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The future of public spending

The implementation of better public spending practices can play a critically important role in helping countries make progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As governments globally are starting to recognise, public sector procurement is more than simply an operational function—it can be a powerful force for change. Public spending has an extremely large footprint, typically representing 15-30% of GDP. Which projects governments choose to spend money on—and who they spend it with—therefore makes a substantive difference. Rather than being “neutral”, such spending will positively or negatively impact everything from local employment to levels of carbon emissions, making public spending integral to many of the SDGs. Efficient public procurement allows governments to make substantial progress towards achieving their social, environmental and economic sustainability objectives.

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