Transitioning from Status to Needs Based Assistance for Georgia IDPs

This report presents to the Government
of Georgia (GoG) an analysis of the implications of
potential policy changes to internally displaced person
(IDP) assistance. A pressing question for policy makers in
Georgia is the sustainability of status-based IDP assistance
and what efforts can be made to tailor this assistance to
favor the poor and vulnerable. Elimination of the IDP
benefit has been subject to debate among policymakers. The
World Bank has worked with the government to support
improvements to the socioeconomic situation of IDPs in
Georgia since 2008. The IDP Community Development Project,
implemented between 2009-2012 improved service delivery,
infrastructure, and livelihoods in over 40 IDP communities.
Evidence on the socio-economic needs of IDPs has been
collected by both government and donors; yet no
comprehensive research has been conducted to critically
compare their situation to that of the overall population.
The objective of this research is to generate more evidence
on the significance of the IDP benefit, and consequences
that may be expected if this benefit is removed, in order to
inform future policy decisions of the GoG in this regard.
The report examines: (i) the policy and institutional
framework and considerations that may support or obstruct a
shift in IDP assistance; (ii) quantitative evidence on the
socio-economic situation of IDPs as compared to non-IDPs in
Georgia; and (iii) qualitative evidence on the significance
of the IDP benefit, attitudes towards the benefit program,
and vulnerabilities that may arise from its potential
elimination. The paper concludes with policy recommendations
for mitigating negative poverty and social impacts, should
the government pursue a decision to remove the IDP benefit program.