Overview

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),  the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Food Programme (WFP), the  Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),  the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Health Organisation (WHO),the  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the  United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the  International Labour Organisation (ILO), have established a Joint Programme entitled “UN Programme on Ebola Virus Disease Preparedness in Ghana”, using a pass-through funding modality.

This project aims to support the United Nations Country Team in Ghana to accelerate and strengthen government preparedness for early detection and containment of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and prevent further spreading of the disease. The United Nations Country Team in Ghana will be providing support to the country to fill critical gaps in the Government of Ghana National EVD Preparedness and Response Plan and dedicated/re-programmed its available resources to that effect. The project is implemented through a "Deliver as One" approach and builds on the efforts of the various UN agencies, in line with their respective comparative advantages in the preparedness process and eventual response. Ghana’s Emergency Inter-Ministerial Committee, led by the Minister of Health, will provide executive oversight – the steering committee for the implementation of the UN EVD Programme. The Committee includes the UN Resident Coordinator and the Country Representatives of UNICEF and WHO, the agencies that are leading the UN EVD clusters.

Assistance Strategy

The strategies to be deployed under the UN programme include the provision of strategic, facilitation and technical support to Ministries, Departments, Agencies and stakeholders, advocacy at various leadership levels for commitment and resource allocation, and coordination of efforts of relevant players.

These strategies are articulated under five thematic areas which are in accordance with the National EVD response plan, namely:

• Surveillance, Situation Monitoring and Assessment
• Risk Communication and Social Mobilization
• Case Management, Infection Prevention and Control
• Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Coordination
• Logistics and Security

The UN has therefore, established internal coordination mechanisms with the aim of harnessing the strengths of the various agencies in their respective areas of expertise, creating synergies amongst the proposed activities by the UN agencies thus, preventing gaps or overlaps that may arise in the UN response to Ebola. Two inter-agency clusters operate under the auspices of these coordination mechanisms. The first cluster, led by WHO, focuses on Surveillance, Case Management, Coordination and Logistics. The second cluster, led by UNICEF, is assembled around Social Mobilisation and Risk Communication

All these strategies will be implemented in a gender sensitive manner taking the strength from the UNDP Gender Equality Strategy. Though the strategy does not explicitly mention the issue of Ebola, it can be located under one of UNDP’s three strategic pillars in the 2014-2017 strategic plan; which is “inclusive and effective democratic governance”. this pillar talks about, ensuring women’s and men’s equal participation in governance processes, and their equal benefits from services, are preconditions for the achievement of inclusive and effective democratic governance. The democratic governance area of UNDP work provides an opportunity to advance women’s legal rights and empowerment, strengthen their access to justice, and ensure gender responsive and equitable service delivery, as well as promote their equal participation in decision making. This pillar is located in outcomes two and three of the UNDP strategic plan.

It is also important to note that, the programme is conceived within the framework of the Joint UN programming approach. This approach is the collective effort through which the UN organizations and national partners work together to prepare, implement, monitor and evaluate the activities aimed at effectively and efficiently preparedness, prevention and the eradication of the EVD menace. The eleven participating UN Agencies shall collaborate with government institutions in the health sector as well as private sector and non-governmental organizations to achieve the overarching goal of arresting, prevention and spread of Ebola in West Africa and Ghana.

Governance

The national Inter-ministerial Ebola Committee serves as Steering Committee of the UN EVD Programme. It represents the highest decision-making authority for the programme, providing strategic guidance, fiduciary and management oversight and coordination. It is chaired by the Minister of Health and includes the UN Resident Coordinator and the Representatives of UNICEF and WHO, who serve as representatives of the UN on the Steering Committee.  The Joint UN team’s role will also include the provision of technical assistance, facilitation and funds management support.

Administrative Agent

The Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTF Office) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serves as the Administrative Agent (AA) of the Joint Programme. The AA is responsible for concluding Standard Administrative Arrangements (SAAs) with donors and Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Participating UN Organisations.