PHNOM PENH, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Australia signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) on Monday to contribute an additional 4 million Australian dollars (3.15 million U.S. dollars) to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on Cambodia, the UNDP said in a press release.
The deal took effect immediately, the UNDP said, adding that the additional contribution will fund further work to strengthen social assistance, support local businesses to adapt to pandemic-related difficulties, and other priorities identified through consultation with the Cambodian government and civil society.
The contribution will top up the Australia-UNDP Resilience Fund, a flexible mechanism that has already been providing targeted support to Cambodia's socio-economic response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the UNDP said.
"Together we've managed to react quickly to this crisis, providing support to the rapid scale-up of social assistance to those who need it most, and protecting trade and livelihoods too," said Nick Beresford, UNDP resident representative in Cambodia.
Australian Ambassador to Cambodia Pablo Kang said COVID-19 poses urgent challenges for Cambodia's economy and the livelihoods of its people.
"Working with the UNDP, we are also boosting funding to support the work needed now to position Cambodia to make a rapid and inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic," he said.
The Resilience Fund has facilitated the continuation of safe cross-border trade through the provision of critical protective equipment and sanitation materials to Cambodia's General Department of Customs and Excise, the UNDP said.
It added that the fund has also helped small businesses connect with online e-commerce platforms to keep operating during the lockdown and participate in the digital economy. Enditem
