Government has partnered with the Inter-American Development Bank to create the Support for Vulnerable Populations Affected by Coronavirus in Trinidad and Tobago Programme, aimed at offering aid to those seriously impacted by the pandemic.

The agreement, which was signed on earlier this week on February 23, was announced in a statement on Friday.

“This agreement will support minimum income for those affected by the coronavirus in the immediate period and during the recovery. The agreement does not see Trinidad and Tobago taking on additional debt but instead redirects existing uncommitted loan resources to new and urgent high priority public investment areas that require financing during this critical period” explained Acting Social Services Minister Allyson West.

The programme will see US$24.45 million deployed over the next to years, in the urgent execution of Covid-19 management measures geared towards ensuring minimum levels of quality of life for vulnerable persons amid the crisis caused by the pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago.

The funds will offer protection for the vulnerable population who are not on the rosters of transfer programmes, working in the informal sector.

The first component will finance expansion or additional/emergency cash transfers to beneficiaries of three existing programmes delivered by the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services: (MSDFS):

(i)                 Food Support Programme (Expansion of benefits under the Food Support Programme includes existing beneficiaries of the programme and school-age children registered in the School Nutrition Programme);

(ii)               Senior Citizen Pension; and

(iii)             Disability Assistance Grant.

There will be a temporary expansion of the Food Support Programme for households where a member working in the informal sector experienced a loss in income due to the Covid-19 crisis, after March 1, 2020.

“This agreement was facilitated by the Ministry of Planning and Development through the Socio-Economic Policy Planning Division, the local focal point for the IDB. It underscores Government’s commitment to Theme I of the National Development Strategy Vision 2030 – Putting People First: Nurturing Our Greatest Asset, as well as to achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities,” the Ministry said.

 IDB President Mauricio Claver-Carone pledged to continue supporting Trinidad and Tobago’s development needs by working together on digitization, assisting small businesses affected by Covid-19, climate finance and especially highlighted the role of women in the economy and the need for breaking barriers to financing for women in business.