REUTERS
The assistance is provided as additional funding under the project, titled "The Social Assistance System Modernization Project."
Ukraine's Social Policy Ministry says the country will receive US$150 million in additional funds from the World Bank, in particular, US$50 million to support vulnerable groups in society amid the COVID-19 pandemic and US$100 million to improve the level of social protection in general.
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"As early as in May this year, Ukraine will receive US$50 million to strengthen social support for the population amid measures taken to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be used for payments to pensioners and disabled recipients of social aid. Subsidies will be increased during the quarantine, while restrictions will be lifted on the assignment of this type of support to those who have lost their jobs over the quarantine," the ministry's press service said on its website on April 10, following a meeting of representatives of the Ukrainian government and the World Bank in Kyiv.
The assistance is provided as additional funding under the project, titled "The Social Assistance System Modernization Project," which has been implemented by the Social Policy Ministry with the support of the World Bank since 2014. Funds will be transferred to the national budget of Ukraine given that the government provides increased efficiency and targeted state support for vulnerable populations, as well as introduces additional social services for social assistance recipients to curb poverty.
"At the same time, it is planned to expand an assistance program for low-income families to promote the comprehensive and fair outreach to vulnerable groups of the population. Measures are also expected to be taken to reduce the dependence of recipients on social payments, make the housing and utilities subsidies program more targeted by strengthening control over the distribution of funds. Other measures are planned to be introduced to ensure the effectiveness of social support and improve the quality of life of the population," the ministry added.
As UNIAN reported, Ukrainian Minister of Social Policy Maryna Lazebna earlier announced the establishment of a delegation to participate in talks with the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development on the allocation of US$150 million in aid to vulnerable groups in the context of the coronavirus epidemic.