Artificial Intelligence in Social Security / AI for Predictive Social Protection

Overview

Armenia is the an early adopter of artificial intelligence technologies in the field of social protection, according to a November 2022 presentation in Yerevan reported by Caucasus Watch. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia in cooperation with the Nork Social Services Technology and Awareness Center (also referred to as the Nork Information Technology Center), with funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The system uses machine learning models to create mechanisms for organising social work, identifying new layers of vulnerable population groups, and providing them with more targeted support.

The initiative was first announced in January 2022, when Public Radio of Armenia reported that artificial intelligence would be used for the first time in Armenia in a system for more comprehensive and targeted assessment of beneficiary needs, rapid response, and support. The pilot test was carried out by the Nork Information Technology Center with support from ADB. The programme was designed to enable more targeted needs assessment through AI diagnostic tools and to analyse the characteristics of target groups through new technologies. By combining the capabilities of artificial intelligence, the system was intended to identify and analyse the effectiveness of the existing needs assessment system. The results of the pilot programme were to be summarised in spring 2022 and presented on international platforms.

According to Anahit Parzyan, Director General of the Nork Center, the programme was modelled over the course of one year based on the results of three years of research, after which it was presented to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. Parzyan stated that the system is autonomous and works independently, and that for each new survey cycle the system can generate new analysis. She identified the main goal as analysing the needs assessment system, noting that when decisions are made and programmes for vulnerable groups are implemented, people who do not qualify for any existing programmes often remain unidentified.

The machine learning system is involved in five specific tasks, as reported by Caucasus Watch: (1) determining whether the adoption of decisions was in compliance with all legislative acts; (2) identifying beneficiaries who will remain in social security programmes for more than three years; (3) identifying beneficiaries who will exit the support programme as a result of increased income; (4) using a software algorithm to group social security beneficiaries to detect hidden trends; and (5) evaluating the effectiveness of state programmes in the field of employment. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan stated that a study was conducted in cooperation with ADB to understand how AI can be helpful in social protection to make more accurate, targeted, and effective decisions.

By November 2024, the initiative had progressed to the point where Dr Anahit Parzyan, identified as Executive Director of the Nork Social Services Technology and Awareness Center, presented at the AI4SocialProtection workshop in Bangkok, co-funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the European Commission, and ADB. According to the Digital Convergence Initiative blog reporting on the workshop, Armenia is using AI to predict social protection needs in the country, leading to more accurate targeting and the ability to tailor services more closely to the needs of vulnerable citizens. Dr Parzyan stated at the workshop: 'We are no longer waiting for people to come to us, we are finding them and taking social services to them.'

Classification

Programme Details

An AI/ML initiative implemented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia in cooperation with the Nork Social Services Technology and Awareness Center, funded by the Asian Development Bank. The system uses machine learning to analyse the social protection needs assessment system, identify vulnerable population groups who fall outside existing programme eligibility criteria, check legislative compliance, predict long-term beneficiary status, and evaluate the effectiveness of employment programmes.

Implementation Details

Risk & Oversight

Deployment & Outcomes

Sources

1. SRC-001-ARM-001 Caucasus Watch (2022) 'Armenia Becomes First in World to Apply AI in Social Protection', Caucasus Watch, November 2022. Available at: https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/armenia-becomes-first-in-world-to-apply-ai-in-social-protection.html (Accessed: 23 March 2026).
   https://caucasuswatch.de/en/news/armenia-becomes-first-in-world-to-apply-ai-in-social-protection.html
2. SRC-002-ARM-001 Digital Convergence Initiative (2024) 'AI in Social Protection – Now and Tomorrow', SPDCI Blog, November 2024. Available at: https://spdci.org/resources/blog-ai-in-social-protection-now-and-tomorrow/ (Accessed: 23 March 2026).
   https://spdci.org/resources/blog-ai-in-social-protection-now-and-tomorrow/
3. SRC-003-ARM-001 Public Radio of Armenia (2022) 'Armenia to Use AI for Needs Assessment and Support Programs', Public Radio of Armenia, 31 January 2022. Available at: https://en.armradio.am/2022/01/31/armenia-to-use-ai-for-comprehensive-need-assessment-and-support-programs/ (Accessed: 23 March 2026).
   https://en.armradio.am/2022/01/31/armenia-to-use-ai-for-comprehensive-need-assessment-and-support-programs/