Africa: Multilateral Development Banks, UN to Enhance Collaboration to Address Challenges of Achieving the SDGs

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and top UN officials met with the Heads of Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) Group on Sunday in a joint effort to better support countries in accelerating progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

The high-level dialogue, which included five Presidents and three Vice Presidents of the major MDBs, further advances the partnership between the UN and the MDB systems. The IMF Managing Director also attended the meeting.

MDB Heads shared with the UN leadership their reforms to become a better, bigger and more effective system with a renewed sense of urgency and determination. The Secretary-General underscored the importance of MDB reforms as part of his call to unlock greater volumes of affordable long-term resources to close the SDG financing gap.

UN and MDB leaders discussed enhancing collaboration at the country level, especially in fragile and conflict-affected countries, as well as their efforts to catalyze private sector resources towards sustainable investments.

MDBs also agreed to collaborate towards the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development next year in Seville, Spain, where public, private and civil society leaders and organizations will assess progress and chart a course forward on financing for the SDGs.

Following the working meeting, Spain, Jamaica and Canada co-hosted an open dialogue with MDB leaders, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, and high-level UN Member State delegates.

Source:norvanreports.com