The UN Joint SDG Fund, as the UN’s flagship financing mechanism for catalyzing SDG acceleration at country level, recognizes the potential of UN joint action to enable digital cooperation that can catalyze digital transformations and close the digital divide, especially in regions that have been left behind.
The Fund will support the promotion of systems change and leverage broader funding for key areas such as government services, digital connectivity, digital financing, e-trade, and digital standards to protect the planet.
It will also support crosscutting initiatives to advance digital public goods, digital human rights, and digital capacity building to create a safer and more equitable world, while unlocking the full potential of digital technologies for the SDGs.
Tanzania: Empowering Small-Holder Farmers Through Digital Innovation
In Tanzania, the agriculture sector plays a significant role, representing a quarter of the country's GDP and employing 65% of its workforce, with the majority being women. To harness the potential, the Joint SDG Fund programme aims to reach 9.1 million small-holder farmers, including 200,000 youth, and establish 12,000 profitable enterprises across 12,000 villages, investing US$148 million.
Key to achieving these outcomes is the enhancement of data integration and sharing between ministry departments, as well as extending access to inputs, advisory services, markets, and finance for agri-tech companies, including de-risking these companies to unlock loans for the sector.
Additionally, the programme aims to equip agri-tech startups with funding, data access, and skills to develop solutions at scale, enabling resilient farming practices and improving market access.
Albania: Fostering Inclusive Digital Revolution in Agriculture
In Albania, the Joint SDG Fund programme aims to foster an inclusive digital revolution in agriculture, utilizing the digital economy to boost productivity, expand market access, and integrate smallholders and rural communities.
With an anticipated impact on over 1.5 million people, the initiative will leverage US$ 290 million from a mix of public and private investments, international financial institutions (IFIs), and the EU.
This will involve policy and regulatory reforms, financial support for farmers to adopt digital innovations in their business models, and improvements in digital infrastructure to enhance connectivity and access to government services.
Chile: Empowering Rural Communities through Digital Transformation
In Chile, the Joint SDG Fund programme targets the transformation of six municipalities in Araucanía and Ñuble, benefiting 700,000 individuals most vulnerable to climate change, along with 45,000 smallholder farmers. These rural areas, characterized by indigenous smallholders, will be empowered digitally to enhance productivity and resilience.
The aim is to transition these communities into digitally empowered, resilient rural hubs where sustainable agricultural practices are adopted, fair market access is obtained, and quality government services are accessed through digital platforms.
Note:
All joint programs of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
