This paper was prepared by the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) from survey data collected in the first week of April and benefited from peer review. As such it gives a glimpse of the initial action taken by investment promotion agencies (IPAs) towards the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this survey was to understand the impact and initial challenges IPAs face due to this crisis and to examine actions by IPAs to mitigate and alleviate these shocks. By highlighting some of these measures, this paper aims to help IPAs to compare their own actions to those of their peers but also to serve as food for thought for IPAs to expand or align their services accordingly, and to provide recommendations based on the experience of WAIPA and its partners.