The international community meets this week at a crucial moment to map out how countries can counter crippling debt and rising inequality and find consensus on how to Finance global sustainable development, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said today.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) is being held this week
Sevilla, Spain, offers a once-in-a-decade opportunity for ambitious action to unlock funding to
transform the lives of hundreds of millions of the world’s poorest people.
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals – a set of 17 interconnected goals adopted by
The United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and
ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030 – will cost an estimated US$4.3
trillion per year – a fraction of the total global wealth figure of US$450 trillion. Unlocking just one
A percentage of this wealth would transform development, making the world more equitable,
prosperous, and safer for all.
The international community has already agreed to adopt the FFD4 Outcome. This agreement
is a framework to support alliances of countries and other partners to work together on key
actions to finance development.
“This is a pivotal moment, a realistic and rare opportunity to get it right,” said Haoliang Xu,
UNDP Acting Administrator.
“Despite the immense challenges of a deeply polarised world, this global agreement demonstrates that we can come together to create solutions. The next step is clear: we must turn these commitments into action and bring FFD4 decisions to life. UNDP is ready to support countries in translating ambition into tangible development results.”
UNDP is taking forward 11 initiatives selected as part of the Sevilla Platform for Action:
announced today at FFD4, it mobilises alliances that drive country-led action on financing
sustainable development, including Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). INFFs
provide a framework for governments to align their revenue and budget systems to
mobilise capital for national sustainable development priorities.
The INFF Facility, a joint initiative of UNDP, the UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Union, and the Governments of Italy, Spain and Sweden provide technical assistance, tools, and
coordination to support governments in planning and implementing country-led INFFs.
“The Sevilla Platform for Action is more than a commitment; it is a call for countries to begin
immediate action on tangible priorities such as financial system reform, debt burden reduction,
and unlocking public and private capital for sustainable investments. UNDP stands ready as a
critical partner to support countries on this transition,” said Marcos Neto, UNDP Assistant
Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support.
