“The fund is positioned to bridge the gap in giving and impact investing,” Hiro MizunoThe UN Special Envoy for Innovation Finance and Sustainable Investment, added that it provides “a sustainable investment model by leveraging market power to drive business, empowering community and provide a clear path to self-sufficiency.”
From health in a world still thwarted by COVID-19 The pandemic of youth empowerment and climate change, investments will respond to the challenges of our times, the Foundation said in a press release.
The Fund is positioned to bridge the gap in giving and impact on investment – UN Special Envoy
Kenya, Madagascar, North Macedonia, Suriname and Zimbabwe were selected from proposals submitted by more than 100 countries, as the most impactful and investment-ready to go public.
Resident Coordinator Lead
Under the leadership of United Nations Resident CoordinatorThe implementation of investment programs will advance the United Nations footprint in five countries – ushering in a new generation of collaborative action by the United Nations, governments, civil society and regional investors. private sector.
Through development impact bonds, investments include a foundation that promotes healthy sexual and reproductive habits as well as HIV prevention in Kenya. Madagascar will use a variety of financial instruments, including a newly created sovereign fund, to finance renewable energy projects and expand access to affordable, sustainable energy. reasonable.
North Macedonia’s newly established Green Finance Facility will assist in financing the transition to renewable and efficient energy for underserved households and businesses.
Meanwhile, Suriname will launch an innovative guarantee facility for easy access to credit, business incubators and farmer-owned cooperatives, to develop sustainable and resilient value chains for pineapple industry of the country.
And with a focus on women’s empowerment and youth participation, Zimbabwe will launch a renewable energy fund to begin developing the country’s renewable energy system and infrastructure.
© UNICEF / Safidy Andrianantenain
Traders cut firewood at a market in Ambovombe in Madagascar.
Valuable investments
This announcement comes less than a year after the Foundationlaunched the first investment of 41 million dollars in four conversion programs in Fiji, Indonesia, Malawi and Uruguay.
Last year, a $17.9 million program in Papua New Guinea was added, and with the addition of these five new programs, the Joint SDG Fund of Catalytic investmentportfolio will grow to $114 million.
The portfolio is expected to drive $5 billion to SDGs across the 10 countries involved.
Brushing results
Although the new Catalyst Investment portfolio is less than a year old, it has already achieved significant results.
In Indonesia, it supported the issuance of the first $584 million of sovereign SDG bonds in Southeast Asia and established the Indonesia Impact Fund in partnership with Mandiri Capital.
And Fiji’s program has supported sustainable businesses because of its vital marine environment, including preferential funding for a marine conservation company and a pipeline providing waste and fertilizer management services. Organic.
Sustainable model
The SDG General Fund is also committed to working with partners and donors to mobilize additional resources to fund successful proposals submitted by Barbados, Ghana and Rwanda.
Established by the General Assembly, the United Nations General SDG Fund is a multi-partner trust fund that assists Member States by minimizing investment risk in order to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.
In the race to 2030, it aims to disburse one billion dollars in annual funding – with a common theme across all programs, to advance the multimillion-dollar grants awarded by the SDG General Fund. billions of dollars for sustainable development.
