FAQ

Pooled funding mechanisms like the Joint SDG Fund provide a strategic, coordinated way to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By combining contributions from multiple donors, these funds deliver larger, more flexible, and more predictable investments that drive integrated, cross-sectoral solutions. Pooled funds also strengthen national ownership and accountability by operating under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, who ensures that funding aligns with national priorities and maximizes collaboration across UN agencies. This approach reduces fragmentation, promotes innovation, and mobilizes partnerships at scale to deliver greater impact for people and the planet.

Commitments of the revised Funding Compact under strategic objective 2 (a more collaborative and integrated UN development system, working in partnership), specifically point to an ‘increase in contributions to interagency pooled funds’ by Member States, and to ‘enhance joint resource mobilization and pooled funding’ on the UN side. The Funding Compact also sets ambitious targets on resource mobilization for the Joint SDG Fund and the Peacebuilding Fund of $500 million each by 2027.

As a UN global pooled fund, the Joint SDG  Fund  is uniquely positioned to leverage the networks and expertise of multiple UN entities and to unite public, private, and philanthropic partners around high-impact, scalable solutions. It focuses on integrated approaches, market-driven models, and investments that generate measurable development results — going beyond traditional aid models.

The Fund directly supports the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the Pact of the Future and other multilateral financing and development cooperation frameworks. The Fund serves as an important instrument for the UN development system to assist countries inadvancing their global commitments.

The Joint SDG Fund only accepts funding requests through the UN Resident Coordinator. UN entities, Governments and/or civil society organizations (including NGOs and private sector entities) cannot request funding directly from the Joint SDG Fund. However, these organizations can play critical roles as implementing partners or stakeholders within a joint programme led by the UN Resident Coordinator. All joint programmes must align with government priorities and national SDG strategies, ensuring an integrated, coordinated approach to sustainable development. This structure leverages the expertise and resources of a diverse range of partners while maintaining national ownership and alignment with the SDGs.

The Joint SDG Fund is overseen by a Strategic Advisory Group chaired by the Deputy Secretary General and includes representatives from UN Member States – both key donors and programme country representatives. Based on the guidance provided by the Strategic Advisory Group, the Fund’s operations are managed by an Operational Steering Committee, chaired by the Assistant Secretary General for Development Coordinator and with membership from key UN entity partners. Operations are managed with full transparency, guided by international fiduciary standards, independent audits, and robust impact monitoring frameworks.

Funding rounds are shaped around strategic themes, identified and approved by the Steering Advisory Group (SAG) and the Operational Steering Committee (OSC). Selected countries are invited to submit proposals based on their demonstrated capacity, political commitment, and alignment with SDG targets and national priorities. 

The Fund’s Secretariat implements a comprehensive quality assurance process. This includes the application of key markers such as the Gender Equality Marker, the Human Rights Marker, and the SDG Localization Marker as well as tailored quality assurance and technical review processes to ensure the quality of the programmatic design. These tools and processes ensure that funded programmes demonstrate strong potential for transformative and inclusive sustainable development impact. 

The Fund partners with businesses, investors, and philanthropic organizations at the joint programme level to co-finance initiatives, mobilize additional capital, and support innovative SDG solutions. The Fund can also accept financial contributions from private sector partners or foundations, if interested in partnering directly with the Fund.

Contribution thresholds vary depending on the partnership type and investment mechanism. Please contact our Partnerships team to explore customized opportunities for engagement. 

Partners benefit from achieving measurable development outcomes aligned with their sustainability/SDG goals, enhancing their global brand reputation, and accessing new markets and partnerships. The Fund ensures that all interventions deliver tangible, reportable SDG results. 

The Fund mainly operates through grants provided to UN entities to implement country-level joint programmes. However, within the programmatic framework, the Fund can also support a range of innovative finance instruments, including concessional loans, equity investments, guarantees, and blended finance models — tailored to unlock private capital for sustainable development. 

The Fund prioritizes efficiency without compromising due diligence. Funding typically moves through fast-tracked processes that enable timely, scalable interventions with high-impact returns. 

The Joint SDG Fund employs a strategically targeted approach to identify and invest in transformative joint programmes. Countries are pre-selected based on criteria such as  prior programmatic experience, government commitment to transformational change, and alignment with SDG priorities. Selected countries are then invited to submit proposals through their UN Resident Coordinators. All proposals undergo a rigorous technical review and quality assurance process to ensure they meet the highest standards for impact and feasibility.

Joint programmes must be led by the UN Resident Coordinator and involve the active engagement of two or more UN entities. Programmes should be co-designed with national governments and local stakeholders, aligned with country development priorities, and structured to leverage financing from diverse partners, including governments, the European Union, international financial institutions, and the private sector. 

The UN Resident Coordinator is responsible for leading the submission of proposals, with the support of government counterparts and designated UN agencies. The Resident Coordinator ensures that each proposal is fully aligned with national SDG strategies and government commitments, fostering an integrated and coherent approach to sustainable development.

The technical review is conducted independently by experts from inside and outside the UN system. Proposals are assessed against detailed technical criteria, including relevance, feasibility, and potential for impact. The review process is continually refined through feedback and lessons learned, ensuring the selection of the most innovative and transformative projects. 

The Fund operates a comprehensive monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) system, aligned with UN standards. All projects undergo continuous monitoring and independent evaluations to track results, measure impact, and inform decision-making. Regular progress reports, outcome monitoring, and both internal and external audits—financial and operational—are shared transparently with Member States and governance bodies, including via the MPTFO’s Gateway platform. This fosters accountability, institutional learning, and the continuous improvement of programming.

The Fund employs rigorous risk management frameworks, including political risk assessments, fiduciary safeguards, due diligence procedures, and independent internal and external audits, ensuring that all projects meet the highest accountability standards. 

All Joint SDG Fund projects undergo rigorous monitoring and evaluation throughout implementation to track results, ensure accountability, and measure impact. Regular progress reports, independent evaluations and audit reports are transparently shared with the Fund's governance bodies and Member States, and through MPTFO’s Gateway platform, fostering institutional learning and continuous improvement of programming approaches.