The Arab Forum for Public Finance and Budgeting kicks off in Beirut, calling for smart spending to achieve sustainable development
Beirut, With the participation of the Ministry of Social Development, represented by Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Administrative Development and Planning, the First Arab Forum on Public Finance and Budgeting was launched this morning in Beirut under the theme “Enhancing Spending on the Social Sector and Achieving Fiscal Sustainability.” The forum was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and held at the United Nations House in Beirut.
The two-day forum brings together Arab ministers of finance, social development, and planning, alongside senior government officials, experts, and development partners, to exchange experiences and explore innovative financial solutions and policy approaches that enhance efficiency, equity, and fiscal resilience.
The Arab region loses approximately USD 112 billion annually due to inefficiencies in social spending—equivalent to around 3.2% of the region’s GDP—which underscores the urgent need to develop smarter, fairer, and more sustainable public spending policies that accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his opening remarks, Lebanon’s Minister of Finance, Mr. Yassin Jaber, stated that the Arab region has the capacity to recover from crises and move toward a new social contract based on restoring citizens’ trust in state institutions and their ability to manage public funds with justice and efficiency. He emphasized the importance of improving the targeting of social spending and directing resources toward productive sectors and investment in human capital as key pillars for building more resilient, equitable, and growth-oriented economies.
He also expressed hope that the forum would serve as a practical step toward strengthening Arab cooperation in social spending and laying solid fiscal and economic foundations that contribute to a more stable and prosperous future for the peoples of the region.
The forum builds on the findings of the Social Expenditure Monitor, developed jointly by ESCWA, UNICEF, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), which indicates that most Arab countries allocate a lower share of their budgets to social sectors compared with the global average. The report also highlights challenges related to weak monitoring systems and fragmented sectoral programs, which negatively affect the efficiency of public spending.
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Department of Refugee Affairs Presents Its Annual Report to the MoSD and Reaffirms the Importance of Partnership in Strengthening the Resilience of Palestinian Refugees
Ramallah – The Department of Refugee Affairs of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) presented its Annual Report to the Ministry of Social Development during a meeting held at the Ministry’s headquarters. The meeting formed part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two institutions and to enhance mechanisms for responding to the humanitarian and social needs of Palestinian refugee camps. Representing the Ministry of Social Development were Mr. Akram Al-Hafi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Family Care and Protection, and Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Administrative Development and Planning. Representing the Department of Refugee Affairs were Mr. Ahmad Khallah, Advisor to the Department, Ms. Azhar Al-Khalili, and Ms. Serena Arrar from the General Directorate of Projects. The delegation conveyed the greetings of Dr. Ahmad Abu Holi, Head of the Department of Refugee Affairs, and the Department’s Deputy Head, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and enhancing cooperation among Palestinian national institutions in support of Palestinian refugees and their resilience under the exceptional circumstances facing the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Department’s delegation presented the key findings of its Annual Report, which documents the situation in Palestinian refugee camps, the challenges they face, and the Department’s principal achievements over the past year. The report also highlights the humanitarian and development interventions implemented in refugee camps and Palestinian communities, as well as the partnerships established with national institutions and international donors to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian refugees and improve the quality of services provided to them. The meeting also explored opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in responding to the needs of displaced families in the northern West Bank and improving coordination in the areas of social protection, social care, and humanitarian relief, with the aim of ensuring a more coordinated and effective national response for affected households. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of maintaining close coordination, exchanging expertise and information, and building on the existing partnership between the Ministry of Social Development and the Department of Refugee Affairs. They stressed that strengthening cooperation among national institutions is essential for addressing humanitarian and social challenges and enhancing the resilience of Palestinian refugees while improving the services provided to them.
MoSD Holds Consultative Workshop to Develop the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual
Ramallah – The Ministry of Social Development today held a consultative workshop to present and discuss the draft Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Manual under the Social Development Enhancement Project, implemented in partnership with the World Bank. The workshop brought together representatives of the General Union of Persons with Disabilities, the Advisory Board for the Development of Non-Governmental Organizations, and civil society organizations working in the field of human rights. The workshop forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen a more efficient and inclusive grievance redress system that enhances service quality and promotes the principles of transparency and accountability. The workshop was opened by Mr. Ashraf Al-Barghouthi, Assistant Deputy Minister for Administrative Development and Planning, who welcomed the participants and emphasized that strengthening the grievance redress system requires effective coordination and collaboration among all relevant stakeholders. He described the system as one of the key instruments for improving service quality and enhancing responsiveness to citizens' needs. He explained that the workshop aims to discuss the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual and its procedures through a participatory approach to develop practical, confidential, transparent, and effective processes, with particular attention to sensitive complaints, including those related to gender-based violence (GBV), thereby strengthening public confidence in the grievance mechanism and improving its effectiveness. Mr. Mohammad Rashid Khaled, Head of the Complaints Unit at the Ministry of Social Development, presented an overview of the Ministry’s existing grievance redress system, including the procedures for receiving, processing, and resolving complaints. He emphasized the importance of continuously improving these procedures and expanding access channels for all population groups to ensure timely responses, high-quality complaint resolution, strengthened good governance, and improved public service delivery. For her part, Ms. Kifah Rajoub, Environmental and Social Specialist at the World Bank, presented the draft Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual, explaining that the workshop is part of a broader consultative process aimed at gathering feedback from partners and relevant stakeholders before the Manual is finalized. She noted that this process seeks to strengthen complaint intake channels and grievance handling procedures in line with international good practices. Ms. Rajoub also presented the key components of the Social Development Enhancement Project, which aims to build a more resilient social protection system capable of responding to shocks and crises by strengthening social services for poor and marginalized households, enhancing the Social Registry and Case Management System, building the capacities of Ministry staff in the directorates, and developing a flexible emergency response mechanism in collaboration with partners. The workshop further reviewed the core principles of the Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual, with particular emphasis on ensuring that complaint channels are accessible to all groups, especially women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons, while establishing clear, fair, and transparent grievance handling procedures that reinforce integrity, accountability, and transparency in project implementation. The workshop concluded with an extensive technical discussion among participants representing various institutions and professional backgrounds. Participants reviewed the draft Manual, shared technical observations and recommendations for its improvement, and emphasized the importance of maintaining close coordination and consultation among all partners to finalize a comprehensive Grievance Redress Mechanism Manual that strengthens the effectiveness and credibility of the Ministry’s grievance redress system.
