Santo Domingo – In an effort to mitigate the health, social, and economic impacts on vulnerable populations and better prepare for future crises, the Dominican Republic has expanded its project titled “Strengthening the Resilience of Health and Social Protection Systems.” The initiative is financially supported by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the French Development Agency (AFD).
The expansion includes an additional €1 million grant from the EU, supplementing its original €8.4 million contribution. These funds are complemented by loans from the French Development Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank. The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Public Health and the Social Policy Cabinet, with coordination from the Ministry of Economy, Planning, and Development (MEPyD) and technical support from the French cooperation agency, Expertise France.
Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative aims to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, modernize public laboratories, and establish early response mechanisms for health emergencies. It follows the “One Health” approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health into a unified strategy.
Beyond public health, the program also focuses on reinforcing institutions and information systems that support social policy. These improvements are designed to enable more effective service delivery to vulnerable communities and enhance the country’s recovery capacity during times of crisis.
