UNICEF: government's anti-crisis financial assistance significantly contributes to poverty reduction in Georgia
UNICEF report said that it is expected that the reduction of monthly household incomes as a result of the pandemic in different scenarios will lead to an increase in poverty at different levels. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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The government of Georgia's financial assistance significantly has contributed to poverty alleviation, says a microsimulation model report on the pandemic’s effect on the population and child poverty presented by UNICEF and the Georgian government today.
The study examined the possible effects of financial assistance programmes already implemented by the government of Georgia under the Coronavirus Pandemic Anti-Crisis Plan.
This included a total of 12 simulations, including analysing cash assistance scenarios for all children and monthly cash assistance scenarios for the unemployed.
The effect of the models is projected separately and does not reflect the combined effect of all measures implemented by the government under the anti-crisis plan.
The coronavirus pandemic may have an impact on children and its devastating effects will last a lifetime. It is very important to have strong social security networks so that people do not fall into poverty as a result of the coronavirus crisis", said the representative of UNICEF in Georgia, Ghassan Khalil.
UNICEF report said that it is expected that the reduction of monthly household incomes as a result of the pandemic in different scenarios will lead to an increase in poverty at different levels. However, as a result of financial assistance, it is possible to slow down the growth rate of poverty.
The recommendations based on the research findings will help policymakers make further changes to strengthen social security and anti-crisis strategies in the country.
UNICEF also said that the universal cash assistance for children aged 0-17 is the most effective model for overcoming the poverty of the population and children.
According to the UNICEF study, assistance for those who are unemployed, working for a regular salary, is effective which, in case of a severe shock, can reduce poverty from the expected 30.7 to 28.4 per cent.