In addition to integrating the resources of the public sector and national research institutions to generate synergies for our nation’s international development aid efforts, these initiatives were also used to increase the diversity of our activities and boost the Official Development Assistance (ODA) capabilities of Taiwan.
Extending support to strengthen the momentum of friendly countries
With COVID-19 becoming an obstacle to the fulfillment of SDGs, the effective integration, management and application of science, technology and data is now viewed as a key enabler for sustainability initiatives.
The TaiwanICDF therefore utilized Taiwan’s expertise in innovative technologies and reached out to the international community to jointly invest in scientific, high-tech and innovative solutions. Examples include our partnership with the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) to introduce big data and geographic information analytics technology. The data was also integrated with the Harvard Dataverse to make technical knowledge more accessible to farmers. The TaiwanICDF also signed an agreement with the Sustainable
HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
#HLPF2020
7-16 July 2020-Virtual Event
During the UN High-level Political Forum, the TaiwanICDF held a webinar in collaboration with the Center for Sustainable Development of Columbia University, and also shared Taiwan's experience with the international community through social media.
Strategic Planning and Direction 9
Development and Climate Change Department (SDCC) of Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the first time to co-organize the Earth Observation Knowledge Sharing Webinar. Through the webinar, we shared Taiwan’s experience with satellite and GIS technologies to help ADB member states use technology to strengthen their agricultural development and disaster management.
In addition to effective scientific techniques, expansion of partnerships is another important topic in sustainable development. The TaiwanICDF continued to expand our international reach in humanitarian assistance and partnered with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for the first time on Azure: Mobilization of Technical Services and Capital to Strengthen Community-Based and Municipal-Operated Water and Sanitation Systems in Honduras. The joint project aims to improve remote parts of Honduras that suffer from lack of water and poor sanitation. We also cooperated with the Polish Center for International Aid (PCPM) on the Provision of Assistance to the Most Vulnerable Persons Exposed to Protection- Related Threats as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Economic Crisis in Lebanon. The project helped vulnerable households in Lebanon obtain security and basic medical care.
To a d d re s s t h e i m p a c t o f t h e p a n d e m i c o n disadvantaged women, the TaiwanICDF made active efforts to expand international partnerships on gender issues and launch gender assistance projects together.
Examples include the MSEs Re-lending Project in Paraguay in cooperation with Fundación Paraguaya de Cooperación y Desarrollo, and the Women’s Livelihood Loan Project in Southeast and South Asia with Singapore’s Impact Investment Exchange (IIX).
We connected partners interested in the economic empowerment of women with private sector resources in order to work together and contribute to international women’s issues.
Responding to trends and embarking on new initiatives
COVID-19 forced the United Nations and other key international organizations to either postpone or cancel their conferences, which limited Taiwan’s opportunities for global engagement. The TaiwanICDF turned this crisis into opportunity to overcome the restrictions on physical attendance at conferences. Due to our advocacy of
diverse cooperative issues on gender, COVID-19, oceans, climate finance and social innovation, we either hosted or were invited to participate in more than 20 important international conferences.
This year, the TaiwanICDF co-organized the Conference on Blue Economy, Ocean Tourism, and Sustainable Blue Financing in Fiji with the Ocean Policy Research Institute (OPRI) of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a Japanese think tank, and Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI). We also partnered with the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) at Columbia University in the US to host the Emerging Stronger After COVID-19: Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Webinar during the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF). We used online channels such as YouTube and Facebook to let the international community see and hear about Taiwan's experience.
Through effective use of existing partners and our community, the TaiwanICDF overcame border restrictions during the pandemic and shared Taiwan’s key contributions and best practices at major international platforms. For example, the Climakers initiative launched by WFO compiled the efforts of Taiwan Technical Missions in Latin America on helping farmers cope with climate change and COVID-19 with other case studies from around the world. These were published in Stories from the Field – COVID-19 Special Edition and shared with its many member organizations. Moreover, the TaiwanICDF and the Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) also jointly drafted a best practices report on Taiwan's use of technological innovation and public–private sector partnership strategies that was submitted in writing to the 2020 High- level Segment (HLS) of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The report called on the UN to review and provide successful experiences and model strategies to other countries around the world to emulate.
Despite the pandemic this year, the TaiwanICDF's number of international engagements hit a new high, showing that we were able to turn obstacles into bridges and connect with new like-minded partners by monitoring and adapting to global trends. Thus, we were able to discuss ways to accelerate the promotion of SDGs together and open up new avenues for international engagement during the crisis.
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Progressing with the Taiwan Model after six decades of international development aid
The Taiwan Model of international aid has accumulated more than 60 years of experience through exploration, learning, specialization and international alignment, and has reached every corner of the globe. Our frontline aid workers stayed at their posts even as the world battled to bring the pandemic under control. They continued to leverage the project resources at their disposal to contribute to the sustainable development of the planet.
Looking ahead to 2021, the TaiwanICDF will continue to act as a force for good on the international stage.
Guided by our spirit of resilience and the common value of mutual assistance, we will continue to brave the storm with other like-minded members of the international community and leave no partner behind on the path to sustainable development.
The TaiwanICDF holds a meeting for the TWilight Project crowdfunding plan, sharing the results of development aid with the public.
The TaiwanICDF signs memorandums of cooperation with National Applied Research Laboratories (upper left and upper right), National Science and Technology Center for Disaster Reduction (lower right), and Taiwan Design Research Institute (lower left).
Strategic Planning and Direction 11
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2029 Cooperating Countries and Projects
Taiwan's successful response in combating COVID-19 has been witnessed by the world, and countries have hoped to learn from Taiwan's experience to strengthen their own epidemic prevention capabilities.
This chapter highlights several key points and examples to show how the TaiwanICDF has shared Taiwan's epidemic prevention experience with other nations, and assisted allied and friendly countries in strengthening their food safety, provided them with relief funds, and helped them recover through projects, events, technology, and funding.
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East Asia and Pacific
1 Thailand 2 Cambodia 3 Indonesia 4 Philippines 5 Palau
6 Papua New Guinea 7 Nauru
8 Marshall Islands 9 Tuvalu
10 Fiji 11 India
West Asia and Africa
12 Tunisia 13 Turkey 14 Lebanon 15 Jordan 16 Bahrain 17 Saudi Arabia 18 Somaliland 19 Uganda 20 Eswatini
Latin America and the Caribbean
21 Guatemala 22 Nicaragua 23 Belize 24 Honduras 25 Haiti
26 St. Kitts and Nevis 27 St. Lucia
28 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 29 Ecuador
30 Paraguay
Central Asia and Central/Eastern Europe
31 Bosnia and Herzegovina 32 Serbia
33 Romania 34 Bulgaria 35 Moldova 36 Ukraine 37 Turkmenistan
Agriculture Public Health Education Environment
Information and Communications Technology TaiwanICDF Overseas Volunteers Program Taiwan Youth Overseas Service Other
Key point
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nter national par ticipation is one of the TaiwanICDF's key approaches to promote foreign aid.In recent years, the TaiwanICDF has actively engaged in cooperation and exchanges with major global o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r i n s t i t u t i o n s , including the World Far mers' Organisation (WFO), Food For The Poor (FFTP), and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which is the predecessor of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). We fully utilize international platforms to share successful experiences f r o m o u r d e v e l o p m e n t a i d projects, which gives the world a better understanding of Taiwan.
Furthermore, we also integrate our limited resources for the most effective use when working with global organizations or related institutions in order to expand the benefits of development aid.
Taiwan's successful prevention of COVID-19 spread was witnessed by the world, and countries have hoped to learn from the experience to strengthen their own epidemic p r e v e n t i o n c a p a b i l i t i e s . T h e TaiwanICDF organized numerous webinars and workshops on this topic, and shared our domestic epidemic prevention measures with governments and cooperating units in allied countries.
Aspect 1
Brainstorming with farmers' organizations and international institutions in response to challenges of climate change and the pandemic
Latin America and the Caribbean play a key role in stabilizing global food supply, and agricultural output value accounts for six percent of the region's GDP, with 14 percent of the workforce in agriculture. However, the Agricultural Outlook 2020-2029 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) indicated that COVID-19 not only lowered short-term demand on food, but also threatened global food security. According to a study by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the increasing frequency of extreme weather events and severity of the pandemic will have an even greater negative impact on the international society and economy, which will make it even harder to respond to climate change and water resource related risks.
To help farmers become more resilient to climate change during the pandemic, the TaiwanICDF and WFO jointly organized the Farmers' Solutions to Climate Crisis: Latin American Stories in the era of COVID-19 Digital Workshop, inviting farmers' representatives from six allied countries, namely Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Belize, Paraguay, and Ecuador, to attend the event. The Taiwan Technical Mission in Nicaragua shared the impact, needs, and responses of farmers facing climate change and COVID-19, and invited agricultural
Participating in international society
and exporting Taiwan's epidemic
prevention experience
associations and financial experts and scholars in Central America to jointly explore climate change adaptation measures of farmers in the post-pandemic era.
Aspect 2
Discussing post-pandemic recovery with international experts based on project results and Taiwan's epidemic prevention
The COVID-19 pandemic not only threatened human health, but also greatly impacted the global economy and society. The TaiwanICDF hopes to provide a l l i e d a n d f r i e n d l y c o u n t r i e s with feasible directions for post- pandemic recovery through science, technology, and innovation (STI).
Hence, we convened the Emerging Stronger after COVID-19: Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Webinar during the UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF), and invited experts in public health, agriculture, finance, education, and social security from like-minded countries to jointly discuss cross-domain solutions online.
Aspect 3
Demonstrating new
cooperations with international partners by assisting the private sector in Latin America with epidemic prevention and recovery
Small and medium enterprise ( S M E ) f i n a n c i n g h a s a l w a y s been a key point of cooperation between the TaiwanICDF and
Central America. Facing the severe impact of COVID-19 in Central America, SMEs urgently need support to pull through the crisis.
The TaiwanICDF thus immediately participated in the Emergency Support and Preparedness Program f o r C O V I D - 1 9 a n d E c o n o m i c Reactivation, launched by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). In helping SMEs gradually regain stability, we aim to mitigate the impact on the labor market.
T h i s p r o g r a m s h o w s a new par tnership between the TaiwanICDF, CABEI, and DFC.
I n m i d - S e p t e m b e r t h i s y e a r, TaiwanICDF Secretary General Timothy T. Y. Hsiang was invited by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to participate in the Economic Growth during COVID-19: Innovative Solutions for Central America Webinar, during which he introduced contents of the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) relief program implemented in cooperation with CABEI. He also discussed the post-pandemic r e c o v e r y a c t i o n s o f C e n t r a l American countries with DFC Chief Development Officer Andrew M.
Herscowitz and CABEI Executive President Dante Mossi, contributing Taiwan's experience and efforts in epidemic prevention.
Aspect 4
Sharing the results and experience from successful epidemic prevention; Assisting allied countries by reviewing infection control policies
Since the start of the COVID-19 p a n d e m i c , t h e Ta i w a n I C D F
has shared Taiwan's epidemic prevention results and assisted allied countries with epidemic p r e v e n t i o n t h r o u g h d i f f e r e n t methods. For example, during the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), we co-organized the Contact Tracing Technology Applications in Tackling COVID-19 Webinar with the Swiss-based INGO Terre des hommes (Tdh). Besides sharing with international society Taiwan's practices in effectively controlling the pandemic through ICT, we also exchanged experiences with speakers from the United States, Paraguay, Malawi, India, and Taiwan. Participants learned about the contact tracing technology and platforms developed by different countries and their results, as well as finding a balance between data collection and privacy.
The outcomes of our public health and medicine projects have gained the recognition of allied and partner countries. Project managers stationed in different regions coordinated with cooperating healthcare facilities in Taiwan to provide professional epidemic prevention opinions to our partners.
For example, we coordinated with Taipei Veterans General Hospital, the hospital cooperating in the Capacity Building Project for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Kidney Disease in Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Public Health Professor Hung-Yi Chiou, a TaiwanICDF Consultative Committee member.
Together, we reviewed the infection control documents of hospitals under the Ministry of Health of Saint Christopher and Nevis, as well as the national epidemic prevention policy, helping the country to fight the pandemic more
Operations 15
effectively. Additionally, the Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project in Paraguay (Phase II), jointly implemented by the TaiwanICDF and Cathay General Hospital, added English and Spanish subtitles to COVID-19
prevention videos produced by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control.
In doing so, we aimed to enable medical personnel in other countries to understand the contents, and help partner countries fight the pandemic.
Guests of the WFO webinar: First row - José Miguel Duro Tamasiunas, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of Guatemala (left); Jaime Chin- Mu Wu, Taiwan's Ambassador to Nicaragua; Edward Centeno Gadea, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Nicaragua (middle); and Moisés Santiago Bertoni, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay (right). Second row - Rubén Espinoza, Vice Minister of the Secretariat for Agriculture and Livestock of Honduras (left); Timothy T. Y. Hsiang, Secretary General of the TaiwanICDF (middle); and Theo De Jager, President of the WFO (right).
Third row - Alex L. J. Shyy, Deputy Secretary General of the TaiwanICDF (left); Martien van Nieuwkoop, Global Director for the Agriculture and Food Global Practice in the World Bank's Sustainable Development Practice Group (middle); and Arianna Giuliodori (moderator), Secretary General of the WFO (right).
16
In many countries, numerous ICT companies, social enterprises, and NGOs started working together with the government during the pandemic. Besides actively sharing epidemic prevention information, they used smartphones to track p e o p l e u n d e r h o m e i s o l a t i o n and quarantine, as well as to communicate with and contact patients. This shows that contact tracing technology applications are of utmost importance to epidemic prevention.
D u r i n g t h e 7 3 r d W H A , t h e TaiwanICDF co-organized the C o n t a c t Tr a c i n g Te c h n o l o g y Applications in Tackling COVID-19 Webinar with the Swiss-based INGO Terre des hommes (Tdh). The purpose of the webinar was to share with international society Taiwan's practices in effectively controlling the pandemic through ICT when COVID-19 began to spread. We also exchanged experiences with speakers from the United States, Paraguay, Malawi, India, and Taiwan.
Using ICT to successfully control COVID-19
Shih-Chung Chen, Minister of Health and Welfare, gave the opening remarks during the webinar and shared Taiwan's experience and lessons from the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, as well as the proactive preparations made for COVID-19, w h i c h i n t e g r a t e d b i g d a t a applications in a way that protected privacy in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Director General I-Ming Parng of the Department of Information Management, Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) shared Taiwan's epidemic prevention
strategy in using technology to link the National Health Insurance database to travel history and the eMask system.
Experts that attended the event shared their own experiences with COVID-19. Mohini Bhavsar, Senior Partnerships Director from US social enterprise Dimagi Inc., detailed how CommCare was used against Ebola and COVID-19. Yuan-An Wu, Project Manager of the TaiwanICDF's Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project in Paraguay (Phase II), shared how the patient care tracing function was developed by the project under the health information system (HIS) structure and helped Paraguay with epidemic prevention. Joseph Wu, Technical Consultant of Luke I n t e r n a t i o n a l , d i s c u s s e d h o w Malawi's Digital Health Division leveraged technology in the fight against COVID-19. Rahul Matthan, partner of the India-based law firm Trilegal, introduced privacy protection features of India's contact tracing tool Arogya Setu. After each speaker shared their experience, Secretary General Timothy T. Y.
Hsiang gave closing remarks, calling on international partners to pay attention to the context of local culture, social and economic development, and information security issues while pursuing the convenience brought by technology applications, in order to find a balance while effectively fighting against COVID-19.
The webinar not only allowed attendees to understand Taiwan's successful experience using ICT to effectively control COVID-19, but also introduced them to the contact tracing technology and platforms developed by different countries
and their respective results through exchanges among speakers from different countries. Participants also reflected on the crucial issue of how to find a balance between data collection and privacy.
Contact Tracing Technology Applications in Tackling COVID-19 Webinar
Example 1
A total of 110 individuals in Taiwan and overseas attended the online event.
COVID-19 Prevention Data Operations 17
A total of 421 people from 56 countries registered, up to 200 people viewed the webinar live online, and it was viewed over 4,000 times.
COVID-19 Prevention Data
Emerging Stronger after
COVID-19: Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Webinar
Example 2
The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted vulnerable groups around the world, and widened the inequality within and between countries. The TaiwanICDF co- organized the Emerging Stronger a f t e r C O V I D - 1 9 : S c i e n c e , Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development Webinar with the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York and Center for Sustainable Development of Columbia University. The webinar aimed to strengthen the epidemic prevention capabilities of allied and friendly countries, and also review the progress in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The webinar was a side event of the UN HLPF, and a total of nine international representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Sanitation and Hygiene Fund (SHF) under the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE), Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), and government officials from allied countries were invited.
The attendees shared and exchange views on technology, agriculture, healthcare, hygiene, education, and economy for three different phases:
when the pandemic first began, during lockdown, and in the post- pandemic era.
Excellent epidemic prevention results achieved through rapid response and real-time monitoring
In terms of complete integration, D e p u t y D i r e c t o r- G e n e r a l Y i - Chun Lo of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control introduced Taiwan's successes during early stages of the pandemic through rapid response and real-time m o n i t o r i n g , a n d e m p h a s i z e d the benefit of integrating the National Health Insurance, mask distribution, and entry quarantine and inspection systems. Guillermo Sequera, Director General of the Health Surveillance Department of Paraguay's Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare, shared how landlocked countries like Paraguay tightened border controls and carried out epidemic prevention work despite people frequently crossing the border.
A s f o r re s p o n s e m e a s u re s during the outbreak, Amit Chandra, Senior Emerging Health Challenges Advisor at USAID, shared how Asia utilized digital technology and created a digital ecosystem, and duplicated the experience from infectious diseases such as SARS, Ebola, and Zika virus to help countries strengthen their prevention capabilities. Patrick England, an expert from the SHF, detailed how they developed an app to help the people of Nepal quickly access
clean water resources, making it more convenient to wash their hands and prevent the spread of COVID-19. ASPBAE and CAMPE experts Cecilia Soriano and Enamul Hoque discussed flexibility in using TV, radio, and mobile phones as channels for providing basic education while schools were closed in Bangladesh.
A total of 421 people from 56 countries registered, up to 200 people viewed the webinar live online, and it was viewed over 4,000 times, successfully putting forward Taiwan's epidemic prevention experience. Like-minded countries were invited to share their solutions for the pandemic, which effectively increased Taiwan's global visibility while helping the world fight against COVID-19, letting the world see that
"Taiwan is helping."
Amit Chandra
Senior Emerging Health Challenges Advisor at USAID
I am honored to be able to take part in the discussion. This experience is a precious learning opportunity for me, and I would like to thank the TaiwanICDF again for giving me this opportunity to participate.
Partners & Beneficiaries
18
The WFO and the TaiwanICDF signed an MOU on May 20, 2019. The two parties will enhance cooperation in guidance for farmers' organizations, climate-smart agriculture, and international initiatives.
We co-organized the Caribbean Regional Workshop with the WFO in St. Kitts and Nevis between August 14 and 16. The WFO summarized the opinions and conclusions of farmers, and published them during a side event of the 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We were invited to send personnel to attend the international side event and serve as a speaker, showing the visibility of our development aid.
Showing concrete benefits of the Taiwan Model in development aid projects to continue building the image that "Taiwan Can Help"
To continue building the image that "Taiwan Can Help" in the field of climate change, the TaiwanICDF and WFO organized the Farmers' Solutions to Climate Crisis: Latin American Stories in the Era of COVID-19 Digital Workshop in Guatemala on September 30, 2020. Attendees came from 15 countries, including eight farmers' organizations (from six partner countries in Latin America), four international organizations (CABEI, International Regional
Organisation for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA), World Bank, and Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)), and companies in the private sector.
Attendees shared adaptation measures and challenges of each country in facing climate change and COVID-19. Farmers that received guidance from the Taiwan Technical Missions described the results of assistance from our agricultural technology. The Taiwan Technical M i s s i o n i n N i c a r a g u a s h a re d project results under the title "Smart Technology-assisted Agricultural Development," and received positive responses from representatives of global organizations in attendance, helping international society better understand the concrete benefits of using the Taiwan Model in development aid projects.
The workshop attracted the attention of allied countries in Latin America. Edward Centeno Gadea, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Nicaragua, and Rúben Espinoza, Vice Minister of the Secretariat for Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) of Honduras, personally attended and gave a speech. Moisés Santiago Bertoni, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Paraguay, and José Miguel Duro, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Food of Guatemala, recorded a video to wish success for the event. Furthermore, the Ministr y of Agriculture of
Belize sent Chief Agriculture Officer Andrew Harrison to attend.
All of these attendees show the recognition toward cooperation with Taiwan in agricultural technology.
The digital workshop facilitated i n t e r a c t i o n s a n d e x c h a n g e s between farmers, governments, and regional farmers' organizations. We streamed the event live in English and Spanish on Facebook and YouTube, so that people concerned about the issue would have the opportunity to participate. The live stream was viewed by over 2,400 people, and was shared on the social media of international organizations and Taiwan's overseas missions, expanding the promotion of our development aid results.
Results of the workshop will be published by WFO during a side event of the UNFCCC COP 26. Besides reporting results of the workshop, our contributions to allied countries with regard to climate change and COVID-19 responses will be shared in an important international event.
Farmers' Solutions to Climate Crisis:
Latin American Stories in the Era of COVID-19 Digital Workshop
Example 3
Theo De Jager
WFO President
The TaiwanICDF has accumulated an abundance of practical experience in climate-smart agriculture and guidance for farmers' organizations, which farmers around the world should learn from. The WFO will continue to speak out for farmers, and will gather resources of other NGOs to provide farmers with necessary assistance.
Partners & Beneficiaries
A tt e n d e e s c a m e f r o m 15 countries and included farmers' organizations from 8 countries, 4 international organizations, and companies from the private sector. The live stream was viewed by over 2,400 people.
COVID-19 Prevention Data Operations 19
S
o m e a l l i e d a n d f r i e n d l y countries have limited epidemic prevention capabilities due to relatively insufficient infrastructure and public health and medicine r e s o u r c e s . T h e Ta i w a n I C D F m o b i l i z e s t e c h n i c a l m i s s i o n s and project resources to help partner countries strengthen their epidemic prevention capabilities and safeguard the health of their citizens. We are also providing humanitarian assistance to countries severely impacted by the pandemic in collaboration with international non-governmental organizations (INGOs).Aspect 1
Sourcing materials locally to assist in mask production, and actively increasing people's knowledge for self-protection
The TaiwanICDF and National
Taiwan University Hospital jointly i m p l e m e n t e d t h e P r o j e c t f o r Promotion of Medical Technology for Improvement of Mater nal- Neonatal Health in Guatemala. The two cooperating hospitals both had confirmed cases and a shortage of epidemic prevention supplies during the pandemic, which left health workers exposed to high risk of infection. The project sourced local materials and project manager C h u - C h u n C h e n g , a l o n g w i t h Taiwan Youth Overseas Servicemen (alternative military servicemen) Teng-Chieh Ko and Hsiang-Han Hsu, assisted in making 200 face shields for frontline health workers.
The Maternal and Infant Health C a re I m p ro v e m e n t P ro j e c t i n the Kingdom of Eswatini (Phase II), jointly implemented by the TaiwanICDF with Chia-Yi Christian Hospital and Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, provided liquid soap to five cooperating hospitals in Eswatini
Strengthening the epidemic
prevention capabilities of allied and friendly countries
Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project in Paraguay (Phase II) – Teleconsultation.
Key point
2
and taught proper handwashing techniques. These actions increased the ability of health workers to protect themselves and lowered the risk of infection for pregnant women and children during hospital check- ups or childbirths.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people's willingness to go to health facilities, so we added a patient care function in the HIS under the Health Information Management Efficiency Enhancement Project in Paraguay (Phase II), which was jointly implemented with Cathay General Hospital. The function allows health facilities in Paraguay to provide outpatient services remotely, which not only lowers the risk of healthcare-associated infections, but also allows patients that need to regularly refill their prescription, e.g., due to chronic disease, to normally obtain medications and meet their medical needs.
B e s i d e s s t re n g t h e n i n g t h e response ability of frontline health workers through public health and medicine related projects, volunteers o f t h e Ta i w a n I C D F O v e r s e a s Volunteers Program are also actively promoting epidemic prevention knowledge to the public. For example, Ya-Chen Lin, public health volunteer
in St. Kitts and Nevis, taught chronic disease patients how and when to wear masks while they sought medical advice at the clinic. While masks were still in severe shortage, Lin coordinated with the Taiwan Technical Mission to collect old clothes to make masks and donate them to local vulnerable groups and street vendors. She also held a workshop on fabric mask making at the Department of Agriculture of St.
Kitts and Nevis. Nutrition volunteer Zi- Xuan Lin, stationed in Palau, not only taught students how to wash their hands, but also prepared diet-related health education materials, helping locals improve their immunity through a healthy diet.
V u l n e r a b l e , l o w i n c o m e countries and countries currently in a humanitarian crisis are at even greater risk due to COVID-19.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) thus proposed the Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 in March 2020, and called on international society to invest resources in response to the pandemic, in order to ensure that other humanitarian assistance actions can still be successfully carried out.
Aspect 2
Humanitarian assistance for vulnerable groups in Lebanon;
Improving infection prevention and control abilities in the Middle East
The TaiwanICDF showed the spirit of humanitarian assistance b y j o i n t l y i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e Provision of Assistance to the Most Vulnerable Persons Exposed to Protection-Related Threats as a Result of COVID-19 Pandemic and the Economic Crisis in Lebanon together with the Polish Center for International Aid. We aimed to help Syrian refugees, local households, and other vulnerable groups in Lebanon respond to the COVID-19 and economic crisis, as well as the damage caused by the massive Beirut explosion in August 2020. The project ensures the right to adequate housing of Syrian and Lebanese vulnerable households through cash for rent, distributing emergency cash assistance to vulnerable h o u s e h o l d s , a n d p r o v i d i n g supplies for infection prevention and control (IPC). In addition, it assists with the improvement of standard operating procedures of primary healthcare (PHC) facilities
The Provision of Assistance to the Most Vulnerable Persons Exposed to Protection-Related Threats as a Result of COVID-19 Pandemic and the Economic Crisis in Lebanon provides PPE to primary healthcare facilities to protect the safety of patients and health workers.
Operations 21
