Table 3 Leadership, institutional mechanisms and processes for multi-sectoral collaboration
Country | Multi-sectoral initiative | Entity that led the response | Coordination mechanism mandated by law | Mechanism to facilitate interaction between sectors/actors | Mechanisms for communication | Mechanism for conflict management and building trust |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High-income countries | ||||||
Bahrain | The National Health Emergency Preparedness and Response plan | His Royal Highness (HRH) the crown prince and prime minister | Not found | The National Taskforce for Combating Coronavirus (COVID-19) chaired by the Prime Minister Activated mid-February 2020; first meeting: 25 February 2020 | Regular meetings of the taskforce followed by a press conference and briefing | Not found |
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | The pandemic control plan | Government | Not found | COVID-19 follow-up committee chaired by the Ministry of Health Activated early January 2020; first meeting on 1 February 2020 | Regular meetings of the COVID-19 follow-up committee in person | Not found |
United Arab Emirates | The UAE Government’s Initiatives to Combat the COVID-19 Crisis | The Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management | Yes | National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) already in place since 2007; first meeting held on 31 October 2020 National COVID-19 Crisis Recovery Management and Governance Committee; first meeting held on 4 November 2020 | Regular meetings, the committee presents a weekly report on developments to the cabinet; all governmental authorities were getting guidance and support as well as reporting directly to NCEMA | Not found |
Middle-income countries | ||||||
Jordan | National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan 2020 | The government through the National Center for Security and Crisis Management | Yes | Coronavirus Crisis Cell within the existing structure of the National Center for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM); Activated January 2020 | Regular meetings and press briefings | Not found |
Lebanon | The COVID-19 national preparedness and response | Government | Yes | National Committee for COVID-19 (NCC) chaired by the ministry of health; Activated 22 January 2020 | Regular meetings of the committee followed by recommendations | Not found |
Tunisia | Preparation and Response Plan at the risk of introduction and dissemination of “SARS-CoV-2” in Tunisia | Government | Yes | • The National Coronavirus Response Authority supervised by the prime minister • Permanent National Committee for Disaster Prevention and Response and Relief Organization • The National Security Council headed by the president Mechanisms activated between 21 and 25 March 2020 | Daily meetings of the Local Crisis Committee members | Not found |
Low-income countries | ||||||
Sudan | COVID-19 Country Preparedness and Response Plan (CPRP) | -Federal Ministry of Health with the support of the WHO (led the response) – ruling cabinet of ministers and the Sovereign Council (formed High Committee for Health Emergencies) | Not found | The High Committee for Health Emergencies (to coordinate governmental and non-governmental efforts for combating COVID-19); Activated early March 2020 | Ad hoc meetings as needed | Not found |
Syria | National preparedness and response in Syria | The UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) with the WHO Representative for Syria | Not found | COVID-19 Crisis Coordination Committee; Activated August 2020 | Weekly Health Sector coordination meetings/operational calls/daily WHO meetings | Not found |
Yemen | Yemen National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan | WHO (national health cluster to coordinate humanitarian health responses) led the response; the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MOPHP) co-led the response | Not found | Inter-ministerial emergency COVID-19 Response Committee; Emergency Committee in the Southern; Activated 16 March 2020 | The Task Force meets on a weekly basis in addition to ad hoc meetings organized as needed | Not found |