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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
