UNFPA teams around the world are working tirelessly to support the rights and choices of all women, girls, and young people during the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis we face today. Doing things differently to solve challenges through innovation is needed now more than ever. Read about some examples where teams are establishing new data systems for real-time analyses on COVID-19, creating and scaling new digital opportunities to reach women and girls, and working with young people to communicate comprehensive health information to combat COVID-19.
DATA
Launch of the COVID-19 Population Vulnerability Dashboard
The interactive COVID-19 Population Vulnerability Dashboard has been launched as part of UNFPA’s forthcoming Population Data Platform. The dashboard provides UNFPA Country Offices, policymakers, and the general public with access to useful information on COVID-19 vulnerabilities to support efforts in COVID-19 preparedness and response. Data shown in the dashboard includes age, sex, isolation, residential density, and access to water, using IPUMS census samples for 94 countries, and WorldPop 2020 projections on age, sex, and population density for over 200 countries.
The dashboard demonstrates that national and sub-national disparities in vulnerability can be striking, whether in relative or absolute numbers of older persons, population density, or the number of persons living without piped water. How these differences will ultimately affect overall transmission and health risks from COVID-19 will be shaped by critical factors not included in the dashboard, such as the scale and timing of government lockdowns, but comparisons can help to anticipate potential risks.
For example, while Iran and Pakistan both host large populations of older persons (~5 million and 10 million persons aged 65 or older, respectively), population density in Pakistan is almost 6 times that of Iran, with twice as many persons per household. Furthermore, while more than 90% of Iranian households have access to the piped water necessary for preventive handwashing, only 33% do in Pakistan. Pakistan’s combination of vulnerabilities, along with less health sector readiness, could mean major challenges if facing the scale of COVID-19 cases seen by Iran in late March and April.
DATA
2020 Census Round at Risk of Falling Behind
The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the successful conduct of censuses in many countries through delays, interruptions, or complete cancellation of census projects, yet more than ever we need reliable population data to guide national-level decision-making and accountability to ensure no one is left behind. Given this context, UNFPA is supporting National Statistical Offices around the world to address the implications of the COVID-19 outbreak on the preparations and implementation of the 2020 census round, which is expected to be conducted in 150 countries in 2020 and 2021.
To actively monitor and track countries' plans for their census preparations, UNFPA has created a dashboard that allows visualizations of the implications of COVID-19 on the censuses. The dashboard can display information in both map and tabular formats, and will be updated on a regular basis when news and changes are shared by national staff. To date, 26 countries have already postponed their census, 28 countries are considering delays or postponements, 21 countries are monitoring the situation, and 15 countries are facing disruptions in performing their census. Check out the global census dashboard, and a “how to” video, at: https://unf.pa/covidimpactcensus.
DATA
UNFPA Moldova
New online dashboard enables real-time monitoring of COVID-19 cases in Republic of Moldova
An online platform providing real-time data on cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Republic of Moldova was launched in March 2020. The platform will monitor several indicators, including the number of confirmed and suspicious COVID-19 cases, the number of deaths, and the number of people who have recovered. The data are disaggregated by age, sex, geographical location, time of registration of the case (day/month), including confirmed cases among pregnant women, which allows a detailed understanding of the situation.
"The availability of quality statistical data on the affected population, including people from vulnerable groups and pregnant women, is essential in emergencies. This platform will not only provide real-time data to inform the general population, but will also provide the evidence needed for developing effective response measures," said Nigina Abaszada, UNFPA Representative in Moldova.
The dashboard is based on an ArGIS COVID-19 global platform, a joint product of the Johns Hopkins Institute and Esri company, currently being used in many countries around the world to monitor the coronavirus pandemic. It was adapted for Moldova, at the request of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Protection with extensive support of UNFPA, in collaboration with WHO and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova.
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV)
UNFPA Pakistan
Connecting women with safety in Pakistan at a time of COVID-19 and beyond
In Pakistan, on average, every one in four women experiences emotional, physical, or sexual violence. This accounts for approximately eight million women grappling with various forms of violence every year. The risk of violence has further increased due to restrictions on mobility outdoors during quarantines and lockdowns, as well as the rise of economic and social pressures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Protection and response services are also under pressure.
Government authorities in the Punjab province, in partnership with UNFPA Pakistan, have been investing in mobile technology to help respond to the above concerns. This collaboration has recently helped upgrade the Women Safety smart app which was introduced two years ago by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) as an innovative solution to the challenges of mobility and violence facing women and girls.
The Women Safety app is equipped with essential features to help women in emergency situations to seek help and receive an immediate response. Women using the app can alert the police on the emergency helpline 15 or send an auto text via WhatsApp to the PSCA. As soon as the message, with the location coordinates, is received, designated teams are mobilized for an immediate response, heading to the caller’s precise location. UNFPA is now working with PSCA to upgrade the app further and improve the quality of responses by training their staff on psychosocial support for survivors of violence and by supporting better outreach by promoting the app widely, to ensure it reaches those who need it. This will better allow real-time reporting of gender-based violence cases and ensure timely referral to relevant services.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS (SRHR)
Testing Innovations to Break through Maternal Health Bottlenecks during COVID19 and beyond
Although there has been important progress in maternal health over the last decades, approximately 810 women still die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. Complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death for adolescent girls (15-19 years old) globally. The rate of change is not fast enough, and with COVID19 upending many existing programmes, innovative partnerships and solutions are needed more than ever.
UNFPA Innovation launched its 2020 Call for Bold Innovations to End Preventable Maternal Deaths, in partnership with the WFP Innovation Accelerator, and will support 9 country teams to unlock new solutions that empower women to overcome financial barriers to care, improve the skills of the health workforce, and improve access to life-saving information and remote services in real time. Projects are leveraging different approaches - from virtual reality, behavioral insights, digital health, to gamification - to end preventable maternal deaths during and beyond COVID-19.
For example, in Uganda, where everyday 12 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, the team is experimenting with a mobile savings and financing model that supports women and their families to save money for transport and other costs during pregnancy.
Check out the teams' takeaways about the design sprint experience so far.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS (SRHR)
Safe Delivery App
Protecting healthcare professionals, women, and newborns from COVID-19
In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, UNFPA has joined a coalition with the Maternity Foundation, University of Copenhagen, Laerdal Global Health, and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) to develop and disseminate an immediate and digital response for healthcare personnel–particularly midwives–to protect themselves, women, and newborns from COVID-19. These health care workers can access key information, animated videos, and checklists as well as guided training to support them to limit the spread of COVID-19 in health facilities. This includes information on infection prevention, breastfeeding, and vertical transmission.
These tools will be launched through the Safe Delivery App, an existing free mobile application which provides visual, clinical and practical guidance for midwives on how to handle the most common childbirth complications, straight from their phones or tablets. The app is used by midwives and other skilled health personnel providing care during childbirth in over 40 countries worldwide and can be accessed here.
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS (SRHR)
UNFPA Philippines
Capturing sentiments on COVID-19 and the potential impact on family planning through the Big Data Family Planning Inequalities Analysis
UNFPA Philippines and the Philippines Department of Health developed the “Big Data Family Planning Inequalities Analysis,” a data platform prototype that captures social media conversations about family planning in the Philippines, and converts them into insights on people's awareness and perceptions about family planning to help shape programmes. More recently, in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the big data platform is being expanded to capture sentiment about COVID-19 and the potential impact on people’ perceptions and concerns about family planning, especially in geographically-isolated areas. The data platform is intended to complement existing population-based data collection efforts that are only routinely collected every few years.
YOUTH
UNFPA North Macedonia
UNFPA pioneers digital solutions to sexuality education as classes move online amid COVID-19 pandemic
Digital tools for every type of education, including sexuality education, have become particularly crucial for all young people amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, especially as many schools have closed as a public health measure and switched to online learning. Even when sexuality education is available, it is seldom tailored to the needs of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
To fill this gap, UNFPA North Macedonia has been iterating on a digital tool framed for adolescents with ASD to receive accurate information about their own sexual development and the changes that occur during puberty. The new digital platform being developed by UNFPA will enable adolescents with ASD to access accurate, age-appropriate sexuality education information at their own pace, in a safe environment. Digital tools for every type of education, including sexuality education, have become particularly crucial for all young people since COVID-19 began spreading around the world in January. All schools and universities in North Macedonia switched to online learning in March in order to keep students’ education on track while classrooms remain closed as a public-health measure.
YOUTH
UNFPA Benin
Enabling young people to combat Covid-19 through the Asuka Campaign
To fight COVID-19, the Taskforce INNOV COVID-19 (a joint initiative of UNFPA Benin and Sèmè City Development Agency) is implementing a communications campaign which amplifies the messages and actions taken by the government of Benin. The initiative focuses on young people aged 18-30 participating in the Asuka Campaign, which seeks to "Block", "Inform", "Protect" and "Help."
The Asuka Campaign empowers young people to become ambassadors that support efforts to block the spread of the virus, inform communities with verified information, protect themselves and others, and help those who are in difficulty. The campaign uses an allegory of a league of superheroes, so that each young person is inspired to take a role in slowing the spread of this virus. A video teaser for the campaign can be viewed here.
In addition to the above communications campaign, UNFPA, UNICEF, Sèmè City Development Agency, Epitech, the Association of Bloggers from Benin, the MTN Foundation, and PWC joined forces to launch the “Hack COVID-19 Benin Challenge” to allow young people to contribute to COVID-19 efforts. The challenge focuses on five themes: education, sensitization, community health, local production and solidarity, and economy. The deadline for proposal submissions was 24 April. The selected solutions will receive technical and financial support for deployment across Benin.
YOUTH
UNFPA Zambia and UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office
Empowering Zambia’s youth with information on COVID-19 via TuneMe app to help curb infections
Young people in Zambia are now able to access youth-friendly information on COVID-19 through the TuneMe Platform, a mobile application aimed at empowering youth to make choices about their bodies, rights, love life and health. In addition to giving factual and age-appropriate information to young people, the platform addresses various myths and misconceptions around COVID-19 that are primarily disseminated through social media.
The dissemination of COVID-19 information has been facilitated by UNFPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, as part of the joint UN system. Updating the TuneMe mobisite with youth-friendly COVID-19 messages is especially crucial, given that young people are the main users of social media and at higher risk of exposure to myths and misinformation spread primarily through social media. As the pandemic evolves, UNFPA Zambia continues to explore innovative platforms where adolescents and youth can share their concerns and access accurate information, along with critical information about their sexual and reproductive health and rights, and other important life skills, such as how to cope with mental health stressors and build a positive attitude.
The TuneMe mobisite was launched in Zambia in October 2015 as an mHealth platform to support young people in accessing relevant information on sexual and reproductive health and linkages to services. The platform is managed by the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Child Development in partnership with the Ministry of Health, with support from UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), Ford Foundation, and Praekelt Foundation.
YOUTH
UNFPA Mozambique
Leaving No One Behind: ITC solutions to educate youth, the disabled, and rural populations in local languages to reduce the spread of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and imposed new realities and challenges on us all, particularly on adolescents and youth. Simultaneously, this pandemic has triggered an unprecedented demand for digital health technology solutions and other innovative approaches to share timely, localized, context-specific information in the absence of regular services such as schools and youth-friendly health facilities. Young people, deeply concerned about this reality, have turned into highly effective partners in the COVID-19 efforts, actively expressing their views, proposing cutting-edge solutions, and influencing policy-making.
In Mozambique, UNFPA is working together with youth and embracing innovation, to support the government to contain the COVID-19 outbreak with interventions such as community dialogues, youth radio dialogues, and social media campaigns. Mobile technologies and social media are proving to be vital in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak for a number of reasons, including information sharing to advise and inform the public about prevention, treatment, and follow-up measures. Mozambican youth, supported by UNFPA, are capitalizing on these tools to ensure everyone has timely access to reliable information right at their fingertips.
Dika, a UNFPA-supported Android App, is a great example of this strong movement. Dika was first launched in June 2019 by the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, with the main goal to serve as a platform where Mozambican youth could access youth-friendly services and essential information related to their sexual and reproductive rights. In mid-March, Dika opened a new category in their App, where youth can access reliable and easy-to-read information on COVID-19 characteristics, prevention, treatment, follow up, myths, and more.
UNFPA Mozambique is also supporting Viamo, a social enterprise operating in the field of telecommunications, to operate the 3-2-1 Service, a toll-free, automated information hotline that communicates information through audio using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) technology, which allows anyone, regardless of literacy level, to access the information. Messages have been translated to eight languages including Portuguêse, Makua, Changana, Sena, Ndau, Chope, Makonde, and Chuabo and have the potential to reach more than 10 million people. The messages include details about the coronavirus but also inform youth about their key role in preventing its spread.
YOUTH
UNFPA Guatemala
Engaging young indigenous leaders in rural and remote areas to reach those left behind through #YouthAgainstCOVID19
UNFPA and Prezi’s #YouthAgainstCOVID19 video campaign have produced over 100 videos in over 20 languages on COVID-19’s impact on sexual and reproductive health, and how to keep themselves and others safe. UNFPA Guatemala has adapted the campaign to engage young indigenous leaders in rural and remote areas with limited internet access.
UNFPA Guatemala has partnered with youth leaders from around the country to disseminate accurate information about COVID-19 by sharing their personal experiences in their communities. Particular emphasis is given on inequalities faced in accessing the internet and the challenges that indigenous, poor, and rural young people face.
Despite limited access to internet and information technology, members of the UNFPA Youth Accompaniment Group (GAJ) continue to take action. They are recording videos under the #YouthAgainstCOVID19 campaign, adapting the scripts, and customizing one-minute video capsules by using their personal cell phones. Inspired by the contents of the Campaign, the young leaders are advising adolescents and youth throughout their communities. The UNFPA Guatemala Communications team has supported the young leaders by providing internet and editing the videos attached to the global campaign.
Is your UNFPA TEAM responding to the COVID-19 through innovation? Let us know at innovation@unfpa.org, and we may feature your innovative approach in a subsequent newsletter or communication.