April 20, 2020
The U.S. Government has pledged to support Italy’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. USAID is committing $50 million to support health security, civil society, and the Italian private sector. Providing this critical assistance will not only help the people of Italy, one of our closest and oldest allies, it will lessen the risk of cross-border spread of infection and support Italian industry.
USAID’s programs will include: 1) $10 million for essential health commodities; 2) $30 million to support Civil Society and non-governmental partners and, 3) $10 million to enable Italian businesses to engage in research, development, or manufacture of therapeutics, vaccines, medical equipment, and supplies related to COVID-19.
HEALTH COMMODITIES ($10,000,000)
USAID will provide $10 million in Economic Support Fund resources for critically needed medical supplies and equipment to mitigate the disruption the pandemic has had on the delivery of healthcare commodities. The assistance will support the Italian health care sector’s delivery of health care services to Italian citizens, helping them to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and re-enter, contribute to, and stabilize the economy. USAID assistance in the form of procurement of health supplies for Italy will be done in a way that does not detract from supplies and equipment required for the U.S. domestic response.
Funding will be provided through USAID’s Global Health Bureau’s Global Health Supply Chain – Procurement and Supply Management (GHSCS-PSM).
CIVIL SOCIETY AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS ($30,000,000)
USAID will provide $30 million in Economic Support Fund resources to support, supplement, and expand the work of public international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and faith-based organizations that are responding directly to the pandemic and mitigating the social, economic and community impacts of the pandemic in Italy.
At this time, USAID has finalized an agreement with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) through Croce Rossa Italia to implement a portion of this assistance. Other potential partnerships are in the process of being finalized, and will be announced once procurements are complete.
PRIVATE-SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY ($10,000,000)
USAID will provide $10 million in Economic Support Fund resources to support Italian businesses that are engaged in or plan to begin engaging in the research, development, or manufacture of therapeutics, vaccines and medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19, including to assist Italian factories and supply chains adaptation to the needs of health-care personnel and patients.
