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.

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. 

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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