The consultation is about evaluating the United Nations’ joint contribution to Indonesia’s social protection response during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to the unprecedented health, economic, and social crisis triggered by COVID-19, the Government of Indonesia launched the National Economic Recovery (PEN) program — one of the largest fiscal stimulus packages in the Asia Pacific region. Alongside this, the UN in Indonesia mobilized the UN COVID-19 Multi-Partner Trust Fund Joint Programme (UN COVID-19 MPTF JP), implemented from May 2020 to March 2021. Managed by UN Women, WFP, UNDP, and UNICEF, the program aimed to strengthen Indonesia’s social protection response, ensure support reached the most vulnerable, and promote inclusive, gender-responsive interventions.
The assignment involved conducting a final evaluation of the UN COVID-19 MPTF JP, assessing how well it supported government-led COVID-19 responses, addressed social protection gaps, enhanced communication strategies, and leveraged data innovation. The evaluation also aimed to capture lessons learned and recommendations for improving future multi-stakeholder, adaptive social protection programs in crisis settings.
Carried out between April and June 2021, the evaluation combined a document review and 31 key informant interviews with government officials, UN agency staff, and research partners, providing critical insights into the program’s achievements, challenges, and contributions to pandemic response efforts in Indonesia.