March 3,2020- UN Ethiopia organizes a COVID-19 tabletop simulation exercise (SIMEX) for the UN agencies in Ethiopia with the support of World Health Organization Ethiopia Country Office. Over 60 participants from UN 25 agencies participated in the exercise. The simulation exercise aims to strengthen preparedness and response capacity for a potential COVID-19 outbreak in the UN system in Ethiopia. 

At the opening remark Dr. Boureima Hama Samo, WHO Ethiopia Representative, stated: “In many ways, a simulation is better than a real event because it provides an opportunity to test the system in a safe environment.”

Throughout the SIMEX, participants tested preparedness and readiness including

• Review the operation management process for a suspected case of COVID-19 in UN staff; 
• Confirm arrangements for notification, coordination and internal communications before and after the confirmation of a COVID-19 case; 
• Confirm procedures related to the management of a suspected case before and after laboratory confirmation;
• Review plans to clarify lines of accountability (roles and responsibilities) and communication to enable a timely, well-coordinated and effective response; 
• Review risk and media communications plans within the UN system regarding COVID-19. 

Following the conclusion of the SIMEX, participants reviewed and evaluated the performance of all involved actors to maximize timely, effective, and coordinated responses to a potential COVID-19 outbreak.

The Table-top simulation exercise was adjudged by the participants to be successful. Relevant stakeholders are drawn from different UN agencies, including management and frontline staff, actively participated in the exercise. The SIMEX scenario and injects reflected the real-life scenarios within an emergency COVID-19 outbreak context. Responses from the different groups were evaluated using a predetermined checklist and analyzed by the Exercise Management Team.

The SIMEX showed that while many of the participants were aware of the global outbreak situation, the need for notification and isolation, there were information gaps on the channel of communication and other relevant sections of the contingency plan and lack of agency-specific Business Contingency Plan.