Safety net $1.2B programme for vulnerable extended by IDB until 2025

An Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) programme that sought to help the Government provide assistance to the vulnerable has been extended to March 2025 by the bank in an effort to provide more time for supporting systems to be established.
This was revealed in the Auditor General’s 2022 report, which delved into a sum of $1.2 billion that was allotted for the Human Services Ministry in that year’s budget for capital expenditure under the capital programmes of the Ministry.
Those programmes include the Safety Nets for Vulnerable Populations programme, and according to the Auditor General, as of 2022 year-end, $889.6 million had been spent from the amount, leaving an unspent balance of $336 million.

In its response, the Ministry explained that the Safety Nets for Vulnerable Populations and the Technical Assistance, both IDB/Government projects, have been extended by 24 months until March 9, 2023. According to the Ministry, it sought and received this approval in order to procure equipment for the Ministry’s Management Information System Unit. And in fact, at the time of the audit, procurement had already started.
“The balance which remains is budgeted for the procurement of hardware and software for the Management Information System Unit, as part of the strengthening of the Ministry through its IT system. This process has commenced with some components currently being advertised,” the Ministry explained. As part of its recommendation, the Audit Office reaffirmed the need for executing projects in a timely manner.
It was only in November that the IDB had announced the approval of a US$30 million loan by its Board of Executive Directors, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada for Guyana to provide assistance to its vulnerable populations. The loan came with a grace period of over five years and an amortisation period of 20 years.
The initiative is aimed at persons living with disabilities and includes plans for a learning lab to teach skills that will help them earn a living, as well as increasing access to the already existing public assistance programme.
Additionally, money is supposed to go towards putting the digital infrastructure in place at the Ministry, to better support the rollout of the strategy, as well as a Data Protection Bill that would protect the data of those who benefit from the social safety net.
Last but not least, the money will go towards supporting gender empowerment and providing services to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Trafficking In Persons (TIP) victims. Further, 400 women who are participating in the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) will receive support for their business plans.
The Government had opened a learning lab for persons living with disabilities, at Mahaica on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). Both the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) contributed $5 million towards outfitting the building with furniture.
The institution will cater to persons with diverse disabilities. Transportation will be provided for the institution. Most importantly, the entire area will be transformed into a complex, with other facilities yet to be added. The building will also be supported by a residential facility for the children.
Through facilities and financial grants, the Ministry has been actively expanding its safety net for those persons within this bracket. Some 5000 children in Guyana live with various forms of disabilities – data garnered from the Government’s one-off distribution of the disability grant.
Last year, President Dr Irfaan Ali had approved a one-off 100,000 cash grant for children living with disabilities. This was outside of the public assistance monthly grant. Across the country, persons living with disabilities are being trained in their communities.
From the target of reaching 600 persons for training, it had been reported earlier this year that 55 per cent has been achieved. The areas of training offered include social media marketing, garment construction, graphic designing, and videography among others. (G3)