U.S. Embassy announces public-private partnership of R$ 28.8 million to combat COVID-19 in the Amazon

Food baskets, hygiene kits, risk communications, increase in hospital beds and support to impact businesses are part of the partnership

Brasilia, August 26, 2020: A new PPA Solidarity: COVID-19 Response in the Amazon seeks to leverage innovative and scalable solutions, through assistance programs, the emergency response to the fight against COVID-19 in all states of the Amazon, especially in Amazonas and Pará states.  The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), NPI Expand, the Partnership Platform for the Amazon (PPA) and SITAWI Finance for Good have come together to create a cross sector partnership to help fight COVID-19 in Brazil.

With an initial contribution of US$ 2,1 million (around R$10,6 million) from USAID through NPI Expand and leveraged an additional US$ 3,5 million (R$18,2 million) with private sector partners that include Alcoa, Bank of America, Beraca, Cargill, Caterpillar, Fundo Sustentabilidade Hydro, Mineração do Rio do Norte, Suzano and Vale.

Projects include distribution of food baskets and hygiene kits to over 16,000 families, risk communications campaigns on prevention to over 250,000 people, support for testing, providing ICU beds and rescuing small businesses from financial failure through R$1.5 million in low interest loans and financial advice.

Ambassador Todd Chapman noted, “The United States and Brazil are working together to overcome this invisible enemy we both face. Collaborative actions like PPA Solidarity bring public, private, and civil society organizations together to fight the impact and threat of COVID-19 on the lives of Brazilians in the Amazon.”

“The Amazon was one of the first regions of Brazil to suffer from the COVID-19 pandemic, and many places are still under threat of this terrible pandemic. The actions supported by the PPA Solidarity Partnership will help protect communities that are most vulnerable and help local businesses so they can recover more quickly”, said Ted Gehr, USAID/Brazil´s Director.

PPA Solidarity will work with civil society and private sector partners in four different lines of action:

1) Mobilize communication campaigns to address COVID-19 while empowering vulnerable or isolated communities to protect themselves against exposure and transmission of the virus;

2) Promote measures to prevent and control COVID-19 infection in health facilities and in communities;

3) Support the local health system (hospitals, health posts and community health services) to respond to and control COVID-19 through case management and surveillance services;

4) Support small businesses in the Amazon Region affected by COVID-19 (entrepreneurs, producer groups and cooperatives) with financial advisory services and low-interest loans.

PPA Solidarity adds to the response to COVID-19 that PPA members have championed since the beginning of the pandemic, protecting their employees and communities. The initiative is also part of the US government efforts to help Brazil.

To learn more about PPA, visit the website: https://ppa.org.br