Hurricanes Irma and Maria have laid bare the deficiencies of an international aid and assistance architecture that sees many countries of the Caribbean ineligible for aid or concessional loans. What can be done to support countries to build back better?
Report: Financing the SDGs in the Pacific Islands: Opportunities, Challenges and Ways Forward
What steps can Pacific island countries take to mobilize more sources of finance and to strengthen the effectiveness of public expenditures? Are there opportunities to leverage innovative finance. And are there lessons learned from other countries, in particular other Small Island Developing States (SIDS)?
Opinion: The pros and cons of ethical debt instruments
In May, the World Bank issued the world’s first bond linked explicitly to the U.N. SDGs. The initiative — which aims to capitalize on a rising number of investors interested in positive social and environmental impacts in addition to financial returns — has been heralded an innovation in investment products and can be added to a growing list of innovative debt instruments that are marketed as “ethical”. What are the pros and cons of innovative debt instruments?
Blog: What does ‘risk-informed’ development finance really look like?
There is increasing need for financial instruments and innovations designed to reduce vulnerability to risk and help countries cope when crises occur
Opinion: Global shadow financial system enables the plunder of the world’s oceans and seas
The world’s shadow financial system plays a key role in enabling some of the worst abuses of the ocean’s precious resources yet this is rarely front and centre of international policy discussions.
Blog: From ‘Spice Isle’ to ‘blue innovation’ hub: Grenada’s vision for the future
Grenada is one of the world’s first countries to develop a vision for an economy based on ‘blue growth’
Blog: Punching above its weight: Cuba’s medical internationalism
After Castro’s death and with profound political and economic change across the Americas what is the future for Cuba’s medical internationalism?
Blog: Financing the SDGs in the Pacific: Maximizing new opportunities
With Pacific islands at the forefront of climate change, they need to secure resources not only to meet development priorities such as improving health and education but also to adapt to climate change, build resilience and withstand sudden (often very large) economic and environmental shocks. Where will these resources come from, and how can Pacific islands make most effective use of these funds?
Blog: How new donor countries are reshaping the development aid landscape
Development aid is increasingly being provided by middle-income economies. This is a significant change in a shifting global aid landscape
Blog: Financing the SDGs in cities: Innovative new approaches
Many of the investments needed to achieve the SDGs will be made by cities. How can cities leverage, manage and deploy resources to support sustainable and inclusive urban development and bounce back from major shocks?
Blog: How Tax Inspectors Without Borders are tackling lost tax revenues
Developing countries lose billions annually through tax avoidance and evasion. New UN-led initiatives are helping but global action is still required
Report: Financing for Development in the Least Developed Countries: Expanding the Financing Tool-box and Managing Vulnerability
How can the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) can make better use of a more diverse financing for development 'tool-box'? How can they leverage more blended finance, green finance, guarantees, local currency financing, and more?
Blog: Big gaps and little money: Why solutions to finance SDGs in LDCs matter
How can the Least Developed Countries make use of a broader suite of financing instruments now available to support their development? And how can donors help them in this effort?
Blog: Financing development through better domestic resource mobilization
Over the last 15 years, developing countries have increased domestic revenues by on average 14% annually. Domestic revenues of developing economies amounted to USD 7.7 trillion in 2012; that’s USD 6 trillion more than in 2000. Domestic resources are the largest, most important and most stable source of finance for development. Can we expect these resources to keep on increasing in the coming years?
Gail Hurley 