Selected Issues Papers

Bolstering Social Protection and Human Capital to Promote Inclusive Growth: Guinea-Bissau

By Babacar Sarr

August 1, 2025

Download PDF More Formats on IMF eLibrary Order a Print Copy
More formats on IMF eLibrary Order a Print Copy

Preview Citation

Format: Chicago

Babacar Sarr. "Bolstering Social Protection and Human Capital to Promote Inclusive Growth: Guinea-Bissau", Selected Issues Papers 2025, 110 (2025), accessed August 2, 2025, https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229018975.018

Export Citation

  • ProCite
  • RefWorks
  • Reference Manager
  • BibTex
  • Zotero
  • EndNote

Summary

Guinea-Bissau’s social sectors face persistent challenges despite the progress made over the past few years. This paper reviews existing social protection programs in the country, assesses the efficiency and adequacy of public spending, and formulates recommendations to enhance value for money in social spending. Government spending on education and social protection has been low compared to regional peers, which partly reflects weak domestic revenue mobilization and volatile donor support. However, total health spending has been relatively high due to large private out-of-pocket payments. The much-needed expansion of health and education services to cover a larger segment of the population is expected to generate significant structural fiscal pressures. Regarding social protection, the analysis shows that Guinea-Bissau would benefit from implementing ambitious and well-targeted social programs and moving away from untargeted subsidies.

Subject: Education, Education spending, Expenditure, Health, Health care, Health care spending, Labor, Pensions, Population and demographics, Social protection spending

Keywords: Education, Education spending, Health, Health care, Health care spending, Pensions, Social Protection, Social protection spending, Spending Efficiency, Total expenditures

Publication Details

You May Also Be Interested In...

Canada: Financial System Stability Assessment-Press Release and Staff Report

August 1, 2025

Cameroon: Eighth Reviews Under the Extended Arrangement Under the Extended Fund Facility and the Arrangement Under the Extended Credit Facility, and Third Review Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangement-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Cameroon

August 1, 2025

Ramsey-Optimal Fiscal Spending and Reserve Accumulation Policies under Volatile Aid

August 1, 2025

Republic of Madagascar: Second Review Under the Extend Credit Facility Arrangement, Request for Modification of Performance Criteria, Financing Assurances Review, and Second Review Under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangement-Press Release; Staff Report; and Statement by the Executive Director for Republic of Madagascar

July 31, 2025