Source: United Nations (video statements)
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development adopted the Compromiso de Sevilla as well as a Platform for Action laying the foundation for a renewed global framework to close the $4 trillion financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), address the debt crises, and make the international financial system fairer and more transparent.
#ffd4 #sustainabledevelopment
Source: United Nations (video statements)
One Day, I Will is an ongoing series by photographer Vincent Tremeau, capturing children in crisis-affected settings as they dress up as who they want to become in the future.
In 2025, one year after a magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Japan’s Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day, Vincent brought the project to local schools, inviting children to share their dreams, fears, and hopes in the wake of disaster.
These portraits and testimonies are more than dress-up — they reveal resilience, imagination, and the enduring strength of children who continue to dream, despite difficult circumstances. Each of them reminds us: hope can grow even from the most challenging places. “One Day I Will” is one of the exhibits in the UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai.
The project was made available by OCHA (UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) with support from KUMON, a global after-school math and reading programme.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Secretary-General/Conference on Financing for Development
Deputy Secretary-General/FfD4
Gender Equality
Gaza
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Security Council
An Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)
Syria
Ukraine
Sudan
DRC/Rwanda
Afghanistan Refugees
International Days
Financial Contribution
UNGA80
Programming Note
SECRETARY-GENERAL/CONFERENCE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT
The Secretary-General is in Sevilla, Spain, where he is attending the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development. This morning, at the opening of the Conference, he said that financing is the engine of development, and right now, this engine is sputtering.
“As we meet,” the Secretary-General pointed out, “the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, our global promise to transform our world for a better, fairer future, is in danger. He stressed that the conference is not about charity, it’s about restoring justice and lives of dignity.”
The Secretary-General also added that the conference is not about money, it’s about investing in the future we want to build, together.
In the afternoon, at the launch of the Sevilla Platform for Action, the Secretary-General highlighted that the Platform offers an ambitious, action-oriented response to the global financing challenge.
Soon after, at the opening of the International Business Forum, the Secretary-General underscored that by uniting public and private sector leaders, regulators and development banks, we can ensure that the conference is not an end, but rather a beginning.
The Secretary-General also addressed that media in a joint press encounter with the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. He stressed that with the adoption of the Sevilla Commitment document, countries are proving their dedication to getting the engine of development revving again.
Today, the Secretary-General also held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Government of Spain, and yesterday, he met His Majesty Don Felipe VI, King of Spain, He is also having a number of bilateral meetings with other delegation leaders who will be at the conference. We will share readouts of some of those meetings shortly.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL/FFD4
Ms. Amina Mohammed, the Deputy Secretary-General, joined the Secretary-General for the opening ceremony of the conference and his meeting with the President of the Government of Spain.
Later, she delivered remarks at side events focused on closing the SDG financing gap, including on the role of public-private cooperation, the centrality of gender equality in sustainable finance, and the leadership of African women in advancing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
She also held bilateral meetings with senior government officials and Heads of Government attending the conference.
GENDER EQUALITY
At the Fourth International Financing for Development conference in Spain, the adoption of the Compromiso de Sevilla reaffirmed the global commitment to inclusive sustainable development. However, UN Women is warning that chronic underfunding and unfair financial systems are hindering gender equality progress.
Developing countries are falling short by an estimated $420 billion a year in the funding needed to achieve gender equality under the Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Women is urging world leaders to match political commitments with the sustained, transparent, and accountable financing needed to deliver on promises to half the world’s population.
Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=30%20June%202025
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Comments to the media by Ambassador Evangelos Sekeris, Permanent Representative of Greece to the United Nations, on Damascus Church bombing.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the International Business Forum Opening, of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development FFD4 (Sevilla, Spain).
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Media Stakeout at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development FFD4 (Sevilla, Spain).
Speakers:
José Manuel Albares Bueno, Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation of Spain
Xavier Bettel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Luxembourg
Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal
Åsmund Grøver Aukrust,Minister of International Development of Norway
Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund
Source: United Nations (video statements)
In Gaza, UNDSS enables safe movement for UN and NGO personnel through high-risk areas. This video captures a recent NGO convoy to North Gaza, showcasing the coordination and security behind every mission.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Media stakeout by Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations, on Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Opening of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development FFD4 (Sevilla, Spain).
"Your Majesties,
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
I thank the Government and people of Spain for welcoming us to Sevilla for this important conference.
For decades, the mission of sustainable development has united countries large and small, developed and developing.
Together, we achieved progress.
Reducing global poverty and hunger.
Saving lives with stronger health care systems.
Getting more children into school.
Expanding opportunities for women and girls.
And strengthening social safety nets.
But today, development and its great enabler — international cooperation — are facing massive headwinds.
We are living in a world where trust is fraying and multilateralism is strained.
A world with a slowing economy, rising trade tensions, and decimated aid budgets.
A world shaken by inequalities, climate chaos and raging conflicts.
The link between peace and development is clear.
Nine of the ten countries with the lowest Human Development Indicators are currently in a state of conflict.
Excellencies,
Financing is the engine of development.
And right now, this engine is sputtering.
As we meet, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — our global promise to transform our world for a better, fairer future — is in danger.
Two-thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals targets are lagging.
Achieving them requires an investment of more than $4 trillion a year.
But this is not just a crisis of numbers.
It’s a crisis of people.
Of families going hungry.
Of children going unvaccinated.
Of girls forced to drop out of school.
We are here in Sevilla to change course.
To repair and rev up the engine of development to accelerate investment at the scale and speed required.
And to restore a measure of fairness and justice for all.
Excellencies,
The Sevilla Commitment document is a global promise to fix how the world supports countries as they climb the development ladder.
I see three areas of action.
First — we must get resources flowing. Fast.
Countries must lead by mobilizing domestic resources and investing in areas of greatest impact: schools, health care, social protection, decent work, and renewable energy.
Unlocking these investments requires strengthening tax systems, and tackling illicit financial flows and tax evasion.
And helping developing countries dedicate a greater share of their tax revenues to the systems people need.
The Sevilla Commitment’s call on developed countries to double their aid dedicated to domestic resource mobilization can support this.
Multilateral and national development banks must unite to finance major investments.
This includes tripling the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks — and rechanneling Special Drawing Rights that can unlock lending capacity and help developing countries boost investment.
We also need innovative financing solutions to unlock private capital.
Solutions that mitigate currency risks;
That combine public and private finance more effectively, and ensure the risks and rewards of development projects are shared by both the public and private sectors;
And that ensure financial regulations assess risk appropriately and support investments in frontier markets.
Second — we must fix the global debt system which is unsustainable, unfair and unaffordable.
With annual debt service at $1.4 trillion, countries need — and deserve — a system that lowers borrowing costs, enables fair and timely debt-restructuring, and prevents debt crises in the first place.
The Sevilla Commitment lays the groundwork:
By creating a single debt registry for transparency, and promoting responsible lending and borrowing;
By lowering the cost of capital through debt swaps and debt management support;
And through debt service pauses in times of emergency.
And third — we must increase the participation of developing countries in the institutions of the global financial architecture. The present major shareholders have a role to play recognizing the importance of correcting injustices and adapting to a changing world.
A new borrowers forum will give voice to borrowers for fairer debt resolution and can foster transparency, shared learning and coordinated debt action.
And we need a fairer global tax system shaped by all, not just a few.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
This conference is not about charity.
It’s about restoring justice and lives of dignity.
This conference is not about money.
It’s about investing in the future we want to build, together.
Thank you all for being part of this important and ambitious effort".
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) will be held in Sevilla, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. The Conference will bring together global leaders and key stakeholders to accelerate action and partnerships to finance sustainable development and achieve the SDGs. The opening will mark the official launch of the Conference and set the tone for a week of high-level engagement and dialogue.
The opening of the FFD4 Conference will feature statements by high-level dignitaries including Pedro Sánchez, President of the Conference and the President of the Government of Spain; António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Philemon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly; Bob Rae, President of ECOSOC; Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO; and Li Junhua, Secretary-General of the Conference and a Representative of the International Monetary Fund. Following the opening remarks, the Conference will address key procedural matters. The opeing statments will be followed a general debate and statements by Heads of State or Government, ministers, and heads of delegation, setting the stage for a week of high-level discussions on mobilizing financing for the SDGs.
More info: https://financing.desa.un.org/FFD4
To watch all other events from FF4D in all languages, visit: https://webtv.un.org/en/search/categories/meetings-events/conferences/international-conference-financing-development/fourth-session
