Pension reform, basic social assistance, and support for people with disabilities discussed as Denys Uliutin meets new World Bank Regional Director

Minister of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine Denys Uliutin held a meeting with World Bank representatives, led by Aparnaa Somanathan, the newly appointed Regional Practice Director for People (Human Development), Europe and Central Asia.

The parties discussed the ongoing modernisation of Ukraine's social protection system, which the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity is implementing with the support of partners under the World Bank-funded SPIRIT project. Particular attention was paid to pension reform. The Ministry has finalised the relevant draft law, developed in cooperation with World Bank partners, with the main goal of ensuring the new system remains fiscally sustainable over the long term.

Under the SPIRIT project, the Ministry is working to transition to an integrated social protection system that better responds to people's real needs and helps them become more self-sufficient, supporting their return to economic and social life. At the core of this system is Basic Social Assistance — a new type of support that will combine cash payments with case management and access to necessary social services.

The parties also discussed reforming the system of support for people with disabilities and moving toward functional assessment based on the principles of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, and the World Bank have already carried out substantial methodological work to develop a model for functional assessment in the social sphere.

"The effectiveness of social policy is measured by how it changes people's lives — helping them return to work, live independently, and care for their children and loved ones. In this context, developing the 'care economy' can address several of Ukraine's challenges at once: providing people with the support they need, creating new jobs, promoting skills development, and bringing back into the labour market people who currently cannot work due to family caregiving responsibilities," said Denys Uliutin.

Digital transformation of the social sphere was a separate topic of discussion. The parties discussed using the grant component of the SPIRIT project to develop the Ministry's IT infrastructure. Digital infrastructure is expected to form the foundation for moving from fragmented programmes to an integrated system, in which information about a person's needs can be used to ensure the timely allocation of appropriate assistance and services.

"We highly value our partnership with the World Bank, its expertise, and its practical support in implementing reforms," Denys Uliutin concluded.