A woman and man wearing face mask sit inside their local market.

Financing

Quality of funding and financing

Driving the COVID-19 response and sustainable development through the Funding Compact

The UN development system and the Resident Coordinator system, supported by the Development Coordination Office, have strived to enhance the quality of funding for the UN development system, in the spirit of the Funding Compact.

The UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Trust Fund

The UN COVID-19 Response and Recovery Trust Fund programmed nearly $75 million to 24 UN entities to deliver on joint programmes across 80 countries, procuring critical supplies, providing essential healthcare, extending digital learning, restoring water, sanitation and other basic service infrastructure, and helping formal and informal businesses, while mainstreaming a gender-sensitive approach and supporting millions of people most at risk of being left behind.

The Joint SDG Fund hosted by the Development Coordination Office raised $50 million in 2020 and capitalized $290 million in total

  • 101 joint programmes funded focused on integrated social protection or SDG finance 
  • Over 800 partnerships were stimulated to support the SDGs 
  • Over 200 innovative solutions tested to accelerate the 2030 Agenda 
     

The Joint SDG Fund has invested $31.5 million to address Small Islands Developing States vulnerabilities and in early 2021 approved a dedicated call for proposals to further help in addressing Small Island Developing States challenges, now exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19.

 

Resident Coordinators have been leveraging opportunities offered by the Peacebuilding Fund and the Spotlight initiative to deliver integrated responses on crucial country challenges

  • 42 million people were reached through the Spotlight Initiative, with campaigns challenging harmful social norms and gender stereotypes, including 350,000 adolescents
  • Over $170 million were invested by the Peacebuilding Fund in joint programmes in countries or situations at risk or affected by conflict
  • UN Country Teams, under the leadership of Resident Coordinators, contributed to the peacebuilding components of the Cooperation Frameworks and UN Socio-Economic Response Plans in 36 countries and 11 cross-border settings

Deposits to SDG country-level pooled funds were consolidated, after a substantial growth in 2019

In 2020:

  • More than 30 countries had active pooled funds, 21 of them established following the UN development system reform
  • The net amount transferred to participating agencies increased from $200 million to $230 million
     

The Pacific

The first multi-country pooled fund was established in the Pacific region, thanks to an initial commitment by New Zealand of NZ$24.7 million.  
Map view of the Pacific.

Colombia

The UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for Sustaining Peace in Colombia, with a cumulative capitalization of $172 million from various international partners, brought together the Government, 13 UN entities and 113 civil society and private sector organizations, and directly benefitted more than 1.8 million people, with 34.5% of all investments targeted directly to gender equality.  
A borderless map of South America with a pin located on Colombia.

Malawi

The Malawi SDG Acceleration Fund, set up in 2019 by the Government, the UN Country Team and development partners, redeployed $130 million to respond to the pandemic and improve health systems, keep girls in school, and build community resilience in the coming years. 
A borderless map of South America with a pin located on Malawi.

Papua New Guinea

The Papua New Guinea government contributed almost 15% of the total capitalization of the UN Country Fund, attesting to increasing national ownership in pooled funds.  
A borderless map of South America with a pin located on Papua New Guinea.