Suriname’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Housing (Sozavo) has laid out an ambitious two-part reform agenda: clearing the persistent backlog of unpaid social benefit claims by 2027 and transitioning the country away from costly cash-based disbursements to a fully digital payment system for all social transfers. Minister Diana Pokie, who leads Sozavo, confirmed the 2027 deadline in an official statement shared via the Communication Service of Suriname, noting that the original one-year timeline for clearing backlogs could not be met due to funding dependencies on the Ministry of Finance and Planning.
Cash disbursements, currently still the norm for remote inland districts including Brokopondo and Sipaliwini, have been identified as a key barrier to resolving backlogs. Minister Pokie explained that cash payments carry exorbitantly high operational costs, which have compounded delays and made it impossible to clear the accumulated backlog at the current pace. In all other Surinamese districts, social benefits are already distributed via the Monikarta payment card system, a shift that has already streamlined processes in those regions.
To deliver a nationwide digital solution, Sozavo has partnered with the Suriname Post Savings Bank (SPSB) to develop a countrywide digital payment infrastructure that will reach even the most remote inland communities. Preparations for breaking the country’s long-standing reliance on cash culture are already far advanced, Pokie confirmed, with the end goal of routing nearly all social benefit disbursements through direct bank transfers and other formal digital payment methods.
The reform also includes a restructuring of Monikarta distribution. Sozavo has signed a new agreement with SPSB that will transfer full responsibility for issuing new cards to the bank moving forward. The ministry will run one final round of distribution for individuals who have not yet collected their pre-issued cards, after which all remaining unclaimed cards will be handed over to SPSB for future distribution. Pokie noted that turnout for recent outreach campaigns urging uncollected card holders to claim their cards has been disappointingly low, prompting the ministry to explore new outreach strategies including targeted social media campaigns to reach this demographic.
Longer-term modernization plans also extend to the application process for social benefits. Currently, all applications for support schemes including disability assistance, aid for low-income households, and purchasing power enhancement must be submitted in person through local Sozavo neighborhood offices, with separate registration periods scheduled for inland residents. The full digitalization of the entire benefit pipeline, from application to disbursement, is expected to create a far more efficient system that will prevent future backlogs from accumulating and expand access to support for all eligible Surinamese residents.