EU provides €6 million to support Indonesia’s COVID-19 response

The European Union (EU) has allocated EUR 6 million or IDR 108.5 billion in initial support for Indonesia’s response to COVID-19. The fund will support European and Indonesian NGOs working in partnership to address the health and socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Indonesia. Funding is made available through a call for proposals for prequalified NGOs.

The EU projects will fund public health and hygiene measures, psycho-social counselling for vulnerable groups, distribution of health kits (masks, thermometers, disinfectants) to vulnerable communities and assistance to community health workers.

This EU funding is the first in a series of support for Indonesia in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Other EU assistance includes financing World Bank to provide economic advice to the Indonesian Ministry of Finance to optimise the management of the economic and social support package announced by the Government. In addition, the EU is working on deploying resources to support hospitals for the immediate term. The EU aims to also assist in strengthening the health sector and pandemic preparedness for the longer term.