WUF12: ONE UN Roundtable Focuses on Supporting SDG Localization and Financing for Development

At the 12th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), the “ONE UN Roundtable” continued to act as a central platform for the United Nations Development System (UNDS) to strengthen partnerships with multilateral development partners. The roundtable focused on bridging financing gaps in national SDG acceleration plans through enhanced collaboration between the UN System, Resident Coordinators, and multilateral development banks.

The roundtable highlighted the necessity of pooled resources and coordinated efforts aligned with country-level priorities as established in the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). UN-Habitat Executive Director, Anacláudia Rossbach, underscored the urgent need to increase financial investments to support the New Urban Agenda, stating that “addressing the global housing crisis is a high priority.” Rossbach emphasized that sustainable investments depend on well-planned urban development.

Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt, noted the strong commitment from roundtable participants to build inclusive, resilient, and financially sustainable urban spaces. She acknowledged the “gap between ambition and reality,” a divide often rooted in financing, and highlighted the importance of supporting local actors in advancing sustainable development on the ground.

On the same page, the UN Resident Coordinators in Turkiye, Nepal, Senegal and Mexico echoed the need to leverage private and public resources to accelerate the SDG implementation as well as providing the needed technical assistance. 

Since its establishment at WUF10 in 2020, the roundtable has brought together UN entities, Resident Coordinators, multilateral development banks, and national government representatives, aiming to enhance the UN’s alignment with local and national priorities.

In a world where more than 80 percent of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are currently off-track, WUF12’s “ONE UN Roundtable” focuses on developing forward-looking strategies to support the UN’s integrated efforts toward SDG acceleration. Participants will discuss best practices from previous UN meetings, the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) Ministerial Declaration, and recommendations from the Summit of the Future. The roundtable will also address the critical annual financing gap of $2.5 to $4 trillion for SDG implementation, as highlighted by the UN and development partners.

A key priority for the “ONE UN” platform at WUF12 is enhancing partnerships with multilateral development banks to strengthen SDG financing, specifically for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). These regions face unique challenges that necessitate tailored solutions and localized financing strategies. Accordingly, discussions will focus on improving the coordination between UNDS and other financial institutions to create a collaborative framework for bridging financial gaps in SDG implementation, particularly in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) and national agendas.

Expected outcomes from the roundtable include a quantitative set of recommendations to strengthen collaboration on SDG financing and the qualitative identification of mechanisms to establish strategic partnerships between the UN and financial institutions. These insights will inform discussions at future global events, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in 2025, marking a critical step in addressing the financial and operational challenges of the SDG agenda.