The Government of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the EU and UNICEF, hosted the event under the theme “Funding Priorities: Strengthening General Funding Campaign for Inclusive Social Impacts for Children and Families."

The national budget is a powerful tool for upholding children’s rights and securing their well-being. Governments undertake the responsibility of ensuring that every child’s future is protected through sound fiscal policies. In the face of economic pressures and limited fiscal space, the need to prioritise, sustain, and channel resources into high-impact and cost-efficient programmes is greater than ever. Such investments not only benefit children but also contribute to broader national development goals. Strong planning and budgeting systems are therefore essential, particularly within the social sectors, to ensure resources are used effectively and equitably.

With this purpose, a regional event was held in Colombo last week as part of the EU-UNICEF Public Finance Facility knowledge exchange series, which supports governments in maximizing the use of public social sector budgets to advance children’s rights. The Government of Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the EU and UNICEF, hosted the event under the theme “Funding Priorities: Strengthening General Funding Campaign for Inclusive Social Impacts for Children and Families."

At the event, Ms. Jeevanthie Senanayeke, Acting Director General of the Sustainable Development Council (SDC) presented Sri Lanka’s SDG Budget Tagging process, sharing lessons learned and the way forward as a good case study for other countries. The presentation highlighted how SDG tagging has influenced budget allocations and policy prioritization across ministries. The National Budget Department (NBD) also participated in the panel discussion following the presentations, where they discussed future plans to further strengthen the SDG Budget Tagging process in national budget preparation.

This event brought together policymakers from across Asia, responsible for planning, budgeting, and public financial management, alongside international partners supporting government initiatives. It provided a rich space for exchanging knowledge, tools, and reforms to improve planning and budgeting processes, ultimately enhancing service delivery and promoting the realization of children’s rights.