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Pakistan’s largest social protection initiative is undergoing a significant transformation. The World Bank is moving to approve a second restructuring of the $970 million Crisis-Resilient Social Protection (CRISP) Program. This strategic shift aims to align the project with the Bank’s new global corporate scorecard.
Furthermore, the restructuring will sharpen reporting on exactly who benefits from these social safety nets. Official documents reveal that these changes will ensure consistency and improve data aggregation. Consequently, the project will match the Bank’s corporate targets, which aim to reach 500 million poor people and 250 million women globally by 2030.
World Bank is Shifting to Individual-Level Data
The core of this restructuring involves a major update to the program’s results framework. Previously, reporting may have focused on broader metrics. Now, the framework will shift to individual-level reporting.
Specifically, the new methodology will break down beneficiaries by gender and youth. This change follows the World Bank’s fiscal year 2024–30 Corporate Scorecard methodology. By retrofitting the framework, the CRISP program will more accurately reflect corporate reporting requirements. Moreover, this granular approach avoids undercounting and significantly increases transparency and accountability.
Strong Financial Performance
Implemented by the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), CRISP continues to demonstrate robust performance. Now four years into implementation, the program has achieved significant financial milestones.
- Total Disbursement: World Bank records show $704.44 million has already been disbursed.
- Execution Rate: This amount represents 73 per cent of the total financing envelope.
- Compliance: There are no overdue audits, ineligible expenditures, or fiduciary red flags.
Currently, both procurement and financial management hold a “Satisfactory” rating. Therefore, the overall project risk remains moderate.
Modernising Pakistan’s Safety Nets
Originally approved in March 2021 and boosted by Additional Financing in 2024, CRISP aims to modernise Pakistan’s safety net systems. The program fortifies resilience against economic shocks through data-driven solutions.
Under the program, the National Socio-Economic Registry has been refreshed for over 22 million households. Additionally, cash transfer programs for education and nutrition have expanded nationwide. The Taleemi Wazaif program has enrolled over 10 million children. Simultaneously, the Nashonuma program now supports more than 3.6 million mothers and children.
BISP has also received praise for its institutional capacity. Progress is evident in data management, grievance redress, and federal-provincial coordination. Currently, a newly launched hybrid social protection scheme is gearing up for scale-up once an ongoing evaluation concludes.
With a closing date of June 30, 2027, the program is now entering its next critical phase. The restructuring will streamline reporting standards, ensuring that Pakistan’s social protection data remains comparable and transparent on the global stage.
