SDSN at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4)
From June 30 to July 3, 2025, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and its partners will host several high-level events during the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla, Spain.
This landmark convening offers a critical opportunity for Member States to advance crucial reforms to the Global Financial Architecture (GFA), the system of public and private finance that channels the world’s savings into investment. Reforming the GFA is essential for financing global public goods and achieving sustainable development at scale, particularly in low-income countries. Ahead of the Conference, the SDSN released a statement outlining key reforms needed to realign global finance with sustainable development objectives.
At the FfD4, the SDSN and its partners will spotlight major development priorities, including strategies to unlock capital for sustainable development and climate action, close disparities in education financing, and share insights from the newly launched Sustainable Development Report 2025.
SDSN Events at the FfD4
Reforming the International Financial Architecture: Aligning Capital Flows with Development and Climate Goals
June 30, 2025, 2:30 to 4:00 PM CET | In-Person
While emerging and developing economies (EMDEs) represent the highest growth potential in the global economy, they face the highest cost of capital, resulting in high borrowing costs and low investments in critical sectors of the economy. The side event, co-organized by the SDSN, the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI), and the Belt and Road Green Development Council (BRIGC), will explore how the international financial architecture can be reformed to correct these systemic failures and unlock long-term, low-cost capital for sustainable development and climate action.
Financing for Education: Strategies for Sustainable Investment
June 30, 2025, 4:30 to 6:00 PM CET | In-Person | Registration Form
Education is universally acknowledged as a fundamental human right and a pivotal driver of socio-economic development. It serves as a catalyst for poverty reduction, economic growth, and social cohesion. In 2021, total global education spending was estimated at $5.3 trillion. However, low-income countries (LICs) have an average of $2.9 billion, accounting for less than 1% of this expenditure, highlighting a significant disparity in education financing. This session at the FfD4, organized by the SDSN and the Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, aims to drive global commitment for increased education financing through innovative mechanisms, flexible debt standards, and strengthened global partnerships.
Financing the SDGs towards 2030 and 2050
July 1, 2025, 4:30 to 6:00 PM CET | In-Person | Registration Form
Co-organized by the SDSN and SDSN Spain, this session will explore the key findings of the 10th edition of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR). The SDR provides an annual assessment of global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2015. This year’s SDR places a special emphasis on the reform of the Global Financial Architecture (GFA), examining how to scale up and better align international financial flows to support the achievement of the SDGs by 2030 and beyond. This session will serve as a dialogue space to delve deeper into SDR 2025 key findings, SDG-aligned investments, and the reform of the global financial system based on sustainability, fiscal justice, and international cooperation.