Ruginienė establishes working group to address poverty and social exclusion

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has formed a working group to tackle poverty and social exclusion, the Government’s Press Service announced on Tuesday.

The group includes representatives from ministries, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and citizens nominated by these organisations. According to the government, poverty and social exclusion policies in Lithuania have so far been developed on an institutional and sectoral basis, but greater involvement of those directly affected is needed for success.

“Institutions certainly do not lack goodwill or the ability to implement change—from legislation to various social support mechanisms. However, it is crucial to incorporate the voices and experiences of people who can help institutions shape fairer solutions, better assess what works and what needs adjustment, and see problems through the eyes of those who face them daily,” Ruginienė said in the statement.

She added that the government aims to build change on a foundation of openness and trust, ensuring that reforms are genuine and sustainable.

The working group fulfils a goal set in the 20th Government’s programme to create a systematic model for involving people experiencing poverty in decision-making. The government consulted with members of the National Network of Poverty Reduction Organisations to determine the most effective format.

The model includes participatory workshops where people affected by poverty and social exclusion, alongside experts and institutional representatives, will work in a safe and respectful environment to find solutions in areas such as housing affordability, family and child welfare, and energy poverty. The working group will then compile recommendations for ministries and other institutions and submit proposals to the prime minister.

The group will include NGO representatives and individuals with firsthand experience of poverty, as well as permanent representatives from ministries and local governments.

On Tuesday, it was also announced that Mindaugas Sinkevičius, leader of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP), has decided to take on the responsibility of leading the government. He will assume the prime minister’s duties from Ruginienė.

Ruginienė, a social democrat, was appointed to the role in August last year, and her government took office in September after swearing in at the Seimas.