1.6 United Nations COVID-19 support UNDP Kenya was the technical lead in the development of a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) in April 2020, which identified the vulnerabilities and impact on Kenya of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SEIA warned of the impact of COVID-19 for the country, and outlined a range of economic and social impacts including the ability of the country to respond to the pandemic health impacts and pressures, as well as the economic pressures such as declining tourism and trade, unemployment and income, currency pressure, government revenue reduction and public spending increases.23 At the time of the evaluation (September 2021) Kenya was going through its third lockdown. Schools were open, but with strict regulations for observing COVID-19 protection guidelines. SEIA was a key input into the broader Socio-Economic Response Plan (SERP) developed by the United Nations country team in August 2020, led by the Resident Coordinator’s office. Under the SERP, five pillars were identified to support Kenya’s response, with UNDP taking the lead on Pillar 4 ‘Macroeconomic Response and Multilateral Collaboration’, to provide the Government with technical and analytical support for socioeconomic recovery, and Pillar 5 ‘Social Cohesion and Community Resilience’, to support climate-smart agriculture, working with communities, youth and vulnerable groups to respond to the pandemic. The Kenya SERP has a budget of $155 million, with Pillar 4 accounting for $2 million and Pillar 5 $7.5 million.24 The country office received $450,000 from a UNDP rapid financing facility to support youth during the pandemic as well as $2,206,286 from the Government of Japan to support an inclusive and multisectoral response to COVID-19.
23
24
UNDP (2020) Policy Brief 4: Articulating the pathways of the Socio-Economic Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic on the Kenyan Economy. United Nations (2020) COVID-19 Kenya SERP.
CHAPTER 1. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUC TION
11
