Media Advisory
Financing for Development Week at UN to drive urgent action on implementation of the Sevilla Commitment
Sevilla Commitment offers concrete solutions to address SDG financing crisis
UN Headquarters, New York
Live on UN WebTV
20-24 April, 2026
Debt-service burdens in developing countries hit a 20-year high in 2024, while official development assistance (ODA) fell by 23 per cent in 2025. Against this backdrop, the 2026 Financing for Development Week, on 20-24 April at UN Headquarters in New York, will seek to boost swift, decisive action and strengthen efforts to launch a new chapter in sustainable development finance.
The 2026 Financing for Development Forum (20-24 April) will open the Week. Building on the momentum of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla in 2025, this year’s Forum will play a pivotal role in mobilizing engagement and driving concrete actions under the Sevilla Commitment – the blueprint for action on financing sustainable development.
The Forum will place a spotlight on solutions, progress, and remaining challenges in implementing the Sevilla Commitment, bringing together perspectives from across stakeholders. In-depth reviews will cover four action areas: Domestic and International Private Business and Finance; International Trade as an Engine for Development; International Financial Architecture and Systemic Issues, and Data, Monitoring and Follow-up, and updates on other Sevilla action areas.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Ms. Amina J. Mohammed will present the 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development Report during the opening session of the Forum (20 April, at approximately 10:45 am EDT). According to the report, while an increasing number of developing countries face large unmet SDG spending needs amid an overall financing squeeze, the Sevilla Commitment remains the best pathway to closing financing gaps.
WHO:
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H.E. Mr. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the UN Economic and Social Council
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Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
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H.E. Ms. Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly
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Ms. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization (tbc)
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Mr. Nigel Clarke, Deputy Managing Director, International Monetary Fund
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Mr. Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, World Bank Group (virtual)
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Ministers and Vice-Ministers of Finance and Foreign Affairs from UN Member States are expected to participate in various high-level panels and sessions
WHEN: 20-24 April 2026. The opening session starts at 10 am on Monday.
WHERE: UN Headquarters in New York
The opening session of the Forum will be broadcast live on UN Web TV.
OTHER KEY EVENTS AT THE 2026 FFD WEEK
● Fin4Dev Dialogues (20-24 April)
A series of Fin4Dialogues (onsite, virtual and off-site) will be held on the sidelines of the FFD Forum to engage UN agencies, governments, private sector, and civil society. These dialogues will facilitate knowledge exchange and explore strategies and partnerships to implement the Sevilla Commitment.
● Inaugural meeting of the Network of FFD National Focal Points (20 April, 4:30 – 6:00 pm)
The first meeting of FFD National Focal points will take place during the Forum. The objective of this network is to link global/regional FFD follow-up with national implementation.
● Special High-Level meeting with the Bretton Woods Institutions (21 April, 3:00 – 6:00 pm)
Executive Directors from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, alongside members of the ECOSOC Bureau, will discuss key issues such as debt and debt sustainability, investment, global economic governance, and the global financial safety net, including Special Drawing Rights (SDRs).
● Special High-Level meeting with the WTO and UNCTAD: (22 April, 10:00 am)
This Special Meeting will bring together members of WTO and UNCTAD, alongside members of the ECOSOC Bureau, to discuss the implementation of the Sevilla Commitment actions on trade and their linkages to the broader Financing for Development agenda.
● SDG Investment Fair (21-23 April)
The SDG Investment Fair will convene top business leaders and senior officials to promote investment aligned with the SDGs, featuring high-level, solution-driven dialogues, thematic investment roundtables, innovation labs, and networking spaces to foster impactful partnerships. Follow live on UN WebTV.
For more information, please visit:
Social media
Engage via social media by using the hashtags #FinancingOurFuture, #Fin4Dev, #SDGIFair, and by following these accounts:
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On Facebook: United Nations, @joinundesa,
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On Twitter: @UN, @UNDESA,@GlobalGoals
Media contacts (interviews available upon request)
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Helen Rosengren, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs | rosengrenh@un.org
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Rita Wallace, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs | rita.wallace@un.org
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Sharon Birch, UN Department of Global Communications| birchs@un.org
