The Ministry of State for Administrative Development and the European Union (EU) signed an agreement aiming at financing two projects related to the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) and National Social Security Fund (NSSF) with a total of $13 million. The agreement lied within a larger assistance framework, called ‘Promoting Social Cohesion’.

About $7.5 million were allocated for CAS to develop the quality and quantity of statistical information focusing on the impact of the Syrian crisis on the local economic and social situation. About $4.7 million of this allocation will finance a household conditions and labor force survey, covering more than 45,000 families in different regions.

Maral Tutelian, Director General of CAS, said: “The survey will be executed with the support and technical coordination of the International Labour Organization (ILO).” She said that part of this support is earmarked to finance a survey regarding emigration. The other part will be dedicated to capacity building and technical support to the staff of CAS.

Another $5 million have been allocated to the NSSF. “This budget is for reform projects, but specifics will be decided later on,” said board member Rafic Salameh. He said that they called several times for the implementing of the second phase of automating the NSSF, and this budget may become dedicated to automation.