World Bank supports social assistance modernization

TIRANA, June 6 – The World Bank is assisting the Albanian government modernize social assistance under a Euro 38 million loan. The agreement was signed Wednesday between Finance Minister Ridvan Bode and World Bank by Country Manager Kseniya Lvovsky.
The objective of Social Assistance Modernization Project for Albania is to support the Government’s reform agenda to improve the equity, efficiency, and transparency of social assistance programs. The project will focus mainly on the poverty-targeted Ndihma Ekonomike (NE) program and the disability assistance. The project aims at improved equity by improving targeting, eligibility and coverage for both Ndihma Ekonomike and Disability Assistance Programs to ensure that resources are channeled to the most needy people. The current system of social assistance needs to be modernized and automated in order to improve the efficiency of both programs. This would help the current benefits administration to strengthen detection and remedying of fraud and errors and would allow the Government to make timely and informed policy changes. The project would also support improvements in transparency which cuts across the key reform areas through proactive communications, modernized information systems, and increased clarity on “rules, roles and controls.”
“The Social Assistance Modernization Project would contribute to the reduction of poverty and vulnerability through more effective social assistance services and to help Albania mitigate the impacts of the continued eurozone crisis” said Kseniya Lvovsky, Country Manager for the World Bank Office in Albania.