ESCWA is holding the 12th Meeting of the Expert Group on Social Protection Reforms in the Arab region, bringing together policymakers, experts, and partners to evaluate the socio-economic impacts and vulnerabilities caused by the ongoing regional crisis. Key issues include declining living standards, rising household costs due to increased consumer prices, and heightened poverty, especially among low-income families, persons with disabilities, displaced populations, and informal workers. The meeting also reviews how these challenges are affecting social welfare systems and examines current government responses, which are mostly short-term and financially limited.
Building on lessons from previous crises, especially COVID-19, participants discuss more effective, shock-responsive social protection strategies, relevant policy designs, and delivery mechanisms, as well as the fiscal and institutional needs for implementation. They also consider ways to better align humanitarian assistance with national systems.
Muscat, Oman
