Education, health, social protection, water and sanitation: these sectors concentrate a large share of the population's most urgent needs. Yet between 2023 and 2026, they represented only 27% of the state budget on average, according to UNICEF's budget analysis. In 2026, the state's general budget reaches 15,784 billion ariary, compared to 14,416 billion in 2025, a 9.5% increase. But according to UNICEF's analysis published last July, social sectors represented 27% of the national budget on average between 2023 and 2026. The organization calls for greater security of funding dedicated to education, health, social protection, and water and sanitation.
Guarantee
The debate should not, however, be limited to percentages. A voted budget does not automatically mean a service will actually be delivered. The question of execution becomes central: in other words, are the funds spent? Do they actually reach schools, health centers and targeted households? Do expenses match territorial needs? This is where the notion of efficiency takes on full meaning.
Measure
For the state, the challenge is now to link spending to results, such as more children staying in school, more accessible care, more protected households, or more populations served with water. The 27% rate should therefore be viewed as a starting point, not a conclusion. It would be too simplistic to claim that Madagascar spends too little or, conversely, enough. The real debate is more demanding: how much does the state allocate to social sectors, how much does it actually spend, where does that money go, and most importantly, what does it change in citizens' lives? Any truly effective social policy must answer this last question.
Jose Belalahy