Inputs to the Outcome Document

By grounding policy decisions in solid evidence, countries can better navigate the complexities of tax reforms and ensure that their strategies effectively support the financing of the SDGs. Administrative data and ex-ante policy modelling, such as tax-benefit microsimulation modelling, are indispensable in providing a full picture to policymakers. Data and modelling infrastructure should be public goods accessible to the government and its agencies, academia, think tanks and CSOs to enable an inclusive debate about the choices governments face when making decisions on tax and benefit policies.

This brief highlights the importance of financing social protection to achieve multiple SDGs and realized the right to social protection. It outlines key solutions for financing social protection systems, emphasizing the need to prioritize social protection spending within government budgets and better coordinate and increase international financial support. It provides actionable recommendations, including enhanced spending, progressive and effective taxation, and global financial mechanisms to address persistent coverage gaps and ensure adequate social protection for all.

This brief offers a global overview of health spending and highlights the critical role of health expenditure data in shaping policies to achieve the SDG health targets. It calls on countries and global partners to strengthen health expenditure tracking via health accounts to improve policymaking, enhance transparency, and promote accountability.

Financing for Sustainable Progress to Universal Health Coverage

This brief argues that taxation policies on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks present a timely and effective strategy for advancing sustainable development while improving public health and well-being. Health taxes not only generate government revenue through higher tax rates but also promote healthier behaviors, leading to improved health outcomes and productivity gains that benefit society as a whole. Over the next five years, increases in tobacco, alcohol, and SSB taxes could generate an additional $3.7 trillion USD in government revenues globally—an average of $740 billion USD per year, equivalent to 12% of global health budgets and 0.75% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Financing the Pathway Towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Improving Health Sector Priority Setting

This policy brief describes the evolving landscape of the global aid architecture and the critical role of multilateral banks, like IDA, in promoting a more equitable and more effective distribution of resources. It analyzes the need for a rebalancing in the allocation of aid to ensure greater effectiveness and impact. The brief highlights the importance of better funding MDBs, strengthening country ownership, improved collaboration among donors, transparency, and accountability in achieving sustainable development goals.

This policy brief explores the challenges of trade fragmentation and inequality in the global economy, focusing on the impact on low- and middle-income countries. It outlines policy solutions to reduce trade costs, invest in infrastructure, promote economic diversification, and strengthen global trade governance. Specific recommendations for the Fourth Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) include financing for trade infrastructure, bridging the digital divide, improving access to finance, and reducing trade barriers to foster inclusive and sustainable development.

This policy brief addresses the $1.5 trillion global trade finance gap, which disproportionately impacts small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing economies. It outlines key challenges, including high rejection rates and compliance costs, and proposes targeted solutions such as expanding risk-sharing frameworks, strengthening local financial institutions, and promoting climate-friendly trade finance. The brief emphasizes the need for multilateral cooperation to close the gap, promote inclusive growth, and support the transition to a low-carbon global economy.