Development partners are a great source of assistance in designing and implementing crisis response programs. The program design and implementation benefited greatly from the presence in Palau of the EconMAP team in situ in the Ministry of Finance (MOF), analyzing economic trends and providing regular advice, and the program team’s coordination with the International Monetary Fund and the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Centre team in Fiji. Given thin capacity in MOF, such support has been invaluable. ADB regional technical assistance in the Pacific have also provided valuable advice, with the rapid assessment of COVID-19 impacts informing the design of an ensuing social protection project, which promotes the welfare of vulnerable groups through community-based wellness and case management services, as well as food security through support for small agricultural producers.
Health Expenditure and Livelihoods Support Program