The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a compelling call for the government of Antigua and Barbuda to undertake a comprehensive overhaul of its social assistance infrastructure. A recent Article IV consultation mission concluded that the existing framework, dispersed across five distinct ministries, is critically flawed. This administrative fragmentation is resulting in significant operational redundancies, diminished targeting accuracy, and overall inefficiencies in service delivery to citizens.
A cornerstone of the IMF’s recommendation is the urgent establishment of a unified, centralized beneficiary database. This integrated system is deemed vital for enabling authorities to accurately identify eligible recipients, thereby eliminating coverage gaps and minimizing wasteful overlap between various aid programs. The Fund emphasized that without enhanced inter-agency coordination, the nation’s constrained public resources are being diluted, severely undermining the support available to vulnerable households. These communities continue to face heightened exposure to global economic volatility and escalating costs of living.
Furthermore, the IMF underscored that modernizing this social protection network is not merely an operational improvement but a fundamental step toward bolstering fiscal sustainability and national economic resilience. Successful reform hinges on overcoming institutional barriers and fostering unprecedented cooperation among ministries. The ultimate goals are to ensure life-saving benefits reach those most in need and to strengthen accountability in the management of public finances.