WT/COMTD/W/268  
 
21 September 2022  
(22-7085) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Trade and Development  Original: English  
 
 
RESPONDING TO THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC AND SUPPORTING RESILIENCY  
COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES  
The following communication, dated 15 September 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United States.  
 
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1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  The United States is providing the following update for Members to respond to the interest 
expressed in sharing experiences and capt uring lessons learned from the COVID -19 pandemic. 
This submission focuses on the United States ' global initiatives to support our development partners 
in their efforts to respond to the ongoing public health crisis as well as build resiliency to mitigate 
the impacts of future crises. The information below focuses on initiatives and activities primarily 
carried out by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is intended to 
be a snapshot of U.S. initiatives and not an exhaustive list . The United States encourages other 
Members, both donors and development partners, to share their experiences with the Committee. 
The collective experiences may assist the Committee in identifying any further work Members may 
wish to undertake.  
2  USAID 'S COVID -19 RESPONSE: CONTROLLING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC AND BUILDING 
BACK BETTER  
2.1.  The United States is committed to ending the acute phase of the COVID -19 pandemic, both at 
home and abroad, and has been instrumental in the global fight against the virus. To date,  
the U.S. government has responded in more than 120 countries.  
2.2.  The United States ' principal assistance agency, U.S. Agency for International Development 
(USAID) works to fight COVID -19 in more than 120 countries and is committed to building back a 
better w orld, one that is prepared to prevent, detect, and respond to future biological threats, and 
where all people can live safe, prosperous, and healthy lives.  
2.3.  Four COVID -19 legislative packages support the U.S. government 's global response to the 
pandemic, including:  
1. the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 
(COVID -19 Supplemental, P.L. 116 -123);  
2. the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act, P.L. 116 -136);  
3. the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (FY21 Appropriations Act, P.L. 116 -260); and  
4. the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).  
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  2.4.  As of 31 March  2022, USAID has provided more than USD 9.9 billion1 in 
COVID -19 supplemental funding toward the fight against the pandemic, including effo rts to address 
the social and economic effects of COVID -19. USAID works with partner governments and civil 
society to deliver and distribute vaccines, protect and train health workers, disseminate key public 
health information, deliver emergency food and c ritical humanitarian services and supplies, provide 
support in risk communication and community engagement, support infection, prevention, and 
control, strengthen continuity of basic services, provide social and economic support, and sustain 
education for millions of students.  
3  HOW USAID IS FIGHTING THE PANDEMIC  
3.1.  USAID is leading the U.S. government 's efforts to vaccinate the world and is supporting 
implementation of the Administration 's U.S. COVID -19 Global Response and Recovery Framework 
(Framework), which was released on 1 July  2021.  The Framework includes five objectives:  
• Objective 1 : Accelerate widespread and equitable access to and delivery of safe and 
effective COVID -19 vaccinations  
• Objective 2 : Reduce morbidity and mortality from COVID -19, mitigate tra nsmission and 
strengthen health systems, including to prevent, detect, and respond to pandemic threats  
• Objective 3 : Address acute needs driven by COVID -19, mitigate household shocks and build 
resilience  
• Objective 4 : Bolster economies and other critical sys tems under stress due to COVID -19 to 
prevent backsliding and enable recovery  
• Objective 5 : Prevent, detect, and respond to pandemic threats  
 
USAID Investments in Fighting the Pandemic  
3.2.  Below is a summary of activities and obligated investments made possible through funding 
from the four COVID -19 legislative packages listed above. All figures below represent 
USAID -obligated funding as of 31 March 2022,  and include illustrative examples of funded activities.  
Support Vaccine Access and Delivery and Publ ic Health Responses to the Pandemic  
 
3.3.  Objective 1 of the Framework focuses on helping vaccinate the world by procuring and donating 
COVID -19 vaccines to the world 's most under -vaccinated populations and helping to accelerate and 
expand countries ' campaigns to get more shots in arms. As of April 2022, the U.S. government has 
already supported the donation of more than 533 million COVID -19 vaccine doses to 115 countries.  
3.4.  To help countries overcome vaccine access barriers as vaccine donations continu e to increase, 
the U.S. government announced in December 2021 the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access 
(Global -VAX).  Global -VAX builds on existing U.S. government efforts with total cumulative 
interagency commitments of more than USD 1.7 billion, helping m ore than 100 countries prepare to 
receive and administer COVID -19 vaccines. This initiative expands assistance and enhances 
international coordination to identify and rapidly overcome vaccine access barriers, with a specific 
emphasis on scaling up vaccinat ion support in sub -Saharan Africa. USAID is leading this 
whole -of-government effort in close collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention and other interagency partners.  
3.5.  Under Objective 2, USAID is working to save lives now through dia gnostic, oxygen, and 
therapeutics support, and health system strengthening. Funding in this category focuses on a wide 
range of interventions to treat those ill with COVID -19 and to prevent further transmission among 
and across communities.  
Illustrative ex amples of activities supporting these objectives include : 
• Procuring COVID -19 vaccines and diagnostic test kits;  
 
1 The total USD 9.9 billion in obligated, USAID -managed funds includes: USD 4.62 billion in ARP funds 
(including USD 800 million in ARP Title II); USD 4 billion from the FY21 Appropriations Act (for the contribution 
to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance); and USD 1.28 billion combined from the COVID -19 Supplemental and CARES 
Act. The total does not include prior -year or repurposed funds, nor does it include ARP/ HIV/AIDS funds or 
ARP/HIV/Global Fund resources, which were appropriated to the U.S. Department of State.  WT/COMTD/W/268  
 
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  • Increasing oxygen supply and capacity;  
• Preventing and controlling infection in communities and health facilities, including by 
improving continu ity of water, sanitation, and hygiene services;  
• Training the health workforce to efficiently and effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat 
COVID -19; 
• Strengthening laboratory and diagnostic capabilities;  
• Supporting sample transport networks and genomic seque ncing and surveillance activities;  
• GlobalVAX activities including but not limited to:  
o Helping to execute and expand national COVID -19 vaccination campaigns;  
o Launching mobile COVID -19 vaccination capacity for hard -to-reach and rural 
populations;  
o Assisting countries in COVID -19 vaccine policy -making and planning for strategic health 
care worker and resource deployment;  
o Investing in cold chain and supply logistics to safely store and deliver COVID -19 
vaccines;  
o Fighting mis - and disinformation about COVID -19 vaccines; and  
o Partnering to develop health information systems to better evaluate COVID -19 vaccine 
distribution equity and monitor vaccine safety.  
 
USAID 'S Obligated Investments Under Objectives 1 and 2, as of 31 March  2022 , include : 
• USD 848.2 million  in ARP, COVID -19 Supplemental, and FY 2021 Appropriations Act funds 
for Global VAX, including to surge support to 11 countries in Sub -Saharan Africa, helping 
countries with under -vaccinated populations maximize vaccine access, distribution, and 
administration . 
 
• USD 1.5 billion  in ARP funds, in addition to USD 2 billion from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, 
to support the U.S. ' (June 2021) procurement of 500 million Pfizer doses for distribution 
through COVAX to up to 100 eligible countries, including African Union Member States.  
 
• USD 421.7 million  in ARP funds to provide COVID -19 rapid responses for urgent healthcare 
needs and critical commodities and technical assistance in COVID -19 hotspots, including 
support to India, Afghanistan, and other countries in South Asia, Latin America and 
the Caribbea n, and Sub -Saharan Africa.  
 
• USD 215.7 million  in ARP funds to support low -and-middle income countries in their 
continued efforts to mitigate COVID -19 transmission and reduce related morbidity and 
mortality.  
 
• USD 50 million  in ARP funds as a contribution to  the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness 
Innovations (CEPI) through the World Bank, as trustee of the CEPI multi -donor trust fund. 
These funds will support CEPI 's further research and development to boost 
COVID -19 vaccine efficacy and optimize vaccination strategies to respond to new variants.  
  
• USD 3.5 billion —out of a total USD 4 billion contribution —in FY 2021 Appropriations Act 
funds2 to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to support the purchase of COVID -19 vaccines for 
donation through COVAX. The  other USD 500 million provided to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, 
supports vaccine readiness and delivery and is included above.  
 
• USD 420.8 million  from the COVID -19 Supplemental to support critical health activities in 
more than 120 countries, including but not limited to: risk communication and community 
engagement, infection prevention and control, case management, surveillance, oxygen 
capacity, and laboratory and diagnostics strengthening.  
 
Address Humanitarian Responses and Emergency Impacts Created by th e Pandemic  
3.6.  In support of the emergency components of Objectives 2 and 3 of the Framework, funding in 
this category assists vulnerable populations in humanitarian and other fragile settings and supports 
 
2 The FY21 Appropriations Act mandated that USAID make a USD 4 billion contribution to Gavi, the 
Vaccine Alliance.  WT/COMTD/W/268  
 
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  interventions to mitigate COVID -19 related impacts. E xamples of activities under these objectives 
include:  
• Emergency food and nutrition assistance;  
 
• Improved disease surveillance and digital tools;  
 
• Dignity and hygiene kits;  
 
• Cash assistance;  
 
• Gender -based violence, child protection, and mental health services;  
 
• Continuity of basic services, such as primary and reproductive health, water and hygiene 
supplies, and shelter; and  
  
• Continuity of critical information management, coordination, and logistics support to assist 
first responder access to hard -to-reach populations.  
 
USAID 'S Obligated Investments Under Objectives 2 and 3, as of 31 March 2022 , include : 
• Nearly USD 2.1 billion  in ARP funds to prevent famine and mitigate food insecurity, support 
protection and gender -based violence programs, and strengt hen critical public health 
initiatives to reduce transmission of COVID -19 in humanitarian settings; and  
 
• USD 558 million  from the COVID -19 Supplemental and the CARES Act to respond to acute 
COVID -19 related humanitarian impacts and mitigate transmission o f COVID -19 in 
humanitarian settings.  
 
Stem and Recover from Development, Economic, Democracy, Human Rights, and 
Governance Impacts of COVID -19 
3.7.  To stem and recover from the secondary impacts of the pandemic, which have 
disproportionately affected women and girls, funding under Objectives 3 and 4 of the Framework 
bolsters economies and critical systems world -wide. Activities under these objectives include:  
• Cash grants to support agriculture, livelihoods, and service sectors;  
 
• Business development assistan ce to small and medium enterprises, including those owned 
by people in vulnerable situations, such as Indigenous Peoples, and provision of 
micro -credit;  
 
• Support to civil society in conducting risk communication activities in their communities;  
 
• Adaptation  of trade and investment tools to help businesses protect their investments;  
 
• Provision of personal protective equipment and hygiene supplies to enable those providing 
critical services to continue operating safely; and  
 
• Support to learning institutions to adapt to digital learning environments.  
 
USAID 'S Related Net Investments, as  of 31 March 2022,  include:  
● USD 231 million  in COVID -19 Supplemental resources in every region and a variety of 
sectors. For example:  
 
o More than USD 76 million  to help micro -, small -, and medium -enterprises (MSME) recover 
from the significant economic im pacts of the pandemic through job -skills and resilience 
training and MSME innovation. Funds have also assisted MSME in navigating trade barriers 
and regulations.  
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  o More than USD 26 million  to support democracy, rights, and governance and to prevent 
further democratic backsliding due to the COVID -19 pandemic.  
 
o More than USD 21.6 million  to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on education and 
critical social services.  
 
o Almost USD 11 million  to support migrants and other vulnerable populations in recoveri ng 
from some of the secondary impacts of the pandemic, such as access to livelihoods, social 
services, and shelter.  
 
o More than USD 8.7 million  to expand programs to counter trafficking in persons and build 
resilient individuals and households within vulner able communities, including returning 
migrants, people with disabilities, marginalized groups, and indigenous communities.  
 
USAID 's COVID -19 Response factsheet can be found here:  
https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USAID -COVID -19-Response -Fact-Sheet -
April2022.pdf  
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  ANNEX 1  
TABLE 1: USAID COVID -19 SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING SUMMARY BY  ACCOUNT 
AS OF 31 MARCH  2022 
Table 1 provides a summary of funding provided by the COVID -19 Supplemental (P.L. 116 -123), the 
CARES Act (P.L.116 -136), the FY 2021 Appropriations Act (P.L.116 -260), and ARP (P.L.117 -2).  
USAID COVID Funding as of 31 March  2022 (in USD)  
 
 Appropriated  USAID Managed  Approved/Notified * Obligated  
 
All Accounts**  11,097,000 ,000 10,541,650,000  10,541,650,000  9,907,515,026  
     
American Rescue Plan 
Act 5,766,000,000  5,215,650,000  5,215,650,000  4,624,692,830  
Economic Support Funds 
(ESF)***  4,925,000,000  4,374,650,000  4,374,650,000  3,804,897,068  
USAID Operating 
Expenses  41,000,000  41,000,000  41,000,000  19,795,762  
Title II  800,000,000  800,000,000  800,000,000  800,000,000  
 
FY 2021 Omnibus and 
COVID  Relief and 
Response Act  4,000,000,000  4,000,000,000  4,000,000,000  4,000,000,000  
USAID Global Health 
Programs  (GHP-USAID)  4,000,000,000  4,000,000,000  4,000,000,000  4,000,000,000  
COVID -19 
Supplemental 1 and  
CARES Act  1,338,000,000  1,326,000,000  1,326,000,000  1,282,822,196  
USAID Global Health 
Programs  (GHP-USAID)  235,000,000  235,000,000  235,000,000  235,000,000  
Emergency Reserve 
Fund 200,000,000  200,000,000  200,000,000  185,862,877  
USAID Operating 
Expenses  95,000,000  95,000,000  95,000,000  65,970,477  
 7,000,000  7,000,000  6,988,842  
International Disaster 
Assistance (IDA)  300,000,000  300,000,000  300,000,000  300,000,000  
258,000,000  258,000,000  258,000,000  258,000,000  
Economic Support Funds 
(ESF)****  250,000,000  231,000,000  231,000,000  231,000,000  
* Funds are congressionally notified to the extent notification is required.  
** The USD 3.75 billion in ARP/GHP/Global  Fund/HIV/AIDS funds appropriated to the Department  of State are 
not included in this table. USAID obligates these funds, but  the Office  of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator 
(S/GAC) at the U.S. Department of State programs and manages these funds.  
*** Of the ARPA ESF/Economic and Stabilization, Congress appropriated USD 930  million. Of these funds, 
USAID is managing USD 380 milli on, and the Department of State is managing USD  550 million. The 
Department of State -managed funds are not reported here.  
**** The FY2021 COVID -19 Supplemental appropriated USD 250 million in ESF. Of these funds, USAID 
transferred USD 7 million to USAID Op erating Expenses (OE). The Department of State is managing 
USD 11.9 million. The Department of State -managed funds are not reported here.  
 
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