The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partners with Libyan government institutions, civil society, and the private sector to support strengthening the foundations of a more unified Libyan state and advance stability and self-reliance in Libya. USAID also provides humanitarian assistance to address the immediate needs of conflict-affected Libyans. Since 2011, the United States has invested $850 million in to meet immediate humanitarian needs, and in Libya’s public health and overall development. This assistance has supported the capabilities of many of the national and local institutions and organizations that are now leading the COVID-19 response.

USAID ASSISTANCE TO LIBYA’S COVID-19 RESPONSE

As Libya responds to COVID-19, USAID is building on its partnerships with the Government of Libya (GoL), Libyan institutions, and civil society to spearhead donor support to the health sector, coordinate self-saving assistance, prioritize investments to respond to evolving public health needs by ensuring delivery of essential services, provide assistance to spur Libya’s economic recovery, and provide emergency assistance to Libya’s most vulnerable communities. USAID assistance for Libya's COVID-19 response totals at over $14.7 million.

In addition, the Department of State’s Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) Bureau is providing over $3.5 million in assistance to support Libya’s vulnerable populations during the pandemic, including refugees, vulnerable migrants, and host communities. This brings the total of USG assistance to Libya’s COVID-19 response to over $18.2 million.

GLOBAL HEALTH

Global Health Funds

Implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) • Response Funds: $500,000

USAID is partnering with UNICEF to providing risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) support, infection prevention and control (IPC) and WASH in COVID-19 designated health care facilities/centers and other facilities likely to receive suspected cases of COVID-19 in high risk communities, provision of critical hygiene kits and supplies, and data collection and analysis to improve COVID-19 emergency preparedness and response.

HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

International Disaster Assistance (IDA), including COVID-19 Funds

Implemented by UN and non-governmental organizations, including; United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Medical Corps (IMC) • Response Funds: $8.8 million

USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) is partnering with UN organizations to support risk communication, improve case-management, bolster coordination for an effective COVID-19 response, and strengthen infection prevention and control. With USAID funding, partners are providing technical support and training to the Libyan Ministry of Health, supplying water and hygiene items to health facilities and centers and communities sheltering people displaced by conflict, strengthening primary health services and COVID-19 care at hospitals, educating communities about the risks of the virus and how to say healthy, providing direct assistance to vulnerable families to help mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic, and providing mental health and social services to vulnerable populations, especially children and their families. USAID funds also support the Libyan National Centre for Disease Control’s (NCDC) national response efforts by strengthening and equipping medical rapid response teams, supporting hospitals with equipment and supplies, strengthening primary healthcare services, and training health workers on COVID-19 surveillance, laboratory diagnosis, infection prevention and control (IPC), and case management.

International Disaster Assistance (IDA) - Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Funds

Implemented by the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) • Response Funds: $250.000

Through an ongoing disaster risk reduction program, USAID’s BHA is supporting the IFRC in providing training to the Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) staff on disaster and COVID-19 preparedness and response skills, promoting safe hygiene practices in Libya’s most vulnerable communities, and stockpiling and distributing critical relief supplies, including food parcels, hygiene items, and other basic necessities, to people who have been displaced by conflict and other vulnerable populations.

STABILIZATION

Libya Transition Initiative (LTI)

Implemented by Chemonics, Inc. • Funds: $1.7 million

USAID’s Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) is supporting efforts to promote Libyan unity during the pandemic and strengthen the overall Libyan response through support for national government agencies and grassroots community actors in areas where COVID-19 risks inflaming existing tensions, including assistance to historically marginalized groups. Efforts include support to the National Center for Disease Control’s ( NCDC) national COVID-19 risk and prevention awareness campaign; partnerships with local civil society organizations for distribution of non-medical face coverings and hygiene supplies to Libyan first responders on the COVID-19 frontlines; distribution of food items to first responders and quarantined patients; and emergency response equipment and supplies to municipalities.

DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

Libya Governance and Civil Society Program (LGCS)

Implemented by DAI, LLC • Response Funds: $3.5 million in ESF

LGCS, locally known as Taqarib, is working with 30 partner municipalities to improve emergency-management systems, including their immediate response to the health, economic, and political consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their long-term preparedness for overcoming other acute threats to public health and welfare. LGCS’s support focuses both on emergency-response planning, management and infrastructure, as well as supporting municipalities’ provision of direct services to individuals, businesses and institutions.

Libya Elections and Legislative Strengthening Activity (LELSA)

Implemented by the CEPPS Consortium Systems • Response Funds: $0

LELSA has been working closely with the Libyan Central Committee of Municipal Council of Elections (CCMCE), the High National Elections Commission’s (HNEC), Libyan observation partners, and other civil society organizations to ensure the execution of safe municipal elections in times of COVID-19. LELSA’s local partners have also engaged in advocacy campaigns aiming to ensure that emergency response plans are inclusive and account for Libya’s most vulnerable communities, as well as developed safety and prevention campaigns to ensure accessibility to COVID-19 information for Libya’s persons with disabilities community.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Libya Public Financial Management (LPFM)

Implemented by The Pragma Corporation • Response Funds: $0

As part of ongoing efforts to help the GoL strengthen macroeconomic and fiscal foundations for sustainable and inclusive economic growth, LPFM is providing analytical reports estimating the economic impact of COVID-19, to inform the decision-making processes on policies and interventions that will drive the post-crisis recovery and pivot the country back toward a path to self-reliance. LPFM is also working closely with the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL) and other stakeholders to ensure the supply of reliable power to Libyan during COVID-19.