
SDG Financing
Why SDG Financing?
World leaders have made ambitious commitments to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, securing enough resources remains a major challenge, with developing countries facing a gap estimated between US$2.5–3 trillion per year. Financing is theoretically available, given the size, scale and level of sophistication of the global financial system—with gross world product and global gross financial assets estimated at over US$85 trillion and US$ 200 trillion respectively.
While the world has never been as rich as it is today, financial flows and wealth, mostly private, do not (or cannot) reach the geographies and people that need them the most. There is no lack of opportunities to fill the gap and reorient public and private investment towards the SDGs. SDGs are being increasingly integrated into public budgets and development cooperation. Not only Governments, but also the financial markets and investors have positively reacted, by starting to demand and claim a stronger integration of the SDGs in public and private investment decisions. Despite opportunities, bottlenecks, and intensified risks—from vulnerability to climate change and economic recessions to health epidemics—persist. Most private investments are still not channeled towards sustainable development at the scale and speed required.
Crafting a UN Systemic Response
The UN Joint Fund aims to close the financing gap to achieve the SDGs in developing countries through systemic action by the UN system. This work is fully aligned with the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, while interventions are guided by the Secretary-General’s Strategy and Road Map for Financing the 2030 Agenda.
The Fund is committed to forge paths and partnerships that unlock public and private capital for the SDGs at scale. The work on SDG Financing is structured around two components:
- Reinforce the SDG financing architecture (Component 1): The Fund supports the development of financing strategies and enabling frameworks for SDG investment.
- Catalyze strategic investments (Component 2): The Fund will support key initiatives that can leverage public and private financing to advance the SDGs.
The Fund operates through open calls for proposals. The 1st Call for a total envelope of $US100 million was closed on March 31, 2020. Download call documents here and read our blog celebrating its launch here.
In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis 258 proposals were submitted from +100 countries, reflecting a UN systemic response to accelerate the achievements of the SDGs at the time of COVID-19. They all aim to contribute to a future that is more sustainable, climate-resilient, and inclusive.
Country | Joint Programme Title |
---|---|
Angola | Impact Angola Catalytic Financing |
Barbados | Blue Invest: A facility for Caribbean SIDS' Financial Expansion |
Bolivia | Green, Social and Gender Investments for Sustainable Development in a post Covid-19 Recovery Context in Bolivia |
Cambodia | CLEAN – Innovative Climate Adaptation & mitigation financing mechanism |
Egypt | Catalyzing private investments for a green and competitive Egyptian economy |
Fiji | Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy |
Ghana | Innovative Financing to rapidly improve sustainable basic sanitation and waste management in Ghana |
Indonesia | Driving Public and Private Capital Towards Green and Social Investments in Indonesia |
Iraq | Sustainable Communities: Eco-Innovative gender responsive Economic Growth |
Jamaica | Financing the SDGs: Jamaica's Innovative Outcome Fund |
Jordan | Investing in SDG Acceleration |
Kazakhstan | SDG Finance Accelerator |
Kenya | UN Kenya Champions operationalization of world's first Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health Development Impact Bond |
Libya | Public -Private-Community Partnership for Solid Waste Management |
Madagascar | Unlocking Sustainable and Structural Investments for an Inclusive and green Development of Madagascar Joint Programme |
Malawi | "Build" Malawi Window under the Build Fund |
Mexico | Innovative financing schemes for climate resilience, gender equality and the creation of green jobs, aimed at strengthening the agro-industry and the social economy in the South-Southeast region of Mexico |
Moldova | Climate Investment and Innovation Fund Program in Moldova |
North Macedonia | Green Financing Facility to Improve Air Quality and Combat Climate Change in North Macedonia |
Papua New Guinea | Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy |
Rwanda | A Thousand Health Posts in the Land of a Thousand Hills: Promoting Universal Health Coverage by Catalyzing Investments in Financially and Environmentally Sustainable Primary Health Care |
Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka SDG Programmatic Bond |
Sudan | Solar Revolution for Transforming Lives through National Solar Fund Scheme |
Suriname | The Accelerator for Agriculture and Agroindustry Development and Innovation Plus (3ADI+): Sustainable Pineapple Value Chain Development |
Uganda | Accelerating Innovative Finance for Renewable Energy in Social Sectors and UN operations in Uganda |
Uruguay | Innovative Finance for Clean Tech Solutions in Uruguay's Renewable Energy Sector: The Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF) |
Zambia | Zambia Tobacco Control Social Impact Bond (TSIB) |
Zimbabwe | Catalyzing Investments in Climate and Sustainable Energy for productive use and the Achievement of SDGs in Zimbabwe |