New Delhi: A high-level dialogue on public finance and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) kicked off on Wednesday at Columbia University in New York, bringing together government representatives, UN officials, and experts from international financial institutions to discuss innovative solutions to financing sustainable development.
The event, co-hosted by the governments of Finland and Norway, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP,) and Columbia University focuses on various aspects of public finance, including gender-responsive public finance, financing for health and well-being, and the role of public finance in crisis contexts.
As the 2030 Agenda winds down, the international community faces significant obstacles in sustainably and equitably funding the SDGs, read a UNDP press release. Developing countries are facing a precarious financing landscape, as debt servicing costs are projected to rise from 26 billion in 2022 to over 40 billion by 2025, it added.
In his opening remarks, UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner stressed the urgent need for collaboration, noting that close to one-third of the SDGs are experiencing setbacks and a significant financing gap is endangering collective goals for development.
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“We must prioritize sustainable, fair, and transparent public finance to bridge this gap and re-establish trust between citizens and states,” said Steiner. “Together, we can build a resilient future that leaves no one behind.”
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The 2025 Dialogue succeeds prior events like the 2023 Dialogue on Tax and the SDGs, which welcomed 370 attendees from 61 nations. This year’s discussions aim to identify innovative public finance approaches, exchange knowledge on integrated strategies for sustainable development, and develop recommendations for the upcoming Financing for Development conference.