World Bank Group to Strengthen Rwanda’s Social Protection System | WPN World People News

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a $95 million International Development Association (IDA) credit for the Rwanda Social Protection System (SPS-3) to support the Government’s efforts to improve efficiency, accountability and coverage of Rwanda’s social protection system.

Building on the World Bank Group’s longstanding engagement in Rwanda’s poverty reduction initiatives, this program will continue to support the country’s social protection policy by strengthening the foundations of Rwanda’s social protection system. It emphasizes second-generation reforms needed to boost efficiency, while keeping direct alignment with core national principles and goals.

“The World Bank is proud to work with the Government of Rwanda, civil society and development partners in further advancing Rwanda’s ambitious poverty reduction agenda” said Laura Rawlings, Lead Specialist and Team Leader for the World Bank’s Social Protection System program for Rwanda. “Rwanda is a global leader in demonstrating how a viable national social safety net system can be set up in a short period of time, reflecting the country’s strong commitment to helping vulnerable populations better manage risk and build pathways out of poverty.”

SPS-3 will focus on strengthening tools to improve the management and service delivery of social protection programs, notably the social protection Management Information System (MIS) and the Ubudehe household registry classification system. It will improve the harmonization and efficiency of the Vision Umurenge Program (VUP) which provides cash for work, income support and financial services to poor households. SPS-3 will also support harmonization across social protection initiatives, notably income-generation programs and child-sensitive policies, with an eye toward longer-term graduation from poverty and social assistance.

This project supports Rwanda in achieving its goal of establishing a well-structured social safety net with national coverage. The reforms supported by the project will improve the efficiency, accountability and transparency of the system and will expand coverage among poor and vulnerable populations.

Source: World Bank