The program will also support child-sensitive social protection reforms
WASHINGTON, October 31, 2016 – 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.
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing loans (called “credits”) and grants for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 81 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.5 billion people living on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 108 countries. Annual commitments have increased steadily and averaged about $15 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent of commitments going to Africa.
