## The Efficiency of Social Spending in Niger: Niger

_Selected Issues Papers, February 13, 2023_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [The Efficiency of Social Spending in Niger: Niger](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2023/02/13/the-efficiency-of-social-spending-in-niger-niger-529714)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2023/02/13/the-efficiency-of-social-spending-in-niger-niger-529714/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2023/02/13/the-efficiency-of-social-spending-in-niger-niger-529714/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2023/02/13/the-efficiency-of-social-spending-in-niger-niger-529714/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Jean-Marc Atsebi, Paola Ganum
- Published: February 13, 2023
- Series: Selected Issues Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400234705.018

---

### Executive summary and key findings
- Despite some progress, poverty remains elevated and education and health outcomes are lagging.
- The paper finds evidence of inefficiencies in education, health, and social protection spending in Niger.
- Programs are typically not well-targeted, some are regressive, and there are significant coverage gaps.
- Social assistance programs do not sufficiently enhance productivity or resilience to shocks.

### Policy recommendations and priorities
- Scaling up social spending should be paired with strenghtening social protection programs through better targeting.
- Support girls’ education as a priority to improve education outcomes.
- Move away from general subsidies toward more targeted social assistance.
- Reorient social assistance to focus more on enhancing productivity and resilience to shocks.

### Subject areas and keywords
- Subject: Education, Education spending, Expenditure, Health, International organization, Monetary policy, Population and demographics, Poverty
- Keywords: copyright page, Education, Education spending, Efficiency, Health, health outcome, health system, Niger, Social Protection, Social Spending, SPL program, Sub-Saharan Africa

---

## Content in this bundle

- **Sipea2023003**
  - [Sipea2023003 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/selected-issues-papers/2023/english/sipea2023003.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Sipea2023003 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/selected-issues-papers/2023/english/sipea2023003.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/selected-issues-papers/issues/2023/02/13/the-efficiency-of-social-spending-in-niger-niger-529714_