SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS STRENGTHENING (SPSS) PROJECT test The USAID Armenia, Social Protection Systems Strengthening (SPSS) project is a multifaceted initiative designed to help improve social-insurance delivery, introduce job-market reforms and occupational safety standards, and reduce vulnerable citizens’ dependence on public support. Implemented by The Services Group, Inc. (TSG), from 2006 until 2009, SPSS focuses on strengthening existing social protection systems, enhancing the Armenian Government’s institutional and human capacities, steering public-private collaboration, and boosting the capacities of social-service non-governmental organizations (NGO). By supporting core social sector reforms in Armenia the project aims to facilitate transition to self-reliance and sustainability and to reduce citizens’ dependence on public support for their basic needs. Social Insurance
In addition to providing retirement planning options to its citizens, Armenia is working to build a dependable pension system that provides adequate living standards to current and future pensioners, properly tracks individual contributions and benefits, and offers social insurance alternatives to the population. To help Armenia reach this goal, SPSS is: developing reform options for the benefit of all social-insurance recipients in the country and promoting informed decision-making, providing advice on the reform of the pension system, supporting counterparts to establish effective and integrated management systems, working to harmonize social-sector databases to improve information integrity and security.
Armenian employers need support to reduce staff turnover and find the workers with the right skills, while job seekers need to be able to find the right employers and continue acquiring new skills. The current economic growth must be supported by professional labor-market research and the development of a competitive workforce. Employment services should better match labor force supply to match business demand. SPSS is dedicated to facilitating this by: working to modernize employment services that promote employer and job seeker needs, providing labor market research capacity support, developing enhanced State Employment Centers working conditions, re-aligning staff functions and processes, and working with Government counterparts to develop the National Employment Strategic Plan, consistent with the International Labor Organization Strategy and European Union standards.
Occupational Safety and Labor Protection
Armenia recently revised its Labor Code to improve employee safeguards, creating a Labor Inspectorate in 2005 to enforce these regulations. However, public knowledge of worker safety issues is low, and institutional capacity needs to be developed in effective and risk-based regulation enforcement. Armenian workers deserve a safe and healthy working environment, which starts with worker-employer collaboration. In order to help foster workplace safety, the SPSS project is: helping to develop occupational health and safety norms for Armenia and to refine labor legislation in accordance with international standards, raising awareness on these issues, especially among the private sector, developing capacity for and support to “risk-based” enforcement on the part of the Labor Inspectorate.
Social Assistance Programs for Vulnerable Populations
Meeting basic needs is a universal challenge. Armenia struggles to provide care, effectively target assistance for its socially vulnerable populations, and promote social and economic inclusion. Under this Component, the Project is: working to improve social services that reduce dependency on the state by promoting efficient use of scarce resources to help the most in need, supporting the Government and NGOs to collaboratively provide community-based social services through social contracting, promoting professional social work and high quality social service provision.
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