Coronavirus: Nigeria, UN launch operation ''Basket Fund''

SGF Boss Mustapha

Secretary to the Govt of the Federation, Boss Mustapha

Secretary to the Govt of the Federation, Boss Mustapha
Secretary to the Govt of the Federation, Boss Mustapha: Nigeria launches Basket Fund with UN

The Nigerian government and the United Nations (UN) have launched a Coronavirus (COVID-19) Basket Fund to harmonise investments for the National Pandemic Response Plan.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, at the launching, said that contributing to end the spread of the virus in Nigeria requires a cooperative approach across all sectors.

He said: “Both parties agreed to adopt the Four Ones, guiding principles of engagement for national authorities and partners to respond to the pandemic, one agreed National COVID-19 Multi-Sectoral Pandemic Response Plan; One COVID-19 National Coordinating Authority with a broad-based multi-sector mandate; One COVID-19 Monitoring and Evaluation System for tracking and reporting progress; and One COVID-19 Financing and Investment Platform,”.

Mustapha added that the Basket Fund would also fund socioeconomic measures, such as cash transfers or food distribution to vulnerable groups.

Mr. Edward Kallon, UN, Resident Coordinator and Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Nigeria, said that the COVID-19 Basket Fund would be facilitated and implemented by the UN system in Nigeria, through a Project Management Board comprising representatives of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 Response, relevant Government agencies, contributing donors and the UN system.

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“We applaud the Nigerian government at all levels for its efforts and measures to urgently mobilise resources to address the impact of COVID-19.

“But the Government cannot do it alone. For the country to succeed in fighting back the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, we must all come together across all sectors to support the government at this time of great need,”he said.

He added that the UN system was supporting the Government of Nigeria through the Basket Fund and urging others to invest in the 10 pillars of the national response plan.

He noted that those who were called upon by the government and donors, the Basket Fund would also fund socioeconomic measures, such as cash transfers or food distribution to vulnerable groups adversely affected by measures instituted to control further spread of the pandemic.

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