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.