(8th meeting) 2026 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-Up (FfD Forum)

Dear colleagues, let's start. I call to order the eighth meeting of the 2026 session of the Economic and Social Council Forum on Financing for Development follow-up. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, under agenda item 2C, I now invite the forum to resume its general debate. I would like to recall that we have a long list of speakers remaining for the general debate. In order to conclude the general debate within the planned time frame, I would remind speakers to be brief and to limit their statements to no more than three minutes for national statements and five minutes for statements on behalf of groups. Statements by speakers other than states should be limited to two minutes. To assist speakers in managing their time, a timer will be projected on the screen. Please note that when speakers exceed the time limit, the mic will be automatically deactivated. I give the floor now to the distinguished representative of the Dominican Republic, to be followed by Saint Kitts and Nevis and the European Union.

Thank you very much, President, distinguished delegates. Transforming the Compromiso de Sevilla into a reality is full of challenges, and we want to offer our perspective on this. The Dominican Republic has a general state budget that is 96% aligned with the SDGs and we are positioned as number three in Latin America with the highest level of budget transparency. We recently approved our law on fiscal responsibility and have a green bond to the value of 750 billion dollars and a green taxonomy that enables the structuring of private assets. We also have more than five billion in foreign direct investment in 2025. We have a zero draft of the strategy for financing development that is very broad and covers a wide range of sectors, proposing a number of measures. Nevertheless, we recognise that the challenges are really significant. Budget pressure is around 15% of GDP and there's a deficit of around six and seven percent annually. In the area of climate, there is an investment gap of $23 billion. In addition, there are sectoral gaps in the areas of health, infrastructure, and housing. Overall, this is more than $700 billion annually. Given this situation, we are opting for a virtuous circle of PPP in order to support public financing, mobilize private capital with shared responsibility, and to mitigate the risks associated with financing for development. And for this validation of the implementation and implementation of the strategy will play a crucial role. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Dominican Republic. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to be followed by the European Union.

Chair, excellences, distinguished representatives, colleagues, partners. St. Kitts and Nevis aligns itself with the statement delivered by Caricom. It is an honor to speak on behalf of the government and the people of Saint Kitts and Nevis on an issue that goes at the heart of development, fairness, and effectiveness. To address issues no longer theoretical. Because they shape how countries like ours plan, prioritize, invest, and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain world. We meet at a moment when the gap between formal classification and level realities have become impossible to ignore. Many countries like Saint Kitts and Nevis are described as high income on paper, yet remain highly exposed to shocks, structurally constrained, and fiscally vulnerable. This disconnect can no longer be ignored because it shapes access to finance, affects recovery from crisis, and ultimately determines our development outcomes. The adoption of the Multi-Dimensional Vulnerability Index by the United Nations General Assembly was therefore an important collective acknowledgement that vulnerability and the challenges it presents cannot be reflected through national income levels alone, and that development assistance must better reflect exposure, resilience, and capacity to absorb shocks. This understanding was further reinforced in the Servier commitment, where member states recognize the need to modernize the international development architecture so that it responds more effectively to vulnerability, risk, and resilience. Servier was clear in its message. The credibility of the system depends on our ability to align principles with practices and commitment with implementations. Today, the question before us is how we deliver on that commitment. First, access to concessional resources. If vulnerability is not adequately reflected in eligibility and allocation frameworks, we risk systematically under supporting countries that are highly exposed but statistically misclassified. The MVI supported by country level instruments such as the VRCP offers a credible basis for shaping these assessments. Second, national investment planning. At country level tools such as the VRCP strengthen investment of filing by helping governments tackle resilience investments where they are most needed and most effective. Third, policy coherence across institutions. Today, vulnerabilities treated unevenly across most multilateral institutions. For example, the UN systems, MBDS and vertical.

I thank representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the European Union to be followed by Luxembourg and Colombia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor of delivering the statement on behalf of the EU and its member states. It has been nine months since our heads of state and government met in Seville and endorsed the Seville commitment. This 2026 Financing for Development Forum is the first space for us to take stock of the state of play and ensure that the commitments are being translated into concrete action in line with the Seville spirit. On this occasion, the European Union and its member states reaffirm our steadfast commitment to advancing the global agenda on financing for development as a cornerstone of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth. The increasingly complex global landscape is marked by economic uncertainty, the advancing triple planetary crisis, and worryingly, widening inequalities, including gender inequality. We need to mobilize all stakeholders and all sources of finance, public, private, domestic, and international. Strengthening domestic resource mobilization remains essential, including through fair and efficient tax systems, enhanced transparency, and fight against illicit financial flows. International public finance, particularly ODA, continues to play a crucial role in supporting the most vulnerable countries, especially least developed countries. The EU remains a stable partner in that regard, representing with the member states just about half, or 49%, of all ODA in 2025. Despite the difficulties that the multilateral system faces, trade also remains a powerful engine. A system that is open, fair, and rules-based is the best environment to support developing countries' integration into the global economy. Might cannot be right, and we urge the global community to double down on efforts to reform and strengthen the WTO, addressing all of its functions and the gaps in its rulebook. Ladies and gentlemen, private finance and private business will be indispensable to closing the significant financing gap for sustainable development, for generating decent jobs and growth. We underscore the need to increase efforts to create an enabling environment at all levels that fosters responsible private investment. In this context, the European Union highlights its Global Gateway strategy as a key contribution to financing for development. By October 2025, the Global Gateway surpassed its initial goal with 306 billion in investment mobilized. This initiative is now set to scale up its target from 300 billion to 400 billion by 2027 to support sustainable and high quality infrastructure projects worldwide. By leveraging public and private finance and working closely with international partners, the EU's Global Gateway Initiative exemplifies how strategic investment can drive sustainable development and strengthen global connectivity. Ladies and gentlemen, addressing climate change remains central, not just to financing for development efforts, but to survival of the planet and the people on it. We reiterate the commitment to aligning financial flows with the goals of the Paris Agreement and supporting partner countries in their transitions toward low-carbon, climate-resilient economies. As a chapter also under review this year, we also reiterate our support to reforms of the international financial architecture to make it more inclusive, responsive, and effective. Finally, we underscore the importance of accountability, transparency, and measurable impact in all financing efforts. Monitoring progress and ensuring that financial resources are used effectively will be key to achieving sustainable development goals by 2030. In this context, we reaffirm the fundamental role of reliable data and official statistics and improved coordination and cooperation across data ecosystems. Ladies and gentlemen, the European Union and its member states stand ready to work with all partners to deliver on our shared commitments and to ensure that financing for development contributes to a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future for all. Thank you.

I thank the representative of the European Union. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Luxembourg, to be followed by Colombia and Morocco.

Thank you very much, Mr. President, Excellencies. Luxembourg aligns itself with the statement just delivered by the European Union, and we would like to add the following remarks on our national capacity. Roughly a year after the adoption of the Seville Compromise, we're meeting now to take stock of its implementation and expedite our efforts to bridge the financing shortfall, that shortfall which is estimated at $4 trillion per year, so as to achieve the sustainable development goals. The Seville commitment breathed new life into our cooperation, and now it's up to us to translate it into concrete and measurable progress. Allow me to emphasize two priorities. Number one has to do with the international financial architecture and with systemic issues. Luxembourg has to express its concern. This is due to the lack of ambition of the current draft outcome document of this Forum on Financing for Development for 2026 in terms of gender equality. We deeply regret the fact that women and girls' empowerment is mentioned in the document only tangentially. This fails to reflect the urgency and the central role that gender equality plays in sustainable development. Luxembourg remains convinced that gender equality and human rights need to take centre stage of our collective action. In partnership with UN Women, South Africa, and the, uh, European Investment Bank, we organized during the FFD4 conference an event that was dedicated to sustainable financing for gender equality, building on this event. We are continuing our commitment supporting the sustainable finance program, which is implemented by UN Women, and we call upon other partners to join in that effort. My second, uh, our second priority has to do with national private enterprise and, uh… into international enterprises and private finance. For several decades, we have been actively supporting inclusive and innovative financing, especially in LDCs. We're attaching particular importance to small and medium-sized businesses, especially those led by women and young people, while these SMEs continue to run up against significant challenges. obstacles in terms of accessing financing. Luxembourg will continue to share its expertise as an international financial hub, in particular in the areas of sustainable financing and impact investments. Excellencies, Luxembourg will continue its work on the network of national focal points, as well as in the group of friends of international development cooperation effectiveness. We are going to continue to devote 1% of our GNI to official development aid. ODA will continue to play a vital role. Luxembourg will continue to fully commit to the implementation of the Seville commitment. Thank you.

Representative of Luxembourg. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Colombia.

Thank you very much, Chair. Allow me to send you our greetings and to thank everyone on the Bureau of Ecosoc for your hard years work ahead of these meetings. We align with the statement of the G77 in China and Colombia wishes to make the following statement in our national capacity. Colombia is grateful for the convening of this meeting and reaffirms that the compromise of the Soviets and essential major step forward in terms of tackling the challenges of the SDGs, and we look forward to its effective implementation. Allow me to refer to Colombia's vision for the implementation of the commitments in terms of financing for development with our key national priorities. Colombia considers that financing for development is crucial for closing structural gaps, strengthening resilience, macroeconomic resilience, and achieving a more just, sustainable and inclusive development model based on international cooperation and strengthening national capacities. In line with the mobilization of domestic resources, Colombia has included a gender approach in fiscal areas because these are not neutral. We have strengthened fiscal information with a gender approach and prioritized spending to close historic gaps, especially through monetary transfers that will benefit women in the majority, ensuring a more inclusive and resilient economy. Colombia is taking climate considerations into account in our budget. We have green bonds and carbon budgets to ensure consideration of biodiversity and climate. We've also strengthening equity to ensure investment in productive economy. And solidarity and volunteer-based economy is also essential. We should democratize access to loans, reduce structural barriers and persistent inequalities. Including solidarity is also essential to ensure inclusive growth. We also consider that reforming international financial architecture to reduce the cost of capital is essential to increase the budgetary space for developing countries. This requires a major commitment from all of us so that we can really impact the realities in our countries. We stand ready to continue working constructively to achieve the Seville commitment and to ensure that it results in tangible results that step up achievement of the 2030 agenda. I thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much Ambassador Sanchez. Distinguished representative of Morocco to be followed by Slovenia and Thailand.

Mr. President, all protocol observed, in a context marked by geopolitical tension, tightening financial conditions and declining development finance, the 2026 Forum of ECOSOC on financing for development must send a clear message. Multilateralism remain essential and collective action is indispensable to deliver on the promise of Seville. At the national level, Morocco has undertaken ambitious structural reforms to advance inclusive and sustainable development. These include the generalization of social protection, the strengthening of health coverage, direct housing support, and important public investment in education and health with nearly $15 billion allocated this year to these two sectors. Morocco has also pursued efforts to strengthen domestic resource mobilization through tax reform and improved fiscal governance, with a view to broadening the tax base and building a more equitable and efficient system. Building on this national experience, the Kingdom has also engaged at the continental level. In partnership with the Economic Commission for Africa, Morocco hosted earlier this month in Tangier a high-level ministerial roundtable on domestic resource mobilization as a key lever for Africa's development. This initiative aims to promote policy dialogue, coordination, and South-South exchange on concrete solutions adapted to African realities. Mr. President, Morocco underscore that debt is not merely a matter of fiscal stability. It directly affect the capacity of developing countries to invest in poverty eradication, resilience, and structural transformation. In this regard, the CDS commitment offer an important opportunity to advance fairer and more development-oriented responses to debt. Furthermore, my delegation reiterates the need for a more inclusive and equitable representation at international financial architecture for developing countries.

From a middle-income country

perspective, we reaffirm our support to the ongoing effort to move beyond GDP and look forward to the intergovernmental process that will guide this work, and we welcome the launch of the Global Alliance on Beyond GDP in Seville. Finally, my delegation attached great importance to South-South and triangular cooperation as a strategic complement to traditional financing anchored in solidarity-based approach. My country continue to share its expertise with partner countries, particularly in Africa, in key sectors such as vocational training, agriculture, banking, renewable energy, and climate resilience. Morocco remain fully committed to working with all partners to translate the CBI's commitment into tangible results.

I thank you.

I thank representative of Morocco and now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Slovenia, followed by Thailand and Azerbaijan.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Dear colleagues, excellences, the 2026 Financing for Development Forum is marked by a widening gap between ambition and implementation. When our leaders met in Seville last year, they were resolute in the joint objective to bridge the financing gap, a task necessary to continue on our path to achieve the SDG goals by 2030. In order to follow the spirit of Seville, I want to make the following three points. First, international public finance must be scaled up and aligned with national development priorities. We must ensure the financing reaches those most in need, including our partners in the LDS, LDCs and SEEDS. It is imperative to improve access to concessional finance and to address the excessive debt burden of many developing countries. We commend the efforts of this in this regard, including by aligning the Seville commitment with the Doha, Awaza and Antigua and Barbuda action programs, providing a foundation for tailor made transformative change. Second, domestic resource mobilization remains the backbone of sustainable financing, strengthening tax systems, combating illicit financial flows. and improving public financial management is key to ensure the countries can generate and effectively use their own resources. Slovenia emphasizes the importance of capacity building, sharing knowledge and exchange of good practices with developing countries. Such example is Slovenia-based Center of Excellence in Finance, which is partnering with the International Monetary Fund. Third, private sector engagement is indispensable. It is key driver of economic growth and job creation and promotes participation in global supply chains. However, private investments must be guided by clear frameworks that align them with sustainable development outcomes and safeguard public interest. We therefore welcome the multi-stakeholder approach of the FFD forums bringing together a diverse set of actors, including private sector and civil society to align in our common goals. And finally, we must prioritize resilience. Financing for disaster risk reduction is an instrument in resilience of infrastructure and communities. Financing for fragile and conflict affected countries supports peace building, early recovery and reconstruction in communities stuck by conflicts. Slovenia recognizes the importance of introducing and integrating the newly developed multidimensional vulnerability index to provide guidance for allocating concessional aid, debt restructuring, and emergency assistance, and build resilience to withstand future shock. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Thailand to be followed by Azerbaijan and Chile.

Mr. President, Thailand align itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G37 China. Now I would like to deliver the following points in my national capacity. Maintaining the relevance of FFD process requires a pragmatic and result-oriented implementation. Thailand is integrating the SBI commitment into our national economic and social development plan. 2027 to 2032 and in close collaboration with the United Nations into the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and UNDP country program document 2027 to 2031. Our FFD implementation and priorities include first unlocking the full potential of green and sustainable finance through additional incentives for the Thai ESG fund, issuing a second series of the sustainability link bonds, facilitating implementation of the Thailand taxonomy and advancing the draft Climate Change Act to achieve net zero by the year 2050. Second, fostering deeper partnerships through South-South, North-South, and triangular cooperation, including expediting Thailand's membership to the OECD by 2028. Third, providing strong digital public infrastructure. Thailand has developed a world-class digital payment ecosystem, enabling low-cost, real-time transactions at scale, as well as cross-border payments to more than 10 countries.

Fourth.

Addressing illicit financial flows to combat human trafficking, cybercrime and online scams, which of course require a whole system approach. And finally, strengthening ASEAN cooperation across trade, digital systems, financial infrastructure and clean energy networks. The ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement and the ASEAN Public Grid are prime and practical examples. Mr. President, This October, Thailand will host the 2026 IMF World Bank Group annual meetings in Bangkok. Under the vision, Thailand's new horizons, empowering people, building resilience, we look forward to helping shape the global response to a new era of uncertainty and transformation, as well as furthering the discussions related to the FFD agenda. I thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Azerbaijan, to be followed by Chile and South Africa.

Mr. President, as reflected in discussions across the forum's agenda, the global financing landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented, marked by rising debt vulnerabilities and widening gaps in progress toward the SDGs. Against this backdrop, the urgency of scaling up and better aligning financing with the implementation of the CVL commitment has never been greater. Azerbaijan approaches financing and development through a comprehensive national framework that integrates strategic planning, fiscal policy, and investment priorities. Instruments such as the integrated national financing framework and SDG investment mapping, which we have applied in the national context, provide effective tools for enhancing public expenditure efficiency and channeling resources toward high impact sectors, including agriculture, sustainable transport, renewable energy, and digital and trade infrastructure. Complementing these efforts, Azerbaijan is emerging as a model for South-South cooperation, demonstrating that middle-income countries can lead with accountability and financial innovation. Over the past five years, my country has expanded its development and humanitarian cooperation, particularly with SEEDS and African partners, while also supporting capacity building through multilateral mechanisms. We also remain committed to strengthening coherence between climate and development finance within the framework of the Seville commitment. In this context, it is essential to recognize the growing role of cities and local and regional governments, which are increasingly at the forefront of delivering sustainable and climate resilient development solutions. However, they continue to face significant financing and capacity constraints. with adequate and predictable funding remaining a key challenge to the effective implementation of the new urban agenda. Housing in particular requires strengthened cooperation, as recognized across key intergovernmental processes. In this regard, the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku next month will focus on the global housing crisis, resilience and climate action. We invite all member states and stakeholders to participate actively in this important event. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Azerbaijan's commitment to advancing reforms that mobilize investment for sustainable growth and make the global financial architecture more inclusive, resilient, and effective. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. I'd now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Chile to be followed by South African Republic of Korea.

Thank you, Chair. Chile aligns with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China and also with the statement of the Philippines on behalf of the group of middle income countries. A few months since adoption, the main challenge is advancing towards implementation, which is particularly salient in the current international contest, which is characterized by high levels of uncertainty, growing geopolitical tensions and disruptions in trade and investment flows. Given this panorama, the persistent financing gap for development continues to limit the ability of countries to make progress towards Agenda 2030 and this underscores the urgency of translating the commitments that have been undertaken into concrete results. Chile wishes to reiterate the central role of international trade as a driver of sustainable development in this context. For countries such as ours, open international integration has been a decisive factor for economic growth and productive diversification in recent decades. And this is why it's essential that we preserve an open, predictable and rules-based trading system. We must also strengthen the conditions that allow developing countries to better take advantage of the opportunities offered by international trade, including in emerging sectors. In this regard, we'd like to highlight the strategic potential of critical minerals. Growing demand for these combined with energy transitions and digital transformations opens up salient opportunities for developing countries. And taking advantage of these opportunities, however, requires making progress in integration into value chains, promoting diversified production and strengthening the generation of added value. President, a central element in advancing the financing for development agenda is the strengthening of measurement tools. As we have previously pointed out, GDP as the only measure does not adequately reflect the inequalities and vulnerabilities and structural challenges that our countries face. For this reason, Chile values the ongoing intergovernmental process, the United Nations to advance metrics complementary to GDP as tools to improve decision making in terms of public policies and financing for development. This process is particularly important for middle income countries. where there are still structural gaps that are not fully reflected in traditional indicators. And this, on occasion, has a disproportionate impact on financing and in access to international concessional financing. President, advancing implementation of the civil commitment will require consistency between the commitments made and the tools available to implement them. In this regard, the forum is in prime position to clearly identify the main obstacles and translate this diagnosis into concrete actions. I thank you.

I thank representative of Chile. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of South Africa to be followed by Republic of Korea and Sweden.

Mr. President, let me begin by associating South Africa with the statements delivered by the G77 in China and the African group respectively. Given the wide global reach, influence, and strong development finance mobilization capability of the finance for development agenda, it is pivotal that we collectively fulfill our commitments made in Seville and other preceding international conferences on financing for development. This will be an important demonstration of the power of global political cooperation. Heightened global tensions continue to further exacerbate already existing challenges faced by countries all over the world, more specifically those in Africa, posing a threat to derail progress made on the 2020 agenda. Improving resilience in national and international systems remains critical to minimize developing countries' sensitivity to external financial shock. There is an urgent need to scale up and accelerate affordable financing and ensure the delivery of ADA commitments while strengthening tax systems and preventing illicit financial flows to boost domestic resource mobilization. Debt sustainability continues to be a critical issue. Developing countries continue to face unsustainable debt burdens and a tighter fiscal space due to high debt service, further diverting limited resources away from development needs. It is for this reason that South Africa welcomes the establishment and operationalization of the Borrowers Platform and dedicated ECOSOC meetings on credit ratings and financial integrity as called for in the Sevila commitment. South Africa will also continue to contribute constructively to the development of the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and its two protocols. On the domestic efforts, South Africa continues to undertake pro-economic, and development growth policies. South Africa's growth strategy is anchored in four pillars, microeconomic stability, structural reforms, state capacity, and infrastructure investment. Growth enhancing reforms have progress in energy, transport, and telecommunication sectors, demonstrating practical strides towards creating jobs and reducing poverty. Budget reforms are also underway to make government more efficient with our 2026 budget demonstrating a fundamental shift in subnational fiscal architecture, moving from oversight to active structural intervention. To conclude, Mr. President, South Africa wishes to underline the importance of upholding sovereign right of each member state to choose its own system of socioeconomic development suitable for its domestic context with the support of the international community as appropriate. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank representative of South Africa and give the floor to the distinguished representative of Republic of Korea to be followed by Sweden and Tunisia.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

This forum is taking place at a critical juncture for translating severe commitment into meaningful action. Allow me to offer several observations across the four in-depth review areas of this forum. On private finance, we take note that a key constraint on private investment in developing countries lies.

In the gap between perceived and actual risk.

Greater knowledge sharing on blended financing, including replicable models aligned with national circumstances, would help narrow this gap and support pipeline development. On international trade, An open, predictable and rule-based trading environment remains essential for the SDGs. We reaffirm our support for the multilateral trading system with WTO at its core. And we'll continue supporting developing countries in trade digitalization, drawing on our experience in e-government and customs modernization. On the international financial architecture, recent shocks have underscored the need for a more effective and inclusive global financial safety net. Closer cooperation among the IMF, regional and cross-regional financial arrangement and MDB is essential alongside capacity building and technical assistance to help developing countries attract long-term investment. Lastly, on data monitoring and follow-up, the discussion should go beyond generating more data and support country-led evidence-based policymaking, as well as transparency and accountability.

In this regard, we encourage broad participation in the fifth voluntary.

GPEDC monitoring round beginning in 2027, as it could usefully complement the implementation review of the SEVIA commitment. In closing, the implementation of the Seville commitment must go beyond normative agreement. What is needed now is sustained action-oriented cooperation, including through the Seville Platform for Action. The Republic of Korea remains committed to translating our collective commitments into tangible progress on the ground.

I thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sweden, to be followed by Tunisia and Nicaragua.

Thank you, President. Sweden aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union on behalf of the EU and its Member States, and would like to add the following in a national capacity. Dear friends and partners, we meet at a time of significant global challenges. The very act of coming together is in itself an investment in multilateralism and in our shared belief that the world's most pressing issues can only be solved together. This week is about turning the Seville commitment into action. And to achieve this, we need to mobilize finance from every available source. Sweden is working hard to strengthen the synergies between development cooperation and the promotion of trade and investments. If we coordinate our efforts, we increase our impact. Sweden has successfully mobilized private capital through innovative financing instruments and guarantees. We remain committed to developing this toolbox in close dialogue with all relevant stakeholders. Strong public private partnerships and collaboration with private business will be crucial. So will fostering an investment climate that attracts both domestic and international capital and promotes sustainable growth. The SDG Investment Fair is a welcome example of this approach. A central feature in Sweden's renewed development agenda is finding ways to efficiently support developing countries ownership in driving national reforms. Effective national leadership is essential for strengthening domestic resource mobilization, attracting private investment and ensuring long-term debt sustainability. In this context, Sweden notes with great interest the national priorities and investment plans to advance the 2030 agenda. We see great potential for enhanced cooperation based on countries' own priorities, as shown in their national determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and their integrated national financing frameworks. The green and digital transitions are also key in this regard. Aligning financial flows with the pathway that limits global warming to 1.5 degrees is critical to avoiding the most devastating effects of climate change. Enhanced voice and representation for the most vulnerable countries in global economic governance is also an important step forward within the continued reform of the international financial architecture. Together with the EU, we are proud to be the world's largest provider of official development assistance. Our focus must be on maximizing ODA's results, impact and catalytic potential. Finally, let me reaffirm Sweden's strong commitment to the respect for human rights, rule of law, gender equality and good governance. These aspects are fundamental for sustainable development and eradicating poverty. Transparency, accountability and strong institutions are the pillars upon which resilient societies and inclusive economies are built. In a time of global uncertainty, let me assure you that Sweden remains a dedicated and reliable partner in development. Thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Tunisia, to be followed by Nicaragua and the Netherlands.

Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to join the statements delivered on behalf of G77 and China and the African Group, and I would like to make the following remarks in my national capacity. I wish to underscore the importance of following up on the implementation of the outcomes of this SBI conference at a critical international context marked by declining confidence in the multilateral system. The world today is facing interrelated crises, including escalating conflicts, rapid and uneven technological transformation, as well as a widening sovereign debt crisis. It is unacceptable that more than three billion people live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on health and education. Likewise, record high military expenditure is diverting resources away from development priorities, and establishing a crisis-driven economy rather than one based on opportunity and shared growth. Mr. President, as spring meetings just concluded, we recall that there is an urgent need to reform the structure of international financial institutions so that they become more equitable, democratic, and inclusive. In this regard, we reaffirm the importance of reviewing quota systems increasing the representation of developing countries, particularly African countries, and developing more effective debt restructuring mechanisms. We also call for the expanded use of special drawing rights, the strengthening of the role of development banks, and improved coordination between multilateral processes and international financial decision-making policies. Today's priority lies in launching an international platform for action and follow-up and adopting a regular review mechanism to ensure assessment, accountability, and the exchange of expertise. Mr. President, we should address the debt crisis, particularly in Africa, where many countries are facing acute financial distress. It is essential to provide long-term lending instruments, reform credit rating methodologies, enhance transparency, and integrate climate risks into debt sustainability assessments. We also stress the importance of mobilizing domestic resources through fair and effective tax policies and combating tax evasion, the development of digital payment systems and aligning capital flows and private investment with the sustainable development goals. Mr. President, achieving sustainable development also requires support for fair trade, the promotion of industrialization, narrowing the digital divide, and harnessing the energy and technological transitions to generate real added value in developing countries. In conclusion, we reiterate that implementing the outcomes of the Seville Conference requires collective political will, structural reform, and the global financial system. I thank you.

Thank representative of Tunisia. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Nicaragua to be followed by the Netherlands and Austria.

Thank you very much, President. It is time to move towards real transformation of the international financial system, one that can really address the needs of the people rather than the impositions of a few. Implementation of this civil commitment should lead to concrete actions that correct the profound inequalities that exist in the area of public and private financing, we underscore that each country should have the sovereign right to define their own development priorities, mobilise domestic resources and draw in investment without political conditions. We do not accept models imposed from outside or mechanisms that limit our fiscal space or attach conditions to our national policies. As regards international trade, we reiterate that this should be a real driver for development, but there are still unjust practices that persist and that limit equitable access to markets and that perpetuate asymmetries between developed and developing countries. We need to guarantee fair rules for trade that contribute to productive growth and to the well-being of our peoples. As regards the international financial architecture, Nicaragua demands a whole scale reform. It is unacceptable that developing countries are facing high costs of financing a debt crisis and limited access to resources, while global decisions continue to be concentrated in structures that do not reflect the reality of the world as it currently is. Similarly, we vigorously denounce the imposition of unilateral coercive measures and economic blockades. These are violations of international law and they impede the right to development of our people. These policies deepen inequalities and run counter to the fundamental principles of international cooperation. President, in a world where millions of people live in poverty, it is unacceptable that resources continue to be devoted to military spending and war. These resources should be directed to science, technology and human development. In this context, Nicaragua reaffirms that in this we as we still face foreign aggression and limitations imposed upon us, our government of reconciliation and national unity will continue to make progress with dignity and determination towards restoring the rights of our people. Nicaragua reaffirms that true development will only be possible when respect for sovereignty, non-interference, and equality between states prevail. We reiterate the international system should be transformed to address the realities and aspirations of our peoples, guaranteeing justice, equity, and opportunities for all. I thank you.

I thank representative of Nicaragua and now give the floor to the distinguished representative of the Netherlands to be followed by Austria and Senegal.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Kingdom of the Netherlands aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union. Please allow me to highlight two key messages in my national capacity. First, mobilizing private capital at scale is essential, and second, This will only work if the underlying foundations are in place, including addressing debt vulnerabilities. Mr. Chair, public resources remain the foundation of development finance. Strengthening the domestic resource mobilization and public financial management is therefore essential. But let us be clear, public finance alone will not be sufficient to address the increasing needs. To meet the challenges of tomorrow, we need to mobilise private capital at an unprecedented scale. This will not happen by itself. It will require sustained efforts to build investable pipelines, to improve transparency on risks and returns, and to strengthen the financial ecosystems in which investments can take place. For the Kingdom of the Netherlands, this is a clear priority. We support multilateral development banks in scaling up private capital mobilization and connecting investors to opportunities in developing economies. Through our innovative ecosystem, the Kingdom of the Netherlands has been at the forefront in developing impactful and scalable solutions. Innovative financial instruments originating from our country, such as ILX, TCX, and Cardano Development, contribute meaningfully to bridging the development finance gap. We remain committed to pushing our private capital mobilization agenda even further. We have therefore launched two Seville Platform for Action initiatives. First, together with the Nordic Plus Coalition, we introduced a joint declaration on partnerships between institutional investors and MDBs. This aims to scale collaboration between these institutions. Second, through our initiative on global partnerships for unlocking private capital for local sustainable development, we seek to strengthen local capital markets and engage domestic institutional investors, such as pension funds. Looking ahead, the main challenge is coherence. We must align initiatives to sustain momentum and avoid fragmentation. However, none of this will work without addressing a fundamental constraint, which is debt. The Compromisso rightly places stronger emphasis on debt transparency and reporting. Strengthening debt data, improving debt management and working towards more predictable restructuring processes is therefore essential, not as a separate agenda, but as a foundation for sustainable investment. Our shared task is clear, to turn commitments into capital and capital into tangible results for people around the world. Thank you.

I thank representative of the Netherlands. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Austria to be followed by Senegal and Venezuela.

Thank you, Mr. President, Austria aligns itself with the statement of the European Union. The fourth conference on financing for development was without a doubt one of the most important multilateral events last year. With the Compromiso de Sevilla, we've adopted an ambitious roadmap. Now we must deliver. Austria is committed to the implementation of Agenda 2030, a commitment enshrined also in our government's program. And as a member of the European Union, we are of course fully supporting to jointly advance this commitment. But while we will contribute our share of international development assistance, The financing gap can only be closed by mobilizing resources from all sources, public and private. Domestic resource mobilization must be at the core of this effort. Mr. President, it is private business and finance that will create jobs and ultimately create domestic revenue. In order to harness this potential, we need to create a favorable, enabling business environment, including the rule of law, good governance, anti-corruption measures, enhanced transparency, investor and consumer protection, and fair competition. We have to keep in mind that the perception of risk is what limits private sector investment flows into numerous countries and regions. The rise of conflict and geopolitical tensions that we see today are a major source of these perceived risks. We also hear the call for further reform of the international financial architecture. Austria will continue to support MDPs in their endeavors to become still more effective and efficient. But at the same time, such reforms should not endanger MDP's AAA rating, the long-term financial sustainability and preferred creditor status. Furthermore, Austria fully recognizes the multidimensional nature of development, which cannot be adequately reflected by GDP alone. GDP fails to acknowledge increasing challenges like ecological vulnerabilities, inequality gaps, access to quality education, digital inclusion, and health disparities. Austria therefore fully supports the Beyond GDP Global Alliance, an initiative launched as a contribution the severe platform of action. In light of exposure to risk that small island development states face, we fully support the need to reform the dark graduation criteria, supplementing the sole criterion to date with vulnerability criteria, paying particular attention to SIDS. As my final point, Austria is particularly honored to serve as the co-chair together with Zambia.

Thank you, Ambassador Koessler. I now give the floor to the representative of Senegal to be followed by Venezuela and Pakistan.

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China, and we endorse the statement of Mali on behalf of the African Group. in our national capacity, we would like to offer the following observations. President, the work done in Seville was particularly useful in spotlighting the shortfalls and gaps in the international financial system, which is increasingly out of step with the needs and aspirations of most states. especially in the developing world, debt burden more than ever is an impediment for development. It is a major obstacle and its adverse impacts are jeopardizing progress already, the progress to which countries of the South can legitimately aspire. And it is hampering their ability to achieve the SDGs. Such a trajectory is not sustainable or viable either. President, the civil commitment contains guidance, recommendations, and political commitments which offer hope. Their diligent enactment is essential to galvanize project progress toward achievement of the SDGs. In order to find the relevant long-term solutions, we have a collective responsibility to rethink the international financial architecture and to undertake the necessary reforms to strengthen fairness, transparency, and effectiveness while fostering a spirit of cooperation and candid and sincere partnership. With that in mind, we need to adopt and swiftly implement appropriate steps, in particular by strengthening the global financial safety net, by strengthening financing of multilateral development banks, by raising new capital, by reallocating special drawing rights, by preventing debt crises, as well as enhancing the representation of developing countries in global economic governance. We also need to take strong, ambitious action in order to more effectively combat illicit financial flows, money laundering, and tax fraud and evasion, which deal considerably harm to African economies and to the poorest countries more generally. In closing, my delegation believes that the international community has an overriding responsibility to step up its cooperation so as to establish the balanced and inclusive socioeconomic conditions needed for development to make tangible progress toward achieving the SDGs so that the world can be more safe and more prosperous. Thank you.

I'll give the floor to the representative of Cuba to be followed by Venezuela and Bangladesh.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Cuba joins the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China and by Palau on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island Developing States, AOSIS. Just almost one year since adopting the Seville commitment where the international community committed to take action to close the financial gap that prevents us from achieving the What have we achieved? What have we actually done in practical terms, despite the efforts of some Member States that continue to support international cooperation, others that are not? insist on promoting wars, violating international law, the norms of trade, and threatening the very essence of multilateralism. Official development assistance fell 23% in 2025 compared to the previous year. This is the largest annual contraction recorded in official development assistance since the beginning of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, whereas military spending reached 2.7 trillion in 2024 and continues to increase. According to the United Nations data, ending global hunger by 2030 will require less than 4% of that amount. Providing basic medical attention in low-income countries would cost 14% of that. Vaccinating all of the children on the planet would only require 10% of that and with just 5% of that figure we could provide safe drinking water services to 140 low-income countries annually and if we reinvested 15% of global military spending we would be able to help developing countries to adapt to climate change every year. And so there are resources, what we are lacking is real political will. It continues to be a battle to debate about how we should eliminate unilateral coercive measures that are afflicting developing countries such as those that we suffer, such as the unjust and illegal blockade of the United States that has been imposed against Cuba for more than 60 years. And now this is further enhanced with an energy blockade. We cannot delay concrete action to put an end to these violations of the UN Charter and international law. We must also reform international financial institutions and begin an intergovernmental process to address the question of debt, as was agreed in Seville. I will conclude by reaffirming Cuba's commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation for sustainable development. I thank you.

Thank you, representative of Cuba. now give the floor to the representative of Venezuela to be followed by Bangladesh and Pakistan.

President, we are meeting today at an international juncture marked by profound asymmetries, growing geopolitical tensions and international financial architecture that continues to repeat the patterns of structural inequalities, many of these inherited from a colonial that continue in the world today. Despite the momentum generated in Seville, there is still an alarming gap in access to financing for development. And this once again highlights the urgent need to transform the commitments into concrete action. President, for developing countries such as Venezuela, financing is not a mere technical abstraction. It is a necessary condition in order to guarantee fundamental rights and to promote productive growth and move towards achievement of the SDGs. However, this reality is facing many hurdles because of the persistence of illegal, unilateral, coercive measures that are restricting access to financial markets, limiting investment, and directly impacting the well-being of our people. These criminal measures, in addition to being illegitimate, distort global financial flows and they undermine the principles of multilateralism. We urgently call for them to be lifted In real terms, another crucial issue is the question of debt. Many developing countries face an unsustainable burden with high costs. and many other issues related to the servicing of debt, which represent a structural obstacle to development of entire countries. We highlight the need to move towards just, transparent and effective mechanisms for restructuring sovereign debt that will allow our countries to recover the fiscal space that is so necessary today without being penalized by actors of the financial system, including the credit rating agencies. We support an intergovernmental drive for the process under the United Nations framework to address deficiencies in the global debt architecture and guarantee sustainable and inclusive solutions. Reform of the international financial architecture is another issue that cannot be further deferred. We must build a more representative, democratic and inclusive system that is focused on development where the voice of the countries of the South has real weight in decision-making. Finally, we reaffirm that development should be located at the centre of the international agenda. It is only through genuine cooperation based on solidarity, cooperation, respect for sovereignty and equity that we will be able to close the financing gap and build a more just future for our nations, fully in line with our promise to leave no one behind. I thank you, President.

I thank the representative of Venezuela. I now give the floor to the distinguished Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, to be followed by Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Thank you, Mr. President. Bangladesh aligns itself with the statements by G77 and China and the LDC group. Last year, severe commitment renewed multilateral re-election for the FFD. The true test, however, lies in the tangible implementation on the ground. This forum offers an opportunity to assess whether the Saviar process is moving in the right direction. In that context, we welcome the launch of the Borrowers Platform as one of the important deliverables. With $4.3 trillion SDG financing gap, the global development environment remains challenging. Geopolitical tensions, often turning into wars, put countries like ours in dire situations. Again, Declining ODA, climate shocks, trade barriers, and energy uncertainty are narrowing the policy space of developing countries. These global pressures, coupled with our own domestic realities, have compelled Bangladesh to seek an extension of the preparatory period for graduation from the LDC category so that our graduation can be more sustainable. After a prolonged period of governance failure, our people have steered the country toward political recovery. The new government, with a strong mandate, has focused on restoring macroeconomic stability, rebuilding business confidence, strengthening banking sector, promoting investment, and expanding direct support to vulnerable people. Mr. President, development finance is not an end in itself. It is a means to enable countries to shape their own future with dignity. For that, developing countries need a fair chance in more conducive global environment to ensure greater resilience and upward structural transformation. They need a fairer, more representative, and more responsive international financial architecture, including climate justice, action on loss and damage, and strong political will to return stolen assets to their rightful owners. Mr. President, debt cost must be lowered. Debt burdens arising from unauthorized, underutilized infrastructure projects must be avoided at all costs and FDI must be directed towards sectors that strengthen domestic capacities, create employment and opportunities and facilitate technology transfer. To conclude, Mr. President, for development financing to succeed, national ownership is the key. Public finance private investment, MDB, South-South and North-South cooperation all have complementarity and mutually reinforcing roles to play. The challenge before us is too large for half measures. It requires us to...

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Pakistan to be followed by Sri Lanka and Italy.

Thank you, Mr. President. We meet amidst profound global challenges. The SDG financing gap is widening, debt vulnerabilities are deepening, poverty and hunger are rising, climate impacts are accelerating, and hard-won development gains are being reversed. This is unfortunate because from Monterrey to Seville, the financing for development process has provided the blueprint for a more equitable global economy grounded in international solidarity, common but differentiated responsibility and the right of every country to pursue development through equitable access to financing and a supportive international financial architecture. The true test lies in its effective implementation. We must move urgently on reform of the international financial architecture. Governance of IMF and the World Bank must better reflect the needs of developing countries. Greater access to liquidity, including through rechanneling of special drawing rights, remains essential. We must also advance swiftly on the intergovernmental process on debt agreed in Seville. This was an important collective commitment. As a first practical step, the dialogue under the process must be convened without delay. Similarly, commitments on scaled up concessional and development finance must be met, and stronger support for investment in developing countries to advance the SDGs. Pakistan is actively pursuing follow-up of the CBI commitment. We had the honor to serve as vice chair of the working group that helped steer the establishment of the borrowers platform launched in Washington last week. The platform fills a longstanding gap by providing a structured forum for borrower countries to exchange experiences, strengthen technical capacity, and enhance their collective voice in the international debt architecture. Mr. President, despite successive global shocks from the pandemic and climate induced disasters to recurring energy crises, Pakistan is advancing on the path to economic recovery through consistent macroeconomic reforms. We have delivered a primary budget surplus, curbed inflation, reduce the debt to GDP ratio and intensified domestic resource mobilization through tax reforms, digitization and stronger public financial management. Moving forward, we must safeguard the true spirit of the civil commitment, transcending political divides and narrow interests. Pakistan remains ready to work with all partners to advance the FFD agenda in that spirit. I thank you very much.

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Sri Lanka to be followed by Italy and Lao.

Thank you, Mr. President. Sri Lanka welcomes the convening of this forum. We emphasize the fundamental importance of a fair and inclusive international trading system. Rising trade fragmentation, restrictive measures, and growing uncertainty threaten the multilateral trading system. These trends disproportionately affect developing countries, including middle-income countries like Sri Lanka. We call on all countries to strengthen the rules-based, transparent multilateral trading system. For trade-dependent countries like Sri Lanka, stability and fairness in global markets are essential. It is equally important that changes in global supply chains are inclusive, expanding equitable access to international markets and trading platforms remain critical. Integration into global value chains offer significant opportunities for developing countries to diversify our economies. However, too often we find ourselves confined to supplying raw materials or basic inputs with limited value addition and insufficient access to investments in advanced technology. Sri Lanka is transitioning towards a digital innovation driven economy focused on investment, value addition and diversified exports. To succeed, we need greater access to finance, technology and knowledge. This is crucial for middle-income countries, which often lack access to concessional finance and the capacity to compete at higher value segments. We must ensure that the measures we adopt for climate actions do not inadvertently create new barriers to trade and development. We also highlight the importance of climate resilient debt instruments, including state contingent clauses, allowing affected countries to respond effectively to shocks without aggravating debt distress. The impact of Cyclone Ditywa in November 2025, causing over USD 4 billion in direct and broader economic losses, underscores the magnitude of this vulnerability we face. Sri Lanka's recent debt restructuring reveals systemic gaps. including the lack of framework for middle-income countries facing debt distress. We welcome efforts to expand local currency lending by multilateral development banks. We must fix the gaps in the global financial system. Too often it favors the short-term debt stability over long-term development and growth. We support continued dialogue on reforms, including strengthening the counter-cyclical role of the private sector arms of multilateral development banks. We also call for reviewing credit rating methodologies to better reflect development realities, safeguarding investor confidence and minimising risk for unnecessary debt restructuring caused by temporary financial disturbance. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Sri Lanka and now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Italy to be followed by Lao and Sudan.

Thank you, Mr. President. Italy aligns itself with the statement of the European Union. This forum provides the first opportunity to take stock of progress on the financing for development agenda and to advance the implementation of the Seville commitment. In line with the Seville commitment, Italy supports a more inclusive and effective global framework for financing for development. In this contest, the key challenge is not only mobilizing resources, but ensuring that countries can effectively access, manage, and leverage them. This requires a coherent approach built around three priorities.

First, strengthening domestic resource mobilization. Domestic resources remain the most sustainable source of financing for development. Strengthening tax systems, improving revenue administration, and enhancing public financial management are essential.

This must go hand in hand with debt sustainability. Many countries face increasing debt pressure that constrain fiscal space.

Addressing this require stronger national systems and more coordinated.

International efforts, including improved debt transparency and strengthened debt management capacities. Second, enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of development cooperation. The current landscape remains fragmented, reducing impact and weakening country ownership. We need more integrated country-led approaches better aligned with national priorities. Stronger collaboration among partners is also essential to maximize impact and reduce duplication. Third, scaling up partnership with public development banks and multilateral institutions. Public development banks play key role in supporting long-term investments and mobilizing private capital. Co-financing, blended finance, and joint platforms can enhance both scale and effectiveness. Expanding local currency financing and mitigating foreign exchange risks remain critical priorities. Across all these priorities, one element remains fundamental, capacity building. Without strong institutions and effective governance frameworks, financial instruments cannot deliver their full potential. Capacity building must therefore be at the core of the financing for development agenda. And in this regard, Italy has launched the Seville Call to Action on Strengthening Capacities for Financing for Development, now part of the Seville Platform for Action to promote a more integrated and systemic approach to technical assistance and institutional strengthening. Stronger institutional capacities enhance credibility

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Laos, to be followed by Sudan and Cote d'Ivoire.

President, my delegation aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the groups of 77 and China, LDCs, and the group of friends of GDI. We commend the convening of this timely forum as we seek to reinvigorate momentum for implementing the CBI commitment. With only four years to work on the 2030 agenda, progress so far remains uneven. In this context, we view the CBI commitment as a key framework for closing the financing gap and achieving the SDGs. Its effective implementation requires strengthened multilateral cooperation and partnerships, sustained political view, and concrete actions by development partners, multilateral development banks, and international financial institutions. At the national level, the Lao PDR is advancing its smooth transition strategy towards sustainable graduation from LDC status this year. Through an integrated national financing framework, we are aligning financing policies with our national socioeconomic development plan and strengthening domestic resource mobilization. Despite these efforts, various challenges continue to persist, including public debt and high servicing costs, persistent financial vulnerability, external shocks, and declining official development assistance, which have widened our financing gap and hindered the implementation of the SDGs and broader development agendas. While we continue to strengthen domestic resource mobilization, international support remains indispensable. The Lao PDR underscores the importance of continuous access to concessional finance, investment, technological transfer, connectivity, and a fair, open, and rule-based multilateral trading system to support our integration into regional and global markets.

We further emphasize the urgent need.

To reform the global financial system to make it more inclusive and responsive. This includes enhancing the representation of developing countries, expanding access to concessional resources, and advancing reforms to the international debt system to ensure transparency, fair restructuring, and access to affordable and long-term solutions. In closing, the Lao PDR remains committed to the 2030 Agenda and cons for the strengthened global solidarity and the full implementation of commitments for tangible and impactful outcomes. I thank you.

Thank you, Ambassador. I now give the floor to the representative of Sudan to be followed by Cote d'Ivoire and Iran.

Sayeda.

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, at the outset, we align ourselves with the statements delivered by the G77 and China, the African group, the LDCs, and we would like to deliver this statement in our national capacity. We meet today at a watershed moment for the financing for development agenda. The world is undergoing profound transformations, including fragile economic growth, protectionism, and increasing uncertainty, which impedes progress towards the achievement of the SDGs. Developing countries are facing an acute financing crisis exacerbated by borrowing costs, escalating debt burden, declining ODA and weak investment flows, in addition to geopolitical tensions and the growing impact of climate change. The adoption of the Seville commitment represents a critical opportunity to address long-standing structural gaps in the global financial architecture, but its success depends on effective and constructive implementation. For us, today's discussion is not a theoretical exercise but a matter of survival and recovery. Three years after the outbreak of the war, The Sudan is suffering from one of the worst humanitarian and economic crises in the world. Productive capacities have been destroyed. National institutions have been hard hit. Fiscal space has collapsed and the state's capacity to provide basic services has been constrained. Our challenges reflect a deeper structural financial vulnerabilities. Accumulated debt, prolonged arrears, and limited access to concessional financing have left our country vulnerable to external shocks. The current global financial architecture has failed to respond to the realities of fragile countries. Humanitarian assistance remains essential but is insufficient. We need urgent integrated development financing to support economic recovery and growth and rebuild institutions. Excellencies, we welcome the launch of the Borrowers Platform, which represents an important step towards amplifying the collective voice of countries facing high borrowing costs and heavy debt servicing burdens. We are grateful for joining the platform. The continued decline in ODA is matter of serious concern, particularly for LDCs and conflict-affected countries. In this regard, we call on development partners to honour their commitments. We underscore the importance of the RM taking into account the challenges facing conflict affected countries. Even if these domestic resources are mobilized, these countries will not meet their development obligations. We therefore call on upholding international law to reduce conflict. We join this dialogue and we believe that the LDCs and conflict affected countries must be placed at the forefront of efforts to reform the global financial architecture. We stand ready to engage constructively old partners,

the microphone was cut off.

I thank representative of Sudan. I now give the floor to the distinguished permanent representative of Cote d'Ivoire to be followed by Iran and Antigua and Barbuda.

President,

ladies and gentlemen, Cote d'Ivoire aligns itself with the statements delivered by the Africa Group and the G77 and China. We're found in a context characterized by a drop of over 23% of ODA in 2025. And there's also a shortfall in financing for the SDGs, that shortfall being estimated at roughly $4 trillion. For Africa, these constraints are falling at a time when the implementation of the 2063 agenda requires considerable investments in order to sustain a structural sustainable transformation. President, under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic, Cote d'Ivoire is committed to an ambitious economic transformation through structural reforms and a clear development vision. This is shown through the enactment of our national development plan for 2026 to 2030, which mobilized around $65 billion in investment. Our economy remains resilient, posting growth of 6% in 2024, which shows sustained growth despite an internationally uncertain environment. Cote d'Ivoire has contributed around 40%, contributed to around 40% of the GDP of the, of WAMU, consolidating its status as the main economic engine of the region. We've mobilized external financing to the, that financing has gone from 651 France CFA to in 2012 to around 3.9 trillion France CFA in 2023, and then to around 6.7 trillion However, resources continue to fall short, uh, and are not adequate. We have three priorities. First, we need to reform the international financial architecture to reduce the cost of capital in Africa, which means five times higher than in developed economies. effectively managing debt is needed as servicing that debt limits investors in key social sectors in a country where 75 percent of the population is under the age of 35. This fact underscores the urgency of creating jobs at large scale which should be considered. Finally, we need more private financing through innovative instruments and financing tools, blended financing tools that are better aligned with national priorities. President, the enactment of the pact for the future and the civil commitment requires a systemic transformation of financing for development. In that regard, UN80 needs to adapt the UN system to current realities by bolstering its efficacy, coherence, and capacity to respond to the priorities of states. In this regard, we reiterate our commitment to a recast multilateralism grounded in solidarity and geared toward tangible results. And we now need to translate our commitments into concrete results commensurate with the aspirations of our peoples.

Thank you.

I'm speaking as Vice President of ECOSOC and representative of Spain. I am grateful to the representative of Cote d'Ivoire for that statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Iran.

In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful, Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, financing for development is closely linked to the credibility and integrity of the multilateral system. Declining trust and cooperation, the weakening of multilateralism and United Nations role, the growing reliance on unilateral measures, and the increasing politicization of the financial flows and economic instruments undermine development. In addition, the freezing of the sovereign assets along with the economic consequences of aggression and armed conflict, particularly in developing countries, further constrains fiscal space, disrupt investment and weaken sustainable development efforts. The persistence of active aggression, particularly against developing countries, remains a major obstacle to achieving the sustainable development goals and mobilizing financing for development, with direct link to today's economic, social, and environment crisis, Mr. President. For more than four decades, my country has been subjected to unilateral coercive measures, financial restrictions, and the freezing of the assets belonging to its people, measures whose impact is borne directly to ordinary civilians. In the case of the aggression against my country, which has occurred twice over the past nine months, We have endured repeated acts of imposed war that have taken the lives of thousands of our people, particularly women and young boys and children and girls, each of whom had hopes and aspirations for the future. It is therefore deeply regrettable that the carefully proposed language reflecting the realities faced by countries under aggression, particularly the disproportionate impact on developing countries, was removed by the facilitators and replaced with the formulation that are neither consensus spaces nor neutral. Such an approach risk undermining credibility, clarity, and integrity of our collective work. In closing, it is imperative to reaffirm that development finance must remain development-oriented, predictable, and free from politicization, while fully respecting the sovereign right of countries to pursue their own development pathway. We call for strengthened international cooperation to ensure that financial systems are inclusive, transparent, and resilient, and to reinforce the central role of the United Nations. I thank you.

I thank the representative

of Iran and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Antigua and Barbuda to be followed by Angola.

Mr. President, we align ourselves with the statements delivered by the Group of 77 and China and by Trinidad and Tobago on behalf of the Caribbean community. I will now speak in my national capacity. Mr. President, the Seville commitment marked a clear and long overdue acknowledgement. The current international financial architecture is not fit for purpose. It does not serve developing countries fairly, and it continues to disadvantage small island developing states. Recognition, however, is not reform. We must now move decisively from commitment to implementation. Seville must not be judged by its ambition, but by whether it delivers measurable change towards financial system that is equitable, responsive and reflective of a good realities and not entrench asymmetries. The debt is a single greatest constraint on development. Global debt reached $348 trillion in 2025, but this is not a shared burden. It is deeply unequal one. Developing countries face significant higher borrowing costs while the majority of low and middle income countries are now in or at high risk of debt distress. For small island developing states, the crisis is structural. Between 2026 and 2027 and also 2028 SIDS will pay over $27 billion in external debt service. Many of our countries already spend more on debt servicing than major priorities. This is not sustainable. sustainable. It is not just and it is not conducive to development. But let us be clear, states are not borrowing to accelerate growth. We are borrowing to cope with the shocks that we did not create and diverting scarce resources to service debt instead of investing resilience. So we see a peace solution or a piecemeal solution will not be sufficient. Mr. President, if we are to be serious about reform, we must confront two truths. Unsustainable debt is a systemic global risk, and the burden is disproportionately borne by at least the equipment that manage it. The tools emerging from Seville, the DSSS, the Borrowers Platform, and the NVI are important, but their value will not be quickly will not entirely or quickly be effective if they are not operationalized. We welcome the DSS under the Antigua and Barbuda Jennifer SIDS. represents a practical step towards the support of debt management and also fiscal space. We also want to expand debt relief initiatives such as a catastrophic insurance where the premium is supported by Green Climate Change Fund and other financial facilities. This will enable countries to secure insurance coverages from disaster around rapid and built up disaster restructuring.

I thank the distinguished

representative of Antigua and Barbuda, and I now give the floor to the distinguished representative of Angola, to be followed by Malawi.

Thank you, Mr. President. We align ourselves with the statement delivered by G77 plus China and the African group, and wish to add the following remarks in our national capacity. We welcome the adoption of the Seville commitment as a renewed global framework for financing for development. In this regard, Angola also welcomes the launch of the Boros platform as mandated under paragraph 48I, a concrete step towards strengthening the voice of boring countries in addressing that related challenges. Mr. President, my country continues to face structural challenges common to many developing countries, including high boring costs, limited fiscal space, and the need to accelerate economic diversification. In response, We are advancing effort to strengthen domestic resource mobilization, improve investment climate, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth in line with our national development plan 2023-2027. We are investing in key sectors to support structural transformation, including agriculture, infrastructure, and renewable energy. Initiatives such as the project to support the development of family farming and marketing, and production support, export diversification, and import substitution program, enhancing productivity and promoting economic diversification. The Angolan government also placed strong emphasis in regional integration. In this regard, we see the African Continental Free Trade Area and the strategic projects such as the Lubito Corridor as key drivers of trade, connectivity, and industrial development. Mr. President, despite this effort, the external environment remains a major constraint. The high cost of capital, limited access to concessional finance, and growing debt service obligations continue to restrict the ability to invest at required scale. In this context, we underscore the need for more affordable and accessible financing, strengthen international cooperation on debt, and a more inclusive and effective international financial architecture, including a stronger role for international financial institutions and multilateral development banks in providing long-term affordable finance. We will also stress the importance of advancing international tax cooperation under the United Nations, as well as reversing the decline in official development assistance, particularly for countries most in need. Mr. President, Closing the financial gap remains essential to achieving the 2030 Agenda. The implementation of the Seville commitment must deliver tangible results at the country level, supporting economic transformation and resilience. Angola remains committed to working with all partners to advance a more equitable and effective global financing framework.

I thank the distinguished representative of Angola. I now give the floor to the representative of Malawi. They will be followed by Iceland.

President, Excellencies, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Republic of Malawi. Malawi aligns itself with the statement delivered by the Group of 77 and China, the LDC Group, and the Africa Group. Mr. President, the global economic environment remains fragile and uncertain. Like many developing countries, Malawi continues to face compounding shocks. Nevertheless, under the leadership of Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, the President of the Republic of Malawi, Malawi has made progress in strengthening domestic resource mobilization, with tax revenues reaching approximately 14% of GDP, supported by digitalization and other governance reforms. We are also improving public financial management and advancing reforms to enhance the investment climate, support micro, small and medium enterprises, and mobilize private investment. Mr. President, our efforts are being undermined by complex systemic challenges beyond our control. The sharp decline decline in official development assistance, rising borrowing costs, and limited access to concession of finance are eroding development gains. Furthermore, the ongoing conflicts in Europe and Middle East have led to continued increase in prices of strategic commodities such as fuel and fertilizer. This has put further pressure on government's import bill and increased in food inflation. Malawi therefore calls for the following urgent actions as we implement the Sevillea commitment and as we implement the SDGs. On reform of international financial architecture, we need to review policies of the international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to provide affordable long-term and concessional financing. International financial institutions must also put in place a mechanism for providing rapid response to cushion countries from the external shock effects. And thirdly, multilateral financial institutions must adopt innovative financing mechanisms such as blended financing. On transforming the debt architecture, the common debt management framework must include standardizing debt suspension and user manual for debtors with clear timelines. Secondly, provide liquidity support to countries facing high debt servicing burdens. And thirdly, we need to adopt measures that would prevent debt crisis. Mr President, as I conclude, we need to adopt the...

I thank Malawi. We will now hear from Iceland, to be followed by Myanmar.

President, Excellencies, Iceland is honored to have been entrusted by the President of the Economic and Social Council to co-facilitate with the Maldives the consultations on the 2026 Financing for Development outcome document. We wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to all delegations and stakeholders for their active and constructive engagement throughout the process, and of course to the Maldives for excellent cooperation and partnership. This process has clearly demonstrated that financing for development is an essential and important issue, a cornerstone of UN's development pillar and a critical enabler for advancing progress towards the sustainable development goals. Excellencies, this year's Financing for Development Forum takes place less than one year after the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, And the Compromisso de Sevilla represents the first intergovernmentally agreed financing for development framework since 2015. It is important to recall that the severe commitment of 2025 is the result of extensive negotiations and has been agreed at the highest political level. It provides the foundation and framework for the next decade, including our work this week. Excellencies allow me to highlight a few key points. First, gender equality and women's empowerment must remain at the center of our efforts. This requires targeted and predictable financing to address inequalities and close persistent gender gaps. In particular, investment in sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential to unlock opportunities for women and girls. Second, we must ensure that official development assistance is used as effectively and strategically as possible. The catalytic role of ODA is critical and should help mobilize additional resources, whether through multilateral development banks, finance institutions, or innovative financing mechanisms. Third, sustainable financing ultimately depends on strong national foundations. Creating an enabling environment is therefore essential. This includes strengthening domestic resource mobilization systems, as reflected in the Seville commitment, fostering trust and reinforcing the social contract, implementing strong and credible anti-corruption measures, and ensuring responsible debt management. Ladies and gentlemen, the Compromiso de Sevilla highlights progress on many key issues, and we can already see some actions taking shape. The Seville Platform for Action includes numerous initiatives that will translate commitments into practice. Iceland is pleased to have endorsed five initiatives under the platform, all of which are well underway. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Iceland. I now give the floor to the representative of Myanmar to be followed by the Holy See.

Myanmar does

not appear to be in attendance.

The adoption of CVR commitments signals a renewed commitment to financing for sustainable development and multilateralism in the age of geopolitical challenges and global turbulence. commitment and its predecessors provide a blueprint for the mobilizations and alignments of all financial flows, domestic and international, public and private. As such, we as member states are primarily responsible for our own domestic economic and social development, while development partners and institutions create an enabling international environment. Unfortunately, in my country, Myanmar, the illegal military coup in 2021, followed by the military's atrocities, rampant corrections, and breakdown of rule of law, has reversed our previous development progress and financial potential. Since the coup, the GDP has contracted, inflation is rising, national poverty has increased to nearly 50%. The middle class is disappearing, foreign direct investment has dropped by 74%, Microfinance institutions and operations are declining.

Financial sector reform has stagnated.

Illicit economies, transnational organized crime, including online scams, are thriving. Illicit financial flows and criminal safe havens under the protections of the military junta and its affiliates have proliferated. In addition to these devastating consequences, World Bank reported that a decline in formal sector opportunities, migrations of skilled workers, reduced human capital, disruption to education and health services, will threaten Myanmar's long-term development prospects. We are at serious risk of losing an entire generation. Mr. President, effective implementations of severe commitments and 2030 agenda require a conducive environment to peace and stability. It is crystal clear that the military junta, their indiscriminate violence against civilians and disregard for the rule of law are the biggest drivers of development setbacks and instability in Myanmar. In this regard, any regional and international effort to remedy the situation should include steps to effectively address the root cause to avoid fueling more violence and prolonging the suffering of our people. On the other hand, the recently established Steering Council for Emergence of a Federal Democratic Union, behind the major democratic forces, has demonstrated a step closer to realizing our goal of ending the military dictatorship and building a federal democratic union, as well as bringing the bright future back to the people of Myanmar. Therefore, I ask the international community to support the people of Myanmar in their efforts for sustainable peace and stability and better Myanmar. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank Myanmar. I give the floor to the Holy See to be followed by Paraguay.

Thank you, Mr. President. My delegation welcomes the convening of this year's forum, the first since the severe commitment was adopted last July. The document acknowledged that the current model of financing for development is falling short and that more ambitious and equitable approaches are urgently required. The core of financing for development, as affirmed by this year commitment, is to put people at the center of our actions and reaffirm the path to a brighter future for all of humanity. Consequently, when discussing the technical elements of global financing, people must be at the heart of the heart of development. Frameworks and financial tools are merely means to an end. Ultimately, the value must be measured by their ability to uphold the inherent God-given dignity of each person and to promote the well-being of all, especially the poorest and the most in need. Of particular concern is the widening gap between the commitments made in international frameworks and the lived realities of billions of people, particularly the last developed countries, the landlocked developing countries, and the small island developing states. Debt burdens are stifling public investment in healthcare, education and social protection. Aid commitments are either not being met or are being broken while spending on arms is increasing. Those in vulnerable situations continue to bear the greatest costs of crises they did not cause. This is not only a policy failure, but also a moral one. Mr. President, the follow-up to Seville is not only a technical exercise, but also an act of solidarity. This encourages wealthier nations to honor their official development assistance commitments. It calls for debt relief mechanism and to be more accessible, more transparent, and more responsive to human need. It urges private financing to be oriented not solely towards the return on investment, but towards the common good. also calls on in debt countries to be more accountable for their spending and to ensure that funds are spent on development. Mr. President, allow me to conclude with a word of Pope Leo XIV who affirms that if we acknowledge that all human beings have the same dignity, independent of their place of birth, the immense differences existing between countries and regions must not be ignored. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the representative of the Holy See. And we will now hear from Paraguay to be followed by Namibia.

Thank you, President. In the current changing international panorama, Paraguay is advancing with its long-term vision. In this context, we have adopted very specific measures to create an enabling environment for financing for development. We have recently seen our investment rating upgraded, which is a reflection of the macroeconomic stability of fiscal discipline and the institutional strengthening we've undertaken. We have contributed to improving access to international financing and to we have drawn foreign direct investment, which has gone hand in hand with sustained economic growth with the levels of growth amongst the highest in the region. We continue to integrate our land connectivity with our neighbors through the bioceanic corridor, which is currently under construction. It will connect Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. It will establish a direct land route between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and this will reduce transport costs and generate new trade opportunities and also employment. We also maintain our commitment to ensure that the benefits of development, the development dividends actually lead to concrete improvements in the lives of people in our country. We have emblematic social programs such as Zero Hunger in Schools, Share Ruga Pura, and these are contributing to addressing food security and access to housing, especially in the most vulnerable sectors. Despite this progress, we wish to highlight the need to broaden access to affordable and predictable financing for developing countries in particular, and especially those in special situations. In this regard, we underscore the importance of addressing structural limitations faced by landlocked developing countries, especially through sustained investment in resilient infrastructure and greater connectivity. We also reaffirm that the multilateral trade system continues to be a fundamental driver of development for Paraguay. It is not just a engine for growth, but also a pathway to food security, job creation, and poverty reduction. In climate action, we reaffirm the centrality of the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities, or CBDR, and respective capacities. By way of conclusion, Paraguay reiterates its commitment to implementing the Seville commitment and the outcomes of the forum in harmony with our normative frameworks and national development plans and priorities, and the national positions made explicit in in Seville when the commitment was adopted. I thank you.

I thank Paraguay. I will now give the floor to the representative of Namibia to be followed by Cyprus.

Mr. President, Namibia aligns with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and by Mali on behalf of the African Group. The current global financial architecture remains unequal, costly and insufficiently responsive to the realities faced by developing countries. Many middle-income countries, including in Africa, continue to face high borrowing costs despite prudent macroeconomic management and strong reform efforts. This constrains fiscal space. In this regard, Namibia recalls the pact for the future, which calls for the reform of the international financial architecture, which is more representative, equitable, coordinated and responsive to the needs of developing countries. The pact's emphasis on strengthening the voice and participation of developing countries in global economic decision making, enhancing access to concessional finance and addressing debt vulnerabilities complements the implementation objectives of the severe commitment and should guide our collective action. We therefore call for urgent reforms to the sovereign debt architecture. Debt resolution mechanism must become more timely, predictable and development oriented. On investment in private capital mobilization, the financial gap for sustainable development in developing country remains above $4 trillion per year with insufficient progress to reverse Western trends. Declining official development assistance, high interest rates, volatile capital flows, climate shocks and geopolitical fragmentation continue to constrain investment. multilateral development banks must expand lending capacity, improve access to guarantees, and lower the cost of blended finance instruments that can crowd in long private investment. Namibia believes that implementation of the severe commitment must now move from declarations to delivery. We need measurable timelines, strong accountability, and meaningful representation of developing countries in global economic governance institutions. In conclusion, Namibia remains committed to sound governance, domestic resource mobilization, and creating an enabling environment for investment. Thank you, Mr. President.

I thank the distinguished representative of Namibia, and I now give the floor to the representative of Cyprus, to be followed by Zimbabwe.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Cyprus aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union and wishes to add the

following remarks in its national capacity. We meet at a critical moment for sustainable development. The global financing gap, now exceeding $4 trillion annually, underscores the urgent need for coordinated systemic action.

At the same time, rising geopolitical tensions, climate pressures, and persistent inequalities continue to strain both national systems and multilateral cooperation. The FFD Forum plays a vital role in advancing the implementation of the Addis Ababa Action

Agenda and the 2030 Agenda.

It provides a platform to accelerate practical solutions that can mobilize financing at scale and where it is most needed.

In this context, three priorities are essential.

First, strengthening the international financial architecture. We must work toward a more inclusive, transparent, and representative system that better reflects today's global realities.

Developing countries must have a stronger voice in decision-making alongside enhanced accountability across institutions.

Second, mobilizing all sources of financing.

Bridging the SDG financing gap requires a comprehensive approach leveraging public and private, domestic and international resources. This includes strengthening domestic resource mobilization, improving tax cooperation, and creating enabling environments for sustainable private investment. Third, aligning financing with sustainable development and climate goals. Financing flows must be consistent with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. This requires scaling up climate finance, supporting resilience building efforts, and ensuring that vulnerable economies, particularly small and climate exposed states, are not left behind. Excellencies, Cyprus brings the perspective of a small island state at the crossroads of three regions. Our experience has highlighted both the vulnerabilities and the resilience of small economies, particularly in the face of external shocks,

environmental challenges, and regional instability.

We remain committed to advancing sustainable development through international cooperation. Our development initiatives, including Cyprus Aid, reflect our dedication to contributing to global efforts and supporting those most in need.

In closing, the FFD Forum must continue to deliver actionable outcomes.

Its strength lies in fostering dialogue, building consensus, and promoting concrete measures

that can be implemented at national and global levels.

Thank you.

Thank you, Cyprus. I now give the floor to the representative of Zimbabwe, followed by Libya.

Thank you, Mr. President. Zimbabwe welcomes the convening of this forum. We also thank the Inter-Agency Task Force for the 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development Report, which offers timely and valuable guidance. Mr. President, the priorities reflected in the Compromisso de Sefir are both relevant and urgent. Scaling up investment, addressing debt vulnerabilities, and reforming the international financial architecture require immediate and coordinated action. For countries such as Zimbabwe, these challenges are real and persistent. We are taking steps to strengthen domestic resource mobilization and improve the investment climate. Yet progress remains constrained by the high cost of capital, limited access to concessional finance, and recurring external shocks. At the same time, debt service obligations continue to divert scarce resources from infrastructure and social development. Debt must therefore remain central to our discussions. We need greater transparency, predictable and sustainable solutions, and more timely and effective debt resolution mechanisms, including the use of state contingent instruments. We must also address the structural factors that shape the access to finance. Credit rating agencies have a significant influence on borrowing costs, often to the disadvantage of developing countries. Strengthening countries' capacity to engage effectively with these agencies is essential to securing fair outcomes that reflect economic potential rather than outdated perceptions. Mr. President, the private finance is an important role to play, but it remains concentrated in traditional markets. For many developing countries, including Zimbabwe, public and concessional finance remains indispensable. Stronger support is also needed for project preparation and for multilateral development banks to help crowd in private investment. For landlocked countries, air transport and transit costs continue to undermine competitiveness and limit participation in global value chains. In this regard, the proposed infrastructure investment and financing facility for LLDCs holds promise. National efforts must be matched by meaningful reform of the international financial architecture, including closing gaps in the global finance, financing safety net, and strengthening the voice of developing countries in decision making, or progress will remain limited. In conclusion, Zimbabwe calls for renewed multilateral cooperation and concrete action to translate promise of severe into real impact on the ground. I thank you, Mr. President.

I thank Zimbabwe. We will now hear from Libya, to be followed by Mexico.

Thank you, Mr. President. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the delegation of my country at this significant forum. a forum which is one of the first steps in the implementation of the Seville commitment. Today we're not merely making a declaration of principles, but rather we have a practical job of transforming the Seville commitment into a shared international charter. The Seville conference laid out a clear roadmap to reform the global financial architecture. This means we need to sustain dialogue to find solutions to the sovereign debt crisis, which has become a major obstacle to development in many developing countries. President, we underscore the importance of implementing international mechanisms, those endorsed by the civil conference, in order to enhance the alignment of national budgets with the sustainable development goals and ensure stability and prosperity. In that regard, we endorse the statement of the G77 in China in calling for a fairer international financial system, a system grounded in global cooperation that genuinely takes into account financing challenges and complexities facing the 2030 sustainable development agenda. Mr. President, we have reaffirmed our commitment on multiple occasions to cooperating with the Security Council regarding the frozen Libyan assets. Supporting development in Libya means letting Libya have control over these resources. This in order to avoid them from eroding so they can be later used for the SDGs. I also want to underscore the unified development agreement which was recently signed and which could be a jumping off point to ensure stability in Libya. In the context of the current, in the current context in the Middle East, we're deeply concerned. This is due to the targeting of maritime corridors and energy facilities, as well as vital infrastructure. This undermines international economic stability and it disrupts supply chains. Furthermore, we can't forget the Palestinians in the context of our priorities. We cannot leave Palestinians without water or food, especially given the collapse of the essential conditions needed for life. President convening this session at a time when the international economy faces many challenges increases our responsibility, the responsibility we have to our people, especially with regard to debt repayment schedules. stimulating private investment toward clean energy, et cetera. Thank you.

I thank the representative of Libya. I now give the floor to Mexico, who will be followed by Lebanon.

Thank you, President. After several years of intense and extensive negotiations, this forum has been consolidated as the main forum and space for follow up for the international agreements from the International Conference on Financing for Development, the Seville commitment. is closely linked to the efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda, which should be fully fulfilled without preconditions. My country continues to undertake actions nationally to support it. In October 2025, Mexico hosted the high level regional forum on financing for sustainable development in Latin America and the Caribbean, reaffirming its role as a platform to drive regional implementation of the civil commitment. In March 2026, together with Germany and Switzerland, we held the 10th retreat of the group of friends of Monterey, strengthening strategic dialogue across stakeholders and supporting the negotiation process for the outcome document of the forum on financing of ECOSOC. Also, we continue to drive concrete actions nationally. Mexico has emitted more than 678 billion pesos in sustainable and thematic bonds linked to the SDGs. We have implemented sustainable taxonomy, a tool that integrates environmental and social criteria and that guides the activity of finance projects. Mexico is also driving the entry into force of compulsory norms for sustainability for companies and we're incorporating criteria of gender equality and the economy of care in the selection of finance to development projects. President launching instruments of this type at a national level is absolutely fundamental, but these kinds of efforts will be insufficient if we do not have greater mobilization of action bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally. Mexico calls on the international community to renew its political will and to convert the agreements from Seville into concrete results. The financing for development forum should focus on leading up, rather than reconsidering implementation of the civil commitment, and thus it will avoid politicization or any setbacks. In this same vein, Mexico will continue to be a reliable and open and constructive ally committed to multilateralism and to building agreements that lead to tangible results, especially for the development of those countries that need it most. I thank you.

Thank the representative of Mexico, and I give the floor to the representative of Lebanon to be followed by Ethiopia.

Mr. President, Lebanon associates itself with the statements delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 and China, and the Philippines on behalf of the like-minded group for middle-income countries. At a time of heightened global uncertainty, military escalation, and geo-economic tensions, our economies are facing profound negative impacts. In Lebanon, the Israeli attacks have caused a major humanitarian crisis, claiming so far 2,500 lives, wounding around 8,000, and displacing more than 1.2 million Lebanese, with large-scale destruction affecting all life aspects, including education and health care systems. The war is estimated to have caused more than $7 billion in damages. Mr. President, Lebanon emphasizes the urgency of implementing the commitments made in Seville. Developing countries, including middle-income countries, continue to face obstacles that impede sustained growth. Moreover, countries affected by conflicts are directing available resources to respond to urgent needs instead of investing in the SDGs. Despite the ongoing crisis, the Lebanese government is determined in advancing a reform agenda centered on stronger domestic public resources through improved tax administration, enhanced compliance, customs modernization, and the progressive digitalization of revenue systems. For Lebanon, sustainable recovery begins with restoring state capacity, strengthening institutions, and rebuilding confidence through credible economic governance. In 2025, the GDP grew by around 3.5%, and the government is also moving toward an agreement with the IMF to implement a comprehensive economic reform program. Lebanon further underscores the importance of mobilizing private finance and restoring investor confidence. The government therefore supports greater use of blended finance, public-private partnerships, and mechanisms that encourage productive domestic, regional, and diaspora investment. Mr. President, today, 45 developing countries spend more on debt than on health or education. Lasting solutions require not only fiscal adjustment, but also economic recovery, institutional rebuilding, and renewed growth prospects. We recall the advancements made in Seville on debt sustainability, and we welcome the launch of the Borrowers Platform last week. Lastly, Mr. President, peace and security are essential for development and a prosperous world. Through multilateralism and genuine partnership, we can transform today's challenges into future resilience and opportunity. I thank you.

Thank you.

Lebanon.

We will now hear from Ethiopia to be followed by Timor-Leste.

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies. Ethiopia aligns itself with the statement delivered by Uruguay on behalf of the G77 in China and by Mali on behalf of the Africa Group. I would like to highlight the following in our national capacity. One year after the adoption of the CEA financing for development outcome document, the world continues to grapple with complex shocks that disproportionately impact developing countries. At this critical juncture for multilateral system, the most important challenge facing the financing for development agenda is not more promise and commitments, but implementation and action. Flawed global financial architecture, high borrowing costs, severe debt servicing burdens, limited revenue base, and climate change are complicating the challenge further. On the domestic front, Ethiopia has embarked on a bold, ambitious, and historic reform agenda anchored in driving inclusive, fast, and sustainable economic development. We have been implementing a tight monetary policy, expanded domestic resource mobilization and fiscal discipline that's already improving the performance of our economy and support Ethiopia's robust growth trajectory. The International Monetary Fund has projected our GDP to grow by 9.2% this year. Ethiopia supports new multilateral development banks, initiatives aimed at scaling up foreign exchange risk mitigation. The development of domestic financial and capital markets is going according to plan in Ethiopia, including through building up robust domestic savings space and expanding institutional investors. With a young and growing population, rapidly expanding cities, and as one of Africa's fastest growing economies, we are creating an enabling investment environment through infrastructure expansion, improved public service delivery, and strong private sector collaboration. On international trade, as an engine of development, Ethiopia has undertaken a comprehensive domestic reform that aligns with the principles of WTO. For Ethiopia, the African Continental Free Trade Area represents a concrete roadmap, and that continues to be the promising way forward. As I conclude, let me reiterate Ethiopia's unwavering commitment for the severe outcome.

I thank Ethiopia. We will now hear from Timor-Leste to be followed by Gambia.

Mr. President, we align our statement with the G77 and China, IOSIS, the LSE Group and the Climate Vulnerable Forum. We gather at a moment of profound global complexity. For Timor-Leste, geopolitical realignments and the accelerating climate crisis are lived realities that directly influence our capacity to secure a sustainable future. While we welcome the Compromisso de Sevilha as a step forward towards renewed cooperation, we remain concerned by the continued volatility of ODA. For a climate-vulnerable nation, stable and predictable financing is indispensable for building resilience and advancing these SDGs. Domestically, Timor-Leste is undertaking a structural transformation to reduce our dependence on offshore oil and gas. Through our integrated national financing framework, we are mobilizing public and private resources to diversify our economy, base and bridge developing gaps. However, amid declining aid flows, we must rethink the role of development assistance. Aid should not be confined to short-term support. It must be strategically deployed as a catalyst for self-sustaining growth. This entails using concessional resources to establish systems that enable trade, strengthen productive capacities, and generate domestic revenue over time. Yet, even the most robust domestic strategies require an enabling international environment. To this end, we believe collective must focus on three ingredient shifts. First, we must ensure that access to concessional finance reflects structural vulnerabilities by integrating the MVI into the financial architecture, moving finally beyond narrow income basic metrics. Second, we call for a comprehensive overhaul of global debt architectures to ensure that sustainability frameworks enable long-term investment in resilience rather than prioritizing short-term stabilization at the expense of future growth. Third, we must move towards mobilising ODA plus financing, where climate and biodiversity funds are strictly additional to, and not a substitute for, traditional development assistance. Mr. President, national ownership must be matched by a global partnership that is fair, equitable, and responsive. The true measure of the commitments will lie in their implementation for those most in need. Timor-Leste stands ready to work to ensure that our shared efforts leave no one behind.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of Timor-Leste. Next, Gambia followed by Belgium.

Distinguished delegates,

The Gambia aligns itself with the statement delivered by G77 and China, the Africa Group and the Least Developed Countries. We welcome the convening of this forum on financing for development follow-up, which comes at an important stage in advancing the implementation of the civil commitment. The time has come to shift from ambition to concrete action. For the Gambia, progress towards sustainable development reflects both sustained national efforts and a supportive international environment. On the national front, we are deeply in public finance management reforms under our recovery focused national development plan, including the development of a domestic resource mobilization strategy and the digitalization and interoperability of our tax and customs administration to strengthen revenue collection. These efforts are complemented by the expansion of program-based budgeting to strengthen result-oriented spending, and climate related fiscal reforms supported by resilience and sustainability facility to build more resilient public finance. These initiatives have ushered in tangible gains in macroeconomic stability, social protection, energy access, digitalization and climate reliance. However, Our economy remains fragile and exposed to external shocks that can swiftly reverse years of progress. Public debt has increased from $1.74 billion in 2023 and $1.85 billion in 2024, placing additional pressure on fiscal space. We are implementing a prudent debt management strategy, limiting new borrowing to concessional financing to safeguard debt sustainability. Nevertheless, debt servicing continued to absorb a growing share of public resources, constraining investment in critical sectors. In this context, We underscore the importance of advancing the common African position on debt as a practical framework to ease debt-related pressure and create a fiscal space needed to invest in our national development priorities. We welcome the establishment of the Borrower Platform to strengthen and amplify the voice of the borrowing countries.

However,

Its impact will depend on broader reforms of the international financial architecture to translate into concrete outcomes. Excellencies, the Gambia is deeply concerned by the continued decline of official development assistance

and--

I thank the Gambia. Now, Belgium followed by the Maldives.

Mr President, in my national capacity, allow me to add the following remarks. Ten months after the Seville Conference and the adoption of its outcome document, Belgium warmly welcomes the organisation of this forum in its new format. The adoption of the Seville commitments stands as one of the success stories of multilateralism in 2025. It is essential that we now follow up on the commitments made in Seville and that this follow up be concrete, dynamic and constructive. We all know that we are operating in an increasingly volatile environment. For several years we have spoken of a polycrisis and it seems that from polycrisis we have evolved in a state of permacrisis. In this context, multilateralism and international cooperation are more necessary than ever. We therefore must build a shared understanding of the challenges we face and we must invest collectively in our shared resilience, not only to respond to shocks, but above all to prevent them. Belgium's approach is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships for the provision of global public goods. Recognizing that we are all operating in times that require prioritization and focus, Belgium has chosen to concentrate its efforts on three areas, where we believe we can make the most meaningful contribution, climate, health and stability. This approach is reflected in both our bilateral cooperation and our multilateral engagement. We understand beneficial partnerships as requiring multi-stakeholder and cross-cutting cooperation. Our aim is to establish frameworks based on mutual commitments that deliver sustainable benefits for all parties, grounded in long-term reciprocity rather than short-term transactionism. Flexibility and reliability are equally important to us. We strive to be a long-term partner that acts in a predictable manner while at the same time retaining the capacity to respond to evolving contexts and shared opportunities. In this spirit, Belgium continues to invest in core funding for UN entities as a principled and reliable donor. Ultimately, our engagement must remain fundamentally human-centered. In a context of scarcity, the core principle that no one should be left behind continues to guide our actions. That is why Belgium prioritizes concessional resources for those who need them most, supporting resilience in least developed countries and fragile contexts and among vulnerable groups. This commitment to justice and inclusion is central to our approach.

Thank you very much. Belgium. I now give the floor to the Maldives to be followed by Ukraine.

Thank you, Mr. President. I thank the President of Icosoc, Ambassador Lok Bahadur Thapa, for his stewardship of this forum and for appointing Ambassador Anna Johannsdottir of Iceland and me as co-facilitators of this year's outcome document. I thank Ambassador Johanne Stute and her mission for the cooperation given to me and my mission. Over the last week, it's been clear that we have to begin advancing the financing system envisioned in the Seville commitment, one that delivers for developing countries, and one that delivers for resilience and fairly and moves reform with urgency. Facts are sobering. Developing countries face an SDG financing gap of $4 trillion annually. The poorest countries now spend around 12% of public revenue on interest payments alone, even as official development assistance fell by 23% in 2025. These are not abstract figures. They mean classrooms unbuilt, hospitals unequipped, and coastlines left exposed. Three things, therefore, must change. First, reform of the international financial architecture must move faster. We need a system that expands access to affordable finance, prices risk more fairly, and gives developing countries a stronger voice through intergovernmental dialogue in the UN development system. As concessional finance declines, too many countries are pushed into borrowing on unsustainable terms. Incorporating country circumstances and investments in resilience would give a more accurate picture of credit risk, especially for SIDS. Second, the pricing of risk must reflect reality. Too many developing countries pay unjustifiable premiums despite sound fundamentals and investment in resilience. The Maldives has advanced a core investment approach that rewards resilience building and that creates fiscal space to further investment in resilience and SDG delivery. Third, reform must be coherent and inclusive. The system remains fragmented across institutions, platforms, and mandates, leaving developing countries with too little voice and too little impact. Better representation and stronger coordination among international financial institutions and the United Nations are essential to make reform deliver where it needs most. I thank you.

I thank the representative of the Maldives. Next, we will hear from Ukraine to be followed by Ecuador.

Mr. President, Ukraine shares the growing concern over the persistent and widening gap in financing for development, which continues to undermine the implementation of the 2030 agenda. Despite global commitments, including the recently reaffirmed severe commitments, progress remains alarmingly off track. Multiple and overlapping crises, armed conflicts, climate change, rising inequality, food insecurity continue to reverse development gains. Today we must acknowledge a difficult reality. The current global security environment increasingly compels states to prioritize immediate defense needs over long-term development investments. Resources that should be directed toward sustainable development are instead being relocated to ensure national security. Among other conflicts, Russia's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine is a clear and tragic illustration of this trend. Its consequences extend far beyond Ukraine's borders, exacerbating global food insecurity, disrupting supply chains, increasing energy volatility, and further staining development financing worldwide. For Ukraine, the impact is direct and devastating. Systematic and targeted attacks by Russia against critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, transport networks, schools, kindergartens, hospitals, and residential areas continue to inflict severe human and economic losses. These attacks not only harm civilians, but also deliberately undermine our capacity to pursue sustainable development and achieve the SDGs. In such conditions, Ukraine is forced to redirect substantial resources towards defense and emergency response, while simultaneously striving to maintain essential public services and advance recovery efforts. Therefore, Ukraine's primary focus today is resilience and recovery. The reconstruction of our country is not only a national priority, but also an integral part of regional and global stability. Investing in Ukraine's recovery is investing in sustainable development, security, and the credibility of the international system. At the same time, we stress that development financing must be protected and strengthened even in times of crisis. This includes enhancing international financial support, mobilizing private sector investments, addressing debt vulnerabilities, and ensuring that no country affected by conflict is left behind. Ukraine remains firmly committed to the principles of the 2030 Agenda and stands ready to work with all partners to bridge the financial gap and accelerate progress towards the SDGs. I thank you very much.

I thank the representative of Ukraine. We will now hear from Ecuador to be followed by Ghana.

President, on this day of Spanish, our language, our shared language, I'm very pleased to see you chairing this session, President. Despite the obligations undertaken and the impetus from the Seville commitment, the gap in resources to achieve the SDGs is more than $4 trillion, as was recalled by the Secretary General at the start of the opening segment of this forum, as they result, the development pillar is in an emergency situation which requires the adoption of structural measures and coordinated an urgent international action. Many middle-income countries are facing structural challenges at a context of restricted financing, greater costs of indebtedness, reduced access to official development assistance. growth in debt servicing and many other factors. And all of this is significantly impacting the fiscal room for manoeuvre and management of sustainable development. In the case of Ecuador, despite the significant resources aimed at tackling transnational organized crime head on and also narco terrorism. Successful strategies have been implemented to reduce poverty and advance in the SDGs. For example, the efforts of the national government seek fiscal stability through the implementation of public-private partnerships. and other actions that seek to advance the efficiency of public spending through targeted investment, prioritizing social programs, and strengthening fiscal control programs. Ecuador considers that it is possible to address the problems associated with debt comprehensively. This requires commitment and action. We must continue on the path to innovative solutions that allow us to alleviate the burden of debt servicing together with generating solutions that lead to fiscal sustainability and investment in development. I cannot conclude without expressing the convergent view of Ecuador on the need to Uh, fully comprehensively reform international financial architecture, as mentioned by the delegations, in order to respond with justice to the demands of developing countries, including middle income countries, which, uh, implies. the option of having access to broadened concessional financing and to ensure more predictable and affordable and sustainable conditions. It is time for action. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Ecuador and also for reminding us that it is the International Day of the Spanish Language. We will now hear Ghana to be followed by Djibouti.

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, Ghana welcomes the convening of this forum and aligns itself with the statements delivered by the G77 and China and the Africa Group and wishes to make the following additional remarks in its national capacity. The global financing landscape remains deeply strained, particularly for developing countries. During Ghana's domestic debt restructuring, pensions earned over a lifetime had to be reduced. A question emerged, when the world's finances go wrong, why is it always the poor who pay? This question is at the heart of our discourse and must guide our work. We meet at a defining moment for our shared agenda following the adoption of the severe commitment to which Ghana remains firmly committed. Official development assistance fell by 23.1% in 2025, the largest annual contraction on record. Borrowing costs remain elevated while trade is fragmenting. The $4 trillion annual SDG financing gap will not close on its own. It will require decisive action and above all, trust. Ghana speaks today as a country that has lived the hard edge of this crisis and is now emerging through deliberate reform. We have strengthened our fiscal framework, introduced a primary surplus rule, and set a clear debt ceiling alongside key oversight institutions. Inflation has declined sharply, growth has rebounded. and we are on the verge of exiting our IMF supported program this year. Mr. President, on the areas under review, let me highlight four brief priorities. First, Ghana calls for a scaled up local currency financing and truly country owned blended finance to unlock capital for small and medium sized enterprises, particularly those led by women and youth. Second, We reaffirm the need for a fairer rules-based trading system, full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and value addition to Africa's critical minerals. Next, urgent reform is needed in the international financial architecture, including quota reform, greater rechanneling of special drawing rights, and fair debt treatment across creditors. Finally, Ghana underscores the importance of strong national data system as the foundation for accountability. We also urge partners to reverse the decline in ODA and honor the 0.7% commitment while advancing negotiations on the United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax. To conclude,

the--

I thank the representative of Ghana. Now Djibouti, followed by Tuvalu.

Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Djibouti associates itself with the statement made on behalf of G77 and China, as well as the Group of African States. First of all, I would like to emphasize that the Republic of Djibouti is pledging to multilateralism, the respect for international law, international solidarity, ensuring that no one is left behind. The document recognized a fundamental truth, without a massive and catalytic mobilization of private sector business and finance, our sustainable development ambition will remain paper promises. For developing country, The dynamism of private investment is not an option. It is the engine of our emergence. Allow me to highlight three essential points for our delegation. Number one, reducing the cost of capital and risk mitigation. Paragraph 22 calls for the reduction of the cost of capital. For a small developing country, this cost is often prohibitive due to a disproportionate perception of risk. Djibouti strongly supports the call in paragraph 28 for MDB to scale up local currency lending and foreign exchange risk mitigation mechanism. Number two, support for SMEs. As underscored in paragraph 24, small and middle enterprise are the heart of our economy. Djibouti places a particular emphasis on the digital transition. We call for the final document to strengthen access to digital financial tool. Number three, capacity building and project pipeline. The private sector will only engage if projects are bankable. We welcome paragraph 27, which aims to strengthen institutional capacity to prepare and structure quality infrastructure projects. MDB must act as true catalyst by supporting early stage financing. Mr. President, The Seville commitment must not be a declaration of good intentions. It must become the instrument that transforms private capital into impacts for our countries. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Djibouti. Tuvalu, you have the floor.

Mr President, to align itself with the statement delivered by Palau on behalf of the EOSIS. Excellencies, when we met in Seville, the geopolitical environment was already difficult, yet we were able to come together and agree on an outcome that could strengthen the global financing framework and advancing the implementation of our shared commitments. In doing so, we chose to stay the course of reaffirm our collective faith in multilateralism. Today, however, global fragmentation has deepened. We have not made sufficient progress in closing the SDGs and climate financing gaps. These were considered low hanging fruits with the potential to deliver transformative impact remain just possibilities. More importantly, precious lives continue to be lost due to conflicts and unprovoked wars. Developments gained are undermined and critical resources are wasted, and our continued structure reliance on fossil fuels has become increasingly exposed. To value and discuss the critical role of the IMF and the World Bank in translating the Seville Compromiso into concrete implementation. We must work to bridge the institutional and operational distance between New York and Washington, DC, in order to strengthen cooperation, complementarity, and delivery. Excellencies, It has been repeated over the past few days that the international financial architecture must be reformed to respond effectively to today's realities. In our view, this must include a fundamental realignment of the mandates of IFIs and MDBs towards sustainable development and climate resilience. In this context, We note that despite the approval of the executive board of IMF in 2024 to enable the rechanneling of SDRs through MDBs to enhance their lending capacities, uptake remains limited. We are concerned that member countries with the capacity to participate were represented on the IMF board, dragging the materializing of these opportunities. This falls short of the spirit of cooperation this moment requires. Finally, even when, when, where finances available, access remains complex and inefficient. Countries with capacity constraints, particularly cities and LDCs, are required to navigate multiple, often multiplicative system. A single centralized process to assess fiduciary standards, transparencies, social safeguards, and MLCFT requirements across climate funds is needed. We believe the IMF and World Bank can also play a central role here. I thank you.

I thank the representative of Tuvalu. And now we will hear from UN entities are limited to two minutes. First the OECD followed by the International Development Law Organization.

Thank you, Mr. President.

As the forum's draft outcome and the severe commitment underscore, the rule of

law and good governance are not abstract ideals.

They are essential to mobilizing investment for sustainable development.

IDLO supports governments in building legal

environments that inspire investor confidence by simplifying regulations, strengthening dispute resolution, and enhancing capacity to implement investment frameworks.

Drawing on our experience across 100 countries, let me

highlight three ways the rule of law can accelerate the goals of this forum.

Firstly, it helps attract and sustain investment.

Economies grow where legal frameworks are clear, institutions are impartial, and rights are protected.

Investors need confidence that contracts will be enforced, disputes resolved efficiently, and assets safeguarded. In this context, alternative dispute resolution offers timely, accessible, and cost-effective solutions that mitigate risk and strengthen economic resilience. Secondly, the rule of law. ensures that development financing is used effectively and transparently. And thirdly, it is a powerful driver of women's economic empowerment. Strengthening employment, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities for women is a proven pathway to growth and stability.

This is not only a matter of fairness, it is an economic necessity.

These examples articulate a simple truth.

Strengthening the rule of law is not peripheral to.

But a strategic investment in financing for development. And I thank you, Chair.

I thank the representative of the International Development. We'll now hear from the OECD to be followed by Interpol.

Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates. Despite ambitious targets, there remains a significant shortfall of resources to finance the 2030 agenda. A persistent problem is the issue of illicit financial flows drawn from the proceeds of criminal activities from fraud to corruption. These flows are draining public resources, undermining tax revenues and diverting funds which should be invested in the sustainable development.

Goals. International police cooperation is key to disrupt these flows and enable asset recovery.

Accordingly, Interpol has developed IGrip, a stop-payment mechanism which prevents illicit assets from being transferred across borders. In one case, it enabled the Korean National Police to prevent 6.6 billion won from being sent to a suspicious.

Bank account abroad.

We also.

Launched the Interpol Silver Notice, a global alert used to share information on criminal assets, from bank accounts to businesses.

Moreover, we remain committed to knowledge sharing.

Last month, we co-hosted the Global Fraud Summit, which brought together more than 1,300 participants to commit to disrupting organized fraud. Mr. President, every dollar siphoned by criminal networks could have been used to strengthen education, build homes, and improve livelihoods. INTERPOL remains committed to combating illicit financial flows and to defending sustainable development.

I thank you.

I thank INTERPOL for that statement. I will now I now give the floor to the International Organization for Migration.

Thank you, Chair. Excellencies, human mobility remains under integrated in financing for development, yet it shapes flows of capital, skills, and opportunity. Well-managed mobility is a powerful lever for resilience and prosperity. To fully harness it, if we highlight three priority action areas. First, harness remittances and diaspora investment to build resilience and advance sustainable development. Beyond reducing transfer costs, we must expand digital financial inclusion, connect remittances to broader services, and enable supportive regulations. We must also empower diaspora communities with capacity and access to finance investable solutions. Second, invest in economic mobility pathways. Fair recruitment, skills recognition, and digital solutions are most impactful when embedded in wider economic and trade systems. Mobility pathways can address labor and skill shortages and respond to demographic change. Third, close the financing gap for solutions to internal displacement and place human mobility at the center of climate finance. As internal displacement reaches record levels, levels, development finance should be integrated in government-led solutions, integrate displacement into national plans and budgets, strengthen reliable data and IDP consultations, and support locally-led implementation. As the UN Migration Agency and coordinator of the UN Network on Migration in relation to the Global Compact for Migration, IOM bridges policy and delivery. Finally, I note the second IMRF taking place here next month. We welcome your active participation. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank the International Organization for Migration for that statement.

The OECD. Excellencies, colleagues, Seville reaffirmed the message first articulated in Monterrey. Ambition matters, but implementation is the real test. Meeting that test requires strong multilateralism and effective coalitions of actors across governments, international organizations, development banks, the private sector, and civil society. The OECD is contributing to 29 initiatives under the Seville Platform for Action, working.

Closely with international organizations and the UN system.

These include domestic resource mobilization and tax capacity building such as Tax Inspectors Without Borders. Other initiatives are the Global Alliance Beyond GDP and Decentralized Development Cooperation. We are also actively supporting the FFD agenda by contributing to the Financing for Sustainable Development report and participating fully as a member of the inter-agency task force. At the same time, there are growing calls to adapt development cooperation to today's realities, recognizing the evolving financing landscapes.

In this light, the Development Assistance Committee.

Has launched a review process in 2025. The message is clear, all actors must work together to maximize impact, align external support with domestic efforts, and mobilize additional sources of public and private financing. The OECD remains fully committed to working with all partners to collectively deliver better policies for better lives.

Thank you.

I thank the representative of the OECD. Now, the Inter-American Development Bank.

Thank you, President.

At the Inter-American Development Bank, we are implementing our commitments.

From Seville to increase the impact of public investments and to mobilize private capital where it is most needed. We have made progress in three Seville Platform for Action initiatives led by IDB.

First.

We have operationalized FIDE, our regional facility to help countries and firms manage climate and disaster risks. Progress includes a new risk transfer program, expanding contingent credit to $4 billion, and extending debt post clauses, also for private sector transactions, what is a valuable innovation. Second, we are deploying the FX Edge initiative, to tackle one of the most persistent barriers to investment in developing countries, foreign exchange risk. Together with Brazil and the UK, we are working to expand to other countries Brazil's successful Eco Invest program. And third, following our announcement in Seville, we have already implemented the new Amazonia bond issuance guidelines developed together with the World Bank. These guidelines respond to investor demand for credible instruments aligned with community priorities.

We have already issued $800 million under it.

Finally, as you know, the Compromiso de Sevilla called for MDBs to work better as a system. And we are doing exactly that, particularly on co-financing, mutual reliance agreements, and private sector mobilization. I would encourage you to read the joint statement published just last Friday by the group of heads of MDVs with recent progress and priorities.

Thank you very much.

I thank the representative of the Inter-American Development Bank. Next, UNIDO.

Chair. excellencies distinguished delegates, the past few days have provided an important platform to discuss measures needed to operationalize the severe.

Commitment and most importantly, how to translate this into concrete financing solutions for sustainable development. You need a score mission is to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization.

Industrial development remains a proven driver of prosperity and structural transformation, particularly for developing countries.

The strong linkage between increasing local value addition and building industrial and trade capacities to drive development is echoed in the Seville.

Commitment.

Yet SDG 9 on sustainable industrialization remains critically underfunded. Investments in industrial development can accelerate progress across many SDGs, with industries' high innovation capacity, strong linkages with other sectors of the economy, high potential for job creation, and the tradability of manufacturing products.

But this potential cannot be met without access to finance. Financial constraints limit the ability, particularly of small and medium-sized enterprises, to innovate and expand. The gap is especially stark for climate action. Only 1% of development finance supports industrial decarbonization in emerging and developing economies. To close the SDG financing gap, we call on member states to prioritize investments with strong multiplier effects.

Particularly for sustainable industrial transformation, in line with the Pact for the Future and building on the Seville commitment.

This requires scaling up innovative financing instruments, such as blended finance, and creating enabling environments that.

Mobilize and retain local capital. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, the UN system can support these efforts and UNIDO is ready to play its part. providing technical assistance for sound industrial.

Policies as well as co-developing innovative financing mechanisms, building also on our vast portfolio of partnerships with private companies.

Please count.

I thanks you need to and now with the floor UN Population Fund.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, We meet at a time of rising needs, inequalities, crisis, climate change, and global uncertainty. At the same time, member states face heavy debt burdens, declining ODA, and shrinking fiscal space. We must respond to these urgent needs today while planting the seeds to address the challenges of tomorrow. The global demographic landscape is shifting due to population growth. Population decline, aging, migration, urbanization, and displacement. If we fail to plan for population trends, we risk a world where students have no teachers, older people have no care, and economies are without workers. To adapt to these demographic realities, evidence and disaggregated data must inform our investments. Although every dollar invested in data systems generates an average return of $32 in economic benefits, these critical systems remain severely underfunded. We need to safeguard investments in human capital while using ODA in more catalytic ways that attract philanthropic and private resources. At the same time, South-South exchanges can facilitate the sharing of best practices. For investments to continue in countries with high debt burden, debt forgiveness and restructuring along with strengthening public financial management and efficiency are critical. Women's health is a macro critical driver of inclusive and sustainable economic growth and one of the best buys in development. Since women disproportionately anchor household decisions and care systems, Prioritizing their well-being results in healthier families and thriving communities. Through programs such as the Zero Adolascant Pregnancy Movement, a severe platform.

I thank the UN Population Fund for that statement. The FAO, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The Compromisso de Sevilla clearly articulates the importance of addressing food security and nutrition, as well as investing in agri-food systems transformation. While the multiple economic, environmental, and social benefits of this investment are known, the gap in financing this transformation through 2030 is estimated of around $608 billion American dollars annually. More and over, this investment is often fragmented across different sectors and frameworks, making it less efficient and less effective. FAL seeks to address this challenge by generating robust data and analysis to develop tailored solutions and instruments, including innovative financing that address countries' diverse risk profiles and obstacles to access finance. FAO supports members to unlock private investment by leveraging advanced data tools and technology to provide key evidence to prompt action with key initiatives such as the Financing for Shock Driven Food Crisis Facility geared towards truly anticipatory action and financing, and the Hand in Hand Initiative centered on targeted investments that are profitable and support social and environmental objectives. Given the current global landscape, we consider the balance of payments support vulnerable countries like IMF's balance of payment facilities and its food shock window, which builds on FAW, food import finance facility proposal, is crucial. FAW is also proposing to adapt such mechanisms to include inputs. Before closing, FAW looks forward to actively engage in the next forum to discuss among other themes advancing debt swaps for food security and nutrition.

I thank you.

I thank the representative And we will now hear from our last speaker, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD.

These dis- distinguished colleagues, the civil commitment provides a blueprint for financial.

Architecture that delivers results at all levels with countries needs and priorities as its core. The priority now is implementation.

The 2026 Financing for Sustainable Development report highlights a challenging global context with tightening.

Fiscal space, microeconomic uncertainty, and geopolitical fragmentation. In this environment, targeted, efficient, and collective action is more critical than ever.

Nowhere is this more evident than in rural areas and at the first mile of agri-food value chains.

Central to food security, employment, and growth in many low-income countries and a trillion dollar investment proposition.

At IFAD, a UN specialized.

Agency, an international financial institution dedicated to financing rural development, we are advancing this agenda in three key ways. First, we are working with multilateral regional and national development banks as a financing ecosystem. aligning investments and connecting global capital all the way to the first mile of rural communities.

Second, we are leveraging our financing to crowd in and risk investment from all sources, bringing.

Together public and private actors to expand financing in underserved rural areas, including through sustainable bond issuance. Third, we continue to act as a trusted concessional partner for countries, ensuring access to capital for essential investments in food systems and livelihoods and building resilience in rural economies.

As IFAD enters its 14th replenishment, we are reinforcing our role as a global.

Investment platform for rural development, an assembler of development financing for rural people. Because ultimately delivering on the civil commitment means ensuring that global finance works for rural communities where resilience.

Begins, where return on investment is high, and where sustainable development must take root. Thank you.

I thank the representative of IFAD. That was the last intervention. from the speakers list but in accordance with article 46 of the rules of procedure for ECOSOC there has been a request for the right of reply let me remind you that the number of interventions in the right of reply by single delegation is limited to two five minutes of the first intervention three for the second the first right of reply will be from Israel to be followed by the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I will be brief.

As there have been a few remarks directed against Israel, I am obliged to reply. In recent weeks, we made an historic decision to negotiate directly with Lebanon after more than 40 years. Unfortunately, Lebanon is a failed state, a state that is de facto under Iranian occupation through Hezbollah. This leads to a conclusion that Hezbollah is a common enemy of both Israel and Lebanon. Just as it threatens Israel's security, it harms Lebanon's sovereignty and threatens its future. We have no serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved. There is only one obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries, Hezbollah. Today, direct talks between Israel and Lebanon resumed in Washington. I can only hope that the mission of Lebanon here will decide to give these talks a chance. It requires moral clarity and the courage to take risks, but there is no real alternative for ensuring a future of peace for Lebanon and Israel. Mr. President, as often happens, real negotiations take place outside these rooms and away from narrow political statements. Our region is still unsettled and there are ongoing conversations among parties as we speak. I think that our job here is to support these efforts. So I will end my reply here.

I thank you.

I thank the delegate of Israel for that. I will now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

You have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm compelled to avail myself of my right to reply. This is to call upon the delegation of Ukraine to refrain from politicizing the agenda of the forum on financing for development and to focus attention on its specialized topics. The Russian Federation rejects any baseless accusations we've heard against it. That includes what we just heard, something unmoored from reality, the comments coming from the delegation of Ukraine. That includes, as we've already explained on multiple occasions, Russia's armed forces do not attack civilian objects. The only targets are objects used by the Ukrainian army and for its interests. I thank you.

I.

Thank the delegate of the Russian Federation. And we have thus concluded our deliberations today. Distinguished delegates, as there are no further requests for the floor, we will reconvene tomorrow at 10 a.m. in this room to continue with our program of work. The meeting is adjourned.