WASHINGTON, March 3rd, 2021— The World Bank approved an additional $6 million in financing for the Social Safety Net Project (SSNP) in Comoros to help increase poor communities’ access to safety nets, nutrition, and community services. This additional financing will further strengthen the foundations of the national social protection system and the capacity of the government to support the poor and vulnerable, especially as communities recover from the COVID-19 crisis.
“The economic and fiscal impact of the COVID-19 crisis in Comoros will be substantial in 2021 and could reverse past progress to reduce poverty and reduce fragility. This operation will help the government save lives, protect the livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations, and preserve jobs— all while enhancing the social safety net system,” said Boubacar Sidiki Walbani, World Bank Country Representative for Comoros.
Since 2015, with support from the ongoing SSNP, the government of Comoros has established the basic elements of a targeted social safety net system. The SSNP has launched three programs for poor and vulnerable households: (i) the Productive Safety Net program, which provided regular cash to 4,217 targeted poor families in exchange for their participation in productive cash-for-work activities in the 69 poorest villages of Comoros over a three-year period; (ii) the socio-economic recovery grant program, which is currently under implementation and covers 10,000 vulnerable households in 118 villages that were affected by cyclone Kenneth, and which promotes income-generating activities as well as livelihood support services; and (iii) unconditional cash transfers to 20,000 vulnerable households in urban areas to provide direct support for vulnerable households who have lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting confinement measures.
This additional financing supports the ongoing activities of the SSNP and provides support to improve access to the social protection system and the rehabilitation and reconstruction of community-based infrastructure, including classrooms and local water collection sites, which are critical to post-COVID-19 recovery.
“This additional credit will further strengthen the national social protection system by developing an electronic payment system, strengthening complaint systems, community engagement and monitoring-evaluation”, explained Julia Rachel Ravelosoa, Senior Social Protection Specialist. “It will also provide an opportunity to support the government in developing a social registry that will increase responsiveness and efficiency of future social safety net programs.”
The World Bank has supported Comoros to build its social protection system since 2015 with the first IDA funded-project in the amount of $6 million in 2015, followed by an additional grant in an amount of US$18 million in December 2019 to respond to the cyclone Kenneth. The current second additional financing increases the amount of the SSNP to $30 million and extends the project until June 30, 2023, to complete all activities.
