​​​​​Local authorities in Navarre are leading a coordinated community response to the COVID19. Private business, social and tech innovators, and private individuals come together in solidarity to search innovative solutions to the socio-economic challenges posed by the pandemic. 

The Navarre authorities have created  “Navarra+Voluntaria” platform that connects essential service entities with citizens who wish to volunteers. Currently, more than 100 projects have been organized via the platform. In addition, the government utilized Whatsapp platform to disseminate calls for most pressing volunteering needs, such as sewing of protection gowns for its health care service providers. The call had an overwhelming community response. The qualified volunteers, who were selected for this essential task, currently produce 1000 units a day.  

To address the regional demand for massive quantities for sanitary equipment, the Navarre authorities entered public-private partnership with three companies Albyn Medical, Ojer Pharma and Sumisan. The three companies holding experience in trading with China, have altruistically agreed to facilitate purchasing of sanitary equipment (close to 5 million face masks; over 4 million nitrile gloves, thousands of hydroalcoholic solutions, and 240 000 protective gowns), and took on financial risk by covering advance payments to meet timelines set by suppliers.  

The government has also launched an urgent procurement procedure for respirators design with 25 000 euro award for those prototypes who meet quality and functionality standard.

Meanwhile, to support local farmers and other businesses, the authorities have designed solidarity campaign targeting local consumers “We eat at home, we eat at home / Choose products from Navarra. You win; our land wins”. The campaign came in addition to targeted subsidies to agricultural sector, particularly, the sheepherders.