Financing

Financing

Joint resource mobilization to advance the SDGs  

Mobilizing funding and financing for the SDGs

The Development Coordination Office (DCO)-hosted Joint SDG Fund has been instrumental in providing UN country teams with catalytic funding to enable integrated SDG programming and financing solutions. 

Over $260 million in financial commitments

Since its establishment in 2019, the Joint SDG Fund has made over $260 million in financial commitments to 119 UN teams including in multi-country offices, involving 31 UN entities

Reached over 188 million people

The joint programmes on integrated social protection and SDG financing strategies supported by the Joint SDG Fund reached over 188 million people and supported Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) led by UNDP in 69 countries

Blu-X financing platform

In Cabo Verde, a “Blu-X” sustainable financing platform was developed that raised over $26 million for the SDGs and created a digital marketplace for youth and women-led businesses.
CABO VERDE

Climate public expenditure review

In Jordan, a climate public expenditure review was carried out - the first of its kind in the region - involving the Amman Stock Exchange and the private sector to institutionalize sustainability reporting and SDG impact management for businesses.
JORDAN

Financing strategy

In Timor-Leste, a financing strategy was developed to mobilize $2.5 billion by 2025 through public financing reforms.
TIMOR-LESTE

Development Emergency modality

In 2022, the Joint SDG Fund developed a new Development Emergency modality, funding 85 UNCTs to support countries to address the global cost-of-living crisis, and dedicating $30 million for joint programmes to strengthen resilience in 42 Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 

National care system

In the Dominican Republic, the UNCT implemented a municipal-level care policy pilot that was scaled up to other localities and informed the development of a national care system
Dominican Republic

Climate change and other disasters

In the Maldives, the RC led the UNCT in undertaking a diagnostic assessment with the central bank to devise insurance and risk transfer solutions against climate change and other disasters.
MALDIVES

Every $1 invested in the Joint SDG Fund leverages $9.7

The Fund’s capitalization of $260 million has catalyzed additional investments of $2.3 billion over the years, primarily through new SDG bonds.

$790 million

SDG bonds

In Indonesia, two series of SDG bonds issued since 2021 have raised over $790M from global and local markets, the first enabling vaccinations of over 30 million children, scholarships for 11 million students and setting up of over 2,100 wireless communication systems in the remote areas of the country. 

$46 million

Green Financing Facility

In North Macedonia, the UNCT supported the establishment of a new blended finance mechanism, the Green Financing Facility, together with the Government, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and local private banks, mobilizing $46 million for renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions among small and medium size enterprises and underserved households. 

$10 million

Renewable energy fund

In Zimbabwe, under the RC leadership, the UNCT is launching a renewable energy fund with $10 million in financing from the Joint SDG Fund, matched by capital from a leading African investment management group to fund small renewable energy projects.  

Resident Coordinators appreciate the value of the Joint SDG Fund in supporting their work. 

Resident Coordinators’ assessment of Joint SDG Fund contributions to UN development system coordination in 2022

Source: Joint SDG Fund Resident Coordinator Survey 2022

Host governments on whether the RC has contributed to leveraging partnerships in support of national efforts to advance the 2030 Agenda and achieve the SDGs
Resident Coordinators’ assessment of Joint SDG Fund contributions to UN development system coordination in 2022
https://unsdg.un.org/fr/node/99436?card=2181

Resident Coordinators, at times leveraging their humanitarian hat, also played a systematic role in leading UN submissions to access resources from other global pooled funds. 

From the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), Resident Coordinators mobilized:

  • $20 million to respond to the impact of the earthquake, cholera and violence in Haiti
  • $16 million to respond to economic disruption and displacement in Burkina Faso
  • $1 million to address needs following heavy floods in The Gambia
  • $1.7 million to support Vanuatu following cyclones in 2023 

Guinea

The RC obtained Peacebuilding Fund support for women’s and youth’s empowerment, promotion of social cohesion, reconciliation, and transitional justice

Ecuador

The RC helped to identify entry points for an immediate response by the Peacebuilding Fund to supports citizen participation in the June 2023 general elections

RCs also play an important role in establishing country-level SDG pooled funds to complement global pooled funds and incentivize integrated joint programming and implementation of Cooperation Framework priorities by UN teams.

  • There are currently 28 country-level SDG pooled funds globally, 42% of them in Africa – 6 established in 2022.
$131M

In Uzbekistan, the RC supported the Swiss and Uzbekistan Governments in establishing a country-level SDG pooled fund to receive  the restitution of assets forfeited in criminal proceedings, which has capitalized an initial $131 million so far. 

€2.5M

The Montenegro SDG Acceleration Fund in support of the new Cooperation Framework pooled over €2.5 million so far, including €1 million from the Government

In Uruguay, the RC facilitated a joint programme led by the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), to establish a Renewable Energy Innovation Fund to support the country’s energy transition.  

The report's resource page can be found here, and the glossary here.

To learn more, visit un-dco.org.