ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL3.SEP/2025/1
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Flagship publications
Cluster: Shared Economic Prosperity
Focus Area: Debt and fiscal policy, Financing for development, Macroeconomics
Initiatives: Debt Optimization to Enhance Fiscal Space, Climate/SDGs Debt Swap, Social Expenditure Monitor for Arab States, Public finance and inclusive fiscal policy
SDGs: Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords: Arab countries, Climate, Development assistance, Debt management, Finance, Government spending policy, Government budgeting, Gross domestic product, Public expenditures, Public finance, Recommendations, Resources allocation, Social policy, Sustainable development, Taxation
Social spending, expenditure efficiency and fiscal sustainability in the Arab States
November 2025
Developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the report entitled “Social spending, expenditure efficiency and fiscal sustainability in the Arab States” presents a comprehensive assessment of how public resources are invested in people. It introduces a whole-of-budget approach through the Social Expenditure Monitor (SEM), highlighting efficiency and equity gaps across seven dimensions of social spending.
The report defines an efficiency frontier to benchmark the effectiveness of resource use in achieving human development. It also demonstrates how countries can achieve improved outcomes through more strategic and effective spending. Aligned with the Sevilla Commitment on Financing for Development, the report outlines actionable pathways to strengthen fiscal systems using data-driven and AI-enabled tools that assess fiscal space, enhance efficiency and improve budget effectiveness, in line with national priorities for inclusive and sustainable development.
Related content
Debt and fiscal policy, Financing for development, Macroeconomics
Developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the report entitled “Social spending, expenditure efficiency and fiscal sustainability in the Arab States” presents a comprehensive assessment of how public resources are invested in people. It introduces a whole-of-budget approach through the Social Expenditure Monitor (SEM), highlighting efficiency and equity gaps across seven dimensions of social spending.
The report defines an efficiency frontier to benchmark the effectiveness of resource use in achieving human development. It also demonstrates how countries can achieve improved outcomes through more strategic and effective spending. Aligned with the Sevilla Commitment on Financing for Development, the report outlines actionable pathways to strengthen fiscal systems using data-driven and AI-enabled tools that assess fiscal space, enhance efficiency and improve budget effectiveness, in line with national priorities for inclusive and sustainable development.
