The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a new project SPIRIT (Social Protection for Inclusion, Resilience, Innovation and Transformation) totaling $880 million, aimed at modernizing Ukraine’s social protection system, supporting vulnerable population groups, and strengthening community resilience.

The project will be implemented by the Ministry of Social Policy and is expected to reach more than one million people, including low-income families, families with children, people with disabilities, the elderly, and caregivers.

The project’s financing includes an $860 million World Bank loan and $20 million in grant co-financing from the United Kingdom and Germany through the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF).

SPIRIT is part of broader international support for Ukraine and will advance reforms required for Ukraine’s European integration in the areas of social policy, disability support, and labor market integration.

Specifically, the project envisions the implementation of three key reforms: the creation of a unified Basic Social Assistance system to replace fragmented support programs; reform of social services financing based on the principle of “money follows the person” through the procurement of services from public, community, and private social service providers; and modernization of the disability support system, including a transition from a medical model of disability assessment to a person-centered approach.