Dialogue with Development Partners for a Collaborative Response to COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh

Date: April 27, 2020

The Programme Support Unit - DoUD, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), under the aegis of ‘Alliance for Urban Transformation’, Department of Urban Development (DoUD), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP), had organized ‘Dialogue with Development Partners for a collaborative response to COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh’ on 27, April, 2020. Development partners were invited through virtual meeting to share their initiatives and suggestions for supporting the COVID-19 response in cities of Uttar Pradesh.  

This was the second meeting of the ‘Alliance for Urban Transformation – DoUD GoUP’, acting as a forum for state partners for scaling-up partnerships.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Kajal (IAS), Director, Directorate of Local Bodies, (GoUP) and was attended 15 development partners which including the likes of UNICEF, UNDP, WaterAid, KPMG, E&Y, Oxfam, Tata Trusts, ActionAid, AIILSG and Aga Khan Foundation to name a few. The meeting was also attended by city officials from Lucknow, Unnao, Bijnor and Chunar.

Dr. Kajal set the context of the dialogue with addressing the need for a collaborative response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the state of Uttar Pradesh and developing synergies among development partners in the state.

Some issues deliberated by development partners in the meeting included relief work related to the vulnerable community, livelihood generation for the returning migrant daily wagers through skill development programs, using GIS / digital applications for tracking relief work, information dissemination through various means including public address systems, leveraging ASHA workers and SHGs in COVID-19 response activities, developing communication collaterals, capacity building & training of vulnerable section, support in personal protective equipment, hygiene related products, ensuring hygiene for informal settlements though mobile / contactless handwashing basins.

CSE highlighted its commitment towards supporting COVID-19 response in the state by providing protective gear for sanitation workers, providing access to handwashing facilities for vulnerable people, dissemination of information related to COVID-19 response and build capacities of Self Help Groups and other local stakeholders for the fight against the virus.

The meeting was concluded by Dr. Kajal who thanked CSE for initiating this dialogue and suggested developing a quick action plan for a collaborative response to COVID in Uttar Pradesh. All the development partners were urged to collaborate upon some critical issues that include protection of all sanitation workers, livelihood opportunities and relief efforts for returning migrant workers as well as ensuring advisories issued by various ministries reach all concerned stakeholders.