Youth-led COVID-19 Response (YCR) COVID 19 has become a global pandemic globally. More than 500,000 people have been contracted with the virus in the whole world. Over 23293 COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed globally as of 27th/3/2020 and these are on the rise each passing minute. Life as it is known, has been altered causing a break down in major health systems even among countries with very reliable health structures like in the USA, Canada and China among others. Uganda registered her first case of corona virus 22/3/2020 which has risen to 18 to date 27/3/2020
The government of Uganda through the Ministry of health has issued guidelines and measures to respond to the pandemic; aimed at containment of the existing cases and prevention of  farther spread of the virus.  However, there has been a weakness in adhering to total quarantine and self-isolation guidelines hence increasing the risk of farther spread of COVID 19. There still exists inadequate awareness and appreciation of the threat among the general population. 
This is even worse in refugee settlements and their host communities in West Nile as well as the most rural districts of Uganda like Kamuli district. These being cross boarder communities, the risk is even higher due to continued influx of refugees and travelers through local unofficial and unregulated border routes. 
Access to clean water and soap amongst some population in Uganda is still a huge challenge making it difficult to regularly was hands as a measure of preventing farther corona virus spread. More so most water access point like boreholes and wells are always crowded which is even worse for rural communities like Kamuli district and refugee settlements and host communities which makes social distancing unachievable. 
The COVID-19 cases are projected to increase even higher given that COIVD- 19 risky population that returned from mainly Dubai had already been in physical contact with the general population. Being a new virus, the Ugandan health care system is not prepared enough in terms of human resource, medical supplies, emergency response and crisis coordination. As such, there is great need for humanitarian aid Organisations like Cordaid to contribute to the concerted effort by government, WHO and other CSOs in responding to this pandemic.
Problem statement 
The threat of spread of covid-19 is Uganda remains inevitable especially among vulnerable groups in both urban and rural areas. In the regard, the COVID-19 cases are projected to increase even higher given that COIVD- 19 risky population that returned from mainly Dubai had already been in physical contact with the general population. The government through the President and Ministry of Health has issued guidelines and measures to respond to the pandemic aimed at containment of the existing cases and prevention of farther spread of the virus.  However, there has been a weakness in adhering to total quarantine and self-isolation guidelines hence increasing the risk of farther spread of COVID 19. There still exists inadequate awareness and appreciation of the threat among the general population. 
Equally, implementation of the national guidelines on personal hygiene including use of personal protective gears, hand washing at household level during the economic turn-down remains a challenge. Access to clean water, sanitizers and soap amongst some population in Uganda is still a huge challenge making it difficult to regularly wash hands as a measure of preventing further spread of virus. The existing water access points like boreholes and wells are always crowded which is even worse for rural communities like Kamuli district and refugee settlements and host communities maki.ng social distancing hardly achievable.
The situation and threat of covid-19 is more feared among the in refugee settlements and their host communities in West Nile. The country is host over 1.4 million refugees, primarily from neighbouring South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is the largest refugee population in Africa. These being cross boarder communities, the risk is even higher due to continued influx of refugees and travellers through local unofficial and unregulated border routes.  According to assessment by UNHCR, there is growing anxiety and worry about the potential outbreak of the pandemic in these settlement https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/fears-uganda-coronavirus-outbreak-refugee-settlements-200406145749564.html

In addition, the COVID‑19 pandemic and its consequences are negatively affecting the availability of and access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. As the government and development partners drive their energies to responding to COVID-19, there is increasing limited access to SRHR services as a result of several factors including; health workers and community members having difficulty getting to health centres in absence of public transport, lack of commodities caused by a disrupted supply chains, reduced activity of community-based distributors of contraceptives and SBCC/IEC messages over 
focusing on COVID 19. There is a very high likelihood that this will heighten SRH challenges such as unplanned pregnancies, SGBV and sexually transmitted infections among others. 1. Increased heath awareness; targets groups have the necessary knowledge, skills and motivation to protect themselves from COVID-19.
2. Health Systems Strengthening (HSS); public Health Centers and Village Health Teams in West Nile and Eastern Uganda with good mental health and well equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to effectively handle COVID -19 cases. This will support the WHO’s HSS building blocks on service delivery and health work force. 
3. Increased access to life saving services: refugees and host community members and selected vulnerable groups with increased access to safe water storage facility and soap to meet hygienic needs in response to COVID 19. PLWHA with access to ARVs.
4. Increase access to SRHR services: increased access to contraceptives and family planning consultation and services.
5. Well-coordinated CSOs supporting MoH to contain COVID-19 in West Nile and Eastern Uganda by The project targets to directly benefit:

1.  Refugees in Pagirinya settlements in West Nile with awareness for all the 3 outcome areas
2.  Host communities in West Nile will be prioritized during supply of basic hand washing facilities and sanitizers.
3.  Most at risk populations in West Nile and Kamuli e.g child headed H/H, crowded homestead, elderly, People with Disabilities, People living with TB and HIV/AIDS for all the three-outcome areas.

YCR project will work through channels of and ultimately also benefit: 

4.  Youth peer educators
5.  Village Health Teams (VHTs)
these will be engaged as COVID -19Response Ambassadors (CORAs)