Over 50,000 families received support within new social assistance system

More than 50,000 Moldovan families in need benefited from social assistance provided to families on incomes lower than the minimum guaranteed by the state. The new social assistance system implemented within the reform of the social assistance system covers 66% of the poor population, as against 17% by the previous system of nominal compensations. The data were presented in a conference held to mark the completion of the project “Support in providing efficient and sustainable social assistance services”, Info-Prim Neo reports. The project was implemented by the Ministry of Labor, Social Protection and Family with support from the UK Department for International Development and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. The results achieved within the project allow creating a sustainable assistance system designed to help the poorest section of the population, said Minister of Labor, Social Protection and Family Valentina Buliga. The implemented changes significantly improved the distribution of social benefits, said Deputy Minister Vadim Pistrinciuc. The main activities of the project centered on the development of a political framework in social assistance, testing and implementation of systems aimed at improving the provision of social allowances. A number of normative documents and policies designed to improve the quality of the social assistance services were formulate with the help of civil society and beneficiaries. They were approved by the Parliament and the Government. The project was implemented between February 2007 and December 2010.