Programming in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Stories of Hope and Ingenuity

The speed and scale with which COVID-19 spread across the globe when it was first reported in late 2019 were unprecedented. Almost every part of the globe was impacted by this global crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation of those already vulnerable,such as women, girls, marginalized groups, and refugees, with increased risk of unwanted pregnancy, maternal mortality, gender-based violence, and harmful practices.

Throughout the pandemic, regional and country offices endeavored to design and implement creative programme solutions, including using information and communications technologies, and partnering with community-based networks and volunteers to continue delivering the organization’s mandate.

This publication features sixteen innovative solutions for addressing new and existing challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The solutions supported under-resourced communities and reached the most left-behind populations, including women, adolescents, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, refugees, and migrants. It is expected that what we have learned from the handling of COVID-19 that can help us prepare for future pandemics and other shocks.