Promoting COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake and Addressing Vaccine Hesitancy in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

Working in accordance with the Management and Accountability Framework of the UN Development and Resident Coordinator Systems, this proposal combines 5 UN Agencies – PAHO, UNICEF, UNDP, UN Women, and ITU – under the oversight of the UN Resident Coordinator and technical lead of PAHO/WHO to support the government in Barbados and Eastern Caribbean sub-region across 6 pillars of work to reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Drawing on the experience and comparative advantage of UN Agencies and exploiting the synergies between them to co-create actions and solutions under a joint work plan, this proposal aims to reduce vaccine hesitancy by supporting governments’ more efficiently and effectively in the following areas:

a. Research and policy options b. Behavioural change strategies c. Risk communications and advocacy d. Strengthening COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout e. Vaccine Motivation f. Monitoring and evaluation.

The activities of the participating UN organizations are consistent with the new Agency country development and joint country implementation plans to support governments build human resilience against COVID-19 and expedite the socio-economic recovery of this sub-region through achieving herd immunity and the relaxation of restrictions imposed to curtail the spread of this virus.

Timely monitoring and direction throughout the course of this programme will follow a common and agreed governance structure. Accountability for the results and impact of this proposal is with the resident coordinator, supported by the resident coordinator’s office, while technical lead management resides with the lead agency, PAHO.

Working to a joint work plan, budget, and result framework, the supervision of operationalizing this proposal will be through timely steering group meetings, co-chaired by the Resident Coordinator and a member state representative. Day-to-day management will be monitored by the lead technical agency working in collaboration with the participating UN organizations.