Bahrain

Rising living costs, including VAT adjustments and global price increases, have affected household affordability and required continual expansion of support measures.

Fiscal sustainability remains a concern under the Fiscal Balance Programme (launched in 2018), as the Government balances welfare spending with financial discipline.

Effective targeting and fair distribution of subsidies remain complex, prompting the creation of a joint Government–Legislative Authority committee to review support mechanisms.

The Ministry of Social Development is working to integrate the concept of “multidimensional poverty” into national strategies, broadening the definition of poverty beyond income alone.

Solution

Some subsidy distribution mechanisms still face inefficiencies, with further reforms needed to ensure that aid reaches those most in need.

Long-term sustainability of social welfare systems is yet to be secured amid changing economic and demographic conditions.

The full implementation of multidimensional poverty assessments remains incomplete, requiring enhanced institutional capacity and monitoring tools.

Ensuring inclusivity and adaptability of social protection programmes to new challenges, such as labour market changes and digital transformation, remains an ongoing priority.

Need to develop agri-tech and smart farming to maximise production in limited space.

Requirement to boost private sector partnerships to increase local agricultural output.

Need for circular economy strategies, including composting, sustainable irrigation, and greywater recycling.

Improving research and data availability to guide agricultural development.

Solution

Scaling up vertical farming and other innovative techniques.

Full utilisation of aquaculture potential along Bahrain’s coastal areas.

Establishing a comprehensive gene bank for plant conservation.

Integrating updated agricultural data into decision-making for policy and investment.

Continuous development of the agricultural sector database in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Expanding practical application of the Botanical Atlas (2023) for spatial agricultural planning.

Weak integration between the Ministry of Health and private healthcare providers, lacking a unified system with standardised guidelines and clinical protocols to ensure consistent service quality.

Continued shortage of trained medical specialists, requiring regular professional development and capacity-building programmes.

High prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, and obesity, highlighted as major regional health burdens in the report.

Limited data-driven healthcare planning; the monitoring and studying of causes of illness and death are ongoing but not yet comprehensive.

Dependence on outdated datasets, the last national health survey was conducted in 2018; the new 2023 National Health Survey (covering 4,000 Bahraini and non-Bahraini families) is still in progress to update public health statistics.

Solution

The Mental Health Law remains under review; the regulatory framework to protect patients’ rights and ensure reintegration into society is yet to be fully implemented.

The first psychiatric hospital for children is still in the planning stage, delaying early diagnostics and specialised care for young patients.

Research infrastructure particularly for regionally prevalent diseases such as cancer and diabetes remains limited; the King Abdullah Medical City research component is not yet fully operational.

Digital transformation in healthcare is progressing slowly; modern technologies and AI-based systems are not yet systematically adopted to reduce cost and improve service delivery.

Data fragmentation continues to hinder the ability to identify vulnerable populations at higher risk of diseases.

Need for continuous digital transformation to sustain e-learning infrastructure established during the pandemic.

Resource constraints in upgrading educational facilities despite the Government’s 10-year (2020–2030) infrastructure plan and Strategic Plan 2023–2026.

Requirement for quality assurance alignment across higher education institutions under the National Higher Education Strategy (2014–2024).

Increasing pressure to sustain faculty development (2% of annual revenue) and research funding (3%) while expanding digital content and teaching resources.

Ensuring inclusion of students with disabilities across all levels while maintaining equitable access and support.

Solution

Labour market alignment is still incomplete, with gaps between graduate skills and employer expectations.

Limited research output and innovation capacity within universities despite funding allocations.

Continued need for upgrading ICT systems and teacher digital competencies to meet evolving learning standards.

Absence of a comprehensive data system to monitor student performance and learning outcomes across institutions.

The National Gender Balance Index increased only modestly from 65% (2017–2018) to 69% (2019–2020), indicating slow advancement in gender equality practices.

Limited economic participation of women in private entrepreneurship, increase in virtual commercial registrations owned by women between 48% in 2018 to 53% in 2022.

Continued need to strengthen institutional mechanisms to ensure consistent gender mainstreaming across all ministries and sectors.

Persistent social and cultural barriers hinder women’s participation in certain technical and leadership domains.

Solution

Comprehensive gender data systems are not yet fully operational for monitoring pay equity, leadership representation, and gender-based violence.

The national database on domestic violence, though established, needs broader integration across agencies for effective response and prevention.

Private sector gender equality indicators remain underdeveloped compared to public sector benchmarks.

Need for continuous capacity-building and awareness programmes to promote equal opportunities and remove structural biases in employment and decision-making.

Over-extraction of groundwater leading to salinity intrusion and declining water quality.

High dependence on desalination, increasing production cost and energy consumption.

Need to enhance infrastructure resilience and reduce non-revenue water losses.

Pressure from urbanisation and population growth on water networks and sanitation systems.

Solution

Integration between water, energy, and agriculture sectors remains partially implemented.

Reuse rate of treated wastewater (currently 60 %) still below full utilisation potential.

Climate-change adaptation measures in water planning require further expansion.

Ongoing need for public awareness programmes to reduce domestic water consumption.

Balancing fiscal targets while scaling up investments in renewable energy capacity.

Establishing the economic case for a renewable energy mix to encourage household solar panel installations.

Need for robust public-private partnership models to attract international firms and breakthrough technologies.

Expanding R&D capabilities to develop technologies suitable for limited space and renewable energy utilisation.

Developing specialised curriculums to upskill current and future workforce in renewable energy.

Solution

Mismatches persist between higher education outcomes and market needs.

Need for closer partnerships between educational institutions and employers to align qualifications with job market requirements.

Requirement for expanded career guidance programmes to help students make informed decisions about education and future careers.

Insufficient practical training and apprenticeship programmes focusing on emerging skills and the use of virtual and online platforms.

Solution

Ensuring effective implementation and long-term impact of national training initiatives, including: Bahrain Polytechnic, established in 2008 by His Majesty the King, to provide market-driven programmes and qualifications developed in consultation with businesses and industries.

Need to foster a supportive innovation ecosystem by strengthening collaboration between startups, industry players, academia, and government entities.

Promoting sustainable industrialization through adoption of green technologies and circular economy practices.

Investment required in education and skills development programmes, particularly in vocational training and technical education, to ensure a skilled workforce.

Expanding support for SMEs through tailored assistance and streamlined government tender processes.

Solution

Achieving higher private sector participation in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Fully developing a collaborative ecosystem between startups, academia, and government entities.

Need to integrate green technologies and circular economy practices across industries.

Providing sufficient vocational and technical training to meet evolving labour market demands.

Ensuring continued protection and inclusion of people with disabilities.

Implementing more inclusive policies and promoting positive societal attitudes to reduce inequalities.

Guaranteeing children’s rights in all aspects of life.

Bridging remaining gaps in social and economic support for vulnerable groups.

Solution

Ensuring stringent enforcement of labour laws for all residents.

Providing legal assistance and counselling services to expatriates and vulnerable populations.

Continuing efforts to combat human trafficking and protect victims.

Maintaining and expanding programmes to sustain inclusive growth and reduce inequalities.

Expanding and strengthening public-private partnerships for housing and urban development.

Developing data- and research-based pathways, including the establishment of the National Urban Observatory in collaboration with UN-HABITAT, for timely monitoring and employee training.

Creating a network of public parks and green spaces in communities lacking immediate access.

Implementing the afforestation campaign to strategically plant trees and increase green cover in urban areas.

Promoting greater societal uptake of sustainable public transportation.

Preserving cultural elements critical to Bahrain’s national marine heritage and supporting sustainable and eco-tourism.

Solution

·       Achieving widespread utilisation of public transportation networks.

·       Increasing green spaces and strategic afforestation across urban communities.

·       Preserving cultural and marine heritage while promoting sustainable tourism.

·       Fully integrating data and research for evidence-based urban planning and performance monitoring.

Investing in infrastructure for waste separation and recycling.

Establishing effective systems for sorting and segregating municipal waste.

Raising public awareness and promoting sustainable consumption and production in education.

Solution

Providing incentives to attract private sector involvement in waste management.

Optimising land utilisation through innovative solutions.

Further improving waste management systems to ensure sustainability.

Adaptation projects face difficulty in securing funding due to their perceived lack of profitability or bankability.

Hard-to-abate industries such as steel and aluminum require technological advancements that are still in development.

Solution

Need to invest in research and development to drive homegrown technologies and attract foreign specialized companies.

Enhancing data availability and access for climate action planning.

Ensuring collaboration between researchers and policymakers to preemptively address adverse impacts on the marine ecosystem, particularly for fish stocks and coral health.

Raising public and institutional awareness of life below water through campaigns and beach cleaning initiatives supported by government or private sector.

Enhancing the adoption of sustainable fishing practices through targeted workshops and promoting these practices along Bahrain’s coast.

Solution

To build consistent enforcement of fishing restrictions during critical breeding periods.

Monitoring and ensuring the proper usage and disposal of fishing equipment.

Promoting and customising innovative approaches to achieve widespread adoption among fishing communities.

Fragmented distribution of privately owned gardens, farms, and palm groves, making it difficult to establish environmental corridors.

Limited land mass of Bahrain constraining effective protection and conservation of biodiversity.

Limited financial resources restricting the scaling up of captive breeding programs and conservation projects.

Need to leverage advancements in technology to enhance efficiency and accuracy of biodiversity monitoring and research efforts.

Solution

Securing adequate funding to support conservation initiatives for endangered species, such as the Bahraini Bulbul.

Overcoming physical and resource constraints to create environmental corridors across fragmented private lands.

Integrating SDGs into school curricula and promoting a culture of sustainable development from an early age.

Increasing collaboration with the private sector, academia, and civil societies.

Allocating more resources for effective data monitoring and coordination.

Solution

Strengthening capacity for continuous improvement in public administration and governance.

Expanding the reach and impact of innovative judicial initiatives, such as open prisons, to enhance transparency, accountability, and inclusivity.

Reliance on inter-country cooperation for achieving SDG 17 targets.

Need for more public-private partnerships to fully leverage resources, expertise, and innovative approaches.

Solution

Challenges related to finance, technology transfer, capacity building, and sustainable development requiring stronger collaborative efforts.