Reforming social protection systems

Social protection (SP) is a fundamental human right that helps individuals navigate life-cycle risks. In the Arab region, SP systems are still falling short in terms of both coverage and effectiveness—reaching only about 35 percent of the population. While many Arab countries are reforming their SP systems, challenges persist: limited fiscal space, weak inter-agency coordination, gaps between contributory and non-contributory systems, and insufficient mechanisms to make SP systems adaptive to shocks. To achieve universal social protection that not only prevents and alleviates poverty but also fosters human capital development, Arab countries must make robust investments in building their national human and institutional capacities.

Our approach

ESCWA helps Arab countries strengthen social protection systems by providing advisory services grounded  in analytical and diagnostic tools, along with customized technical assistance and capacity development, including peer learning and the exchange of good practices. Our approach features comprehensive reviews of national systems, such as facilitating self-assessments of policy frameworks, programme design, and reform needs to support evidence-based planning. Using advanced machine-learning data analytics tools, ESCWA supports governments’ efforts to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of social assistance programmes. Support is demand-driven and tailored to each country’s priorities and often incorporates peer-learning and South-South exchanges of good practices into national debates on social protection reform options. In parallel, ESCWA continues to serve as the region’s social protection knowledge hub by developing and maintaining  information repositories and platforms dedicated to social protection reforms. 

Our partners

ESCWA works in close partnership with national governments throughout the Arab region, engaging primarily with ministries of social affairs, ministries of labour, as well as national social assistance and social insurance agencies. ESCWA also engages with sister United Nations organizations, development partners, leading think tanks and prominent consulting institutions.

Our activities

ESCWA produces an extensive array of analytical reports and technical papers that examine the status of social protection systems and reform across the Arab region. These include the Social Protection Landscape and Perspective: Comprehensive National Review of System and Reforms for its member States, the Annual Digest of Social Protection Reforms series, as well as other flagship publications, policy briefs, and background papers.  ESCWA also regularly convenes the Meetings of the Expert Group on Social Protection Reform (EGSPR), which serve as a vital platform for peer exchange among policymakers and senior government officials from Arab countries’ Ministries of Social Affairs. 

To promote regional knowledge exchange, ESCWA has established and continuously maintains the Social Protection Platform in the Arab Region (SPAR), the region’s first knowledge hub specifically designed for social protection policy makers and practitioners. SPAR serves as a centralized repository, offering up-to-date data, in-depth studies, and the latest news related to social protection reforms throughout the Arab countries. Furthermore, ESCWA actively promotes collaboration and capacity development by organizing a variety of needs-driven activities. These include peer- exchange workshops, capacity building events, and policy consultations that support member States in advancing their social protection reforms.