The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) will officially open in Sevilla, Spain, on June 30, 2025, bringing together global leaders from governments, international organizations, financial institutions, businesses, and civil society to address urgent reforms needed to finance sustainable development worldwide.
The United States withdrew from the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) primarily because it objected to key elements in the conference’s outcome document and preparatory negotiations. The US government, under the Trump administration, argued that the text proposed new, costly, and duplicative mechanisms that could undermine the effectiveness of existing international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and multilateral development banks (MDBs). Specifically, the US rejected proposals to triple the lending capacity of MDBs and perceived the conference as overstepping by interfering with the governance and mandates of these independent institutions.
Additionally, the US took issue with the inclusion of language on tax regulations and the use of terms like “gender” in the document, which it viewed as beyond the scope of the financing framework. The US also stated it would no longer reaffirm the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a matter of course.
The US withdrawal was seen as a significant setback but did not prevent the broader UN membership from approving the declaration for formal adoption at the conference in Sevilla. The UN Deputy Secretary-General described the US decision as “regrettable” but reaffirmed the commitment of other member states to multilateral cooperation and sustainable development.
The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) is organized primarily by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), through its Financing for Sustainable Development Office, and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). These bodies support the conference and its preparatory process, which brings together heads of state, ministers, and other high-level representatives to discuss reforms in financing sustainable development.
Locations where each conference was held in the past:
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1st International Conference on Financing for Development
Year: 2002
Location: Monterrey, Mexico
(Note: This was before 2010 but foundational for subsequent conferences) -
2nd International Conference on Financing for Development
Year: 2008
Location: Doha, Qatar -
3rd International Conference on Financing for Development
Year: 2015
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia -
4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4)
Year: 2025
Location: Sevilla, Spain (scheduled for 30 June – 3 July 2025)
There were no FFD conferences held annually; rather, these conferences occur roughly every 7 to 10 years to assess progress and renew commitments on financing sustainable development, including implementing the Monterrey Consensus, Doha Declaration, and Addis Ababa.
The South African Government issued the following official statement confirming its participation in the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4.
The conference is held under the auspices of the United Nations system, with participation from various international and regional organizations, financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector. The event takes place at the FIBES Sevilla Exhibition and Conference Centre in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 3, 2025.
Building on previous commitments like the 2015 Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2024 Pact for the Future, FFD4 aims to reshape the international financial architecture to unlock greater volumes of capital for development at lower costs. The conference emphasizes international cooperation as key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tackling emerging financing challenges such as debt sustainability, domestic resource mobilization, and private investment mobilization.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is actively participating, contributing data, analysis, and expertise to support transparency, accountability, and effective development finance. The OECD is involved in numerous initiatives and side events, highlighting issues from tax cooperation to quality foreign direct investment.
South Africa is represented by a high-level delegation led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, reflecting the country’s commitment to global solidarity, equality, and sustainability in line with its G20 Presidency objectives. South Africa is also convening a side event focused on “Forging a common agenda to achieve debt sustainability in developing economies,” aiming to promote cooperation on debt relief and liquidity challenges disproportionately affecting African nations.
Alongside the main conference, the International Business Forum is convening major business organizations to foster private sector engagement in financing development.
FFD4 serves as a critical platform for renewing global commitments and delivering actionable solutions to close the financing gap for the SDGs, which currently exceeds $4 trillion annually. The conference runs through July 3, 2025, at the FIBES Sevilla Exhibition and Conference Centre, marking a pivotal moment for advancing sustainable development finance worldwide.
