MADRID - The Government of Spain and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today opened the Financing the SDGs Dialogue 2026, a three-day gathering of ministers and senior representatives from governments, international financial institutions, development organizations, the private sector and civil society focused on strengthening country-led approaches to financing sustainable development.

The Dialogue was opened by Eva Granados, State Secretary for International Cooperation, and Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. Discussions on the high-level opening day examined the global financing outlook, the role of country leadership and how public, private and international partners can work more effectively around national priorities.

The three-day Dialogue, held in Madrid from 27 to 29 October, builds on the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), hosted by Spain in Sevilla in 2025. That conference produced the Sevilla Commitment, the global agreement on financing for development, and launched the Sevilla Platform for Action to advance practical initiatives. Discussions in Madrid focus on what implementation requires at country level, recognizing that countries face different priorities, financing constraints and institutional contexts.

In her address, the State Secretary emphasized: “When we combine political will, strong institutions, adequate funding, and effective international cooperation, we can transform people’s lives. Spain is promoting the Sevilla Platform for Action as a tool to translate development finance agreements into public policies tailored to each country and capable of bringing together governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and civil society around common goals.”

Spain and UNDP already work together to advance country-led financing through Spain’s support to the INFF Facility, which helps countries develop and implement integrated financing strategies aligned with national priorities. Their cooperation also includes the Recovery and Resilience Financing Platform, launched as part of the Sevilla Platform for Action to expand access to recovery and resilience finance.

The next two days will move from the high-level discussion to country experience and practical solutions. Technical sessions on 28 October will examine financing strategies, public finance reforms, investment pipelines and approaches linked to development priorities. On 29 October, participants will focus on instruments that can help countries mobilize resources, manage risk and expand fiscal space, before identifying priorities for follow-up.

“Countries need financing systems built around their own priorities and institutions, with partners aligning behind the reforms and investments that can deliver results,” said Marcos Neto. “The discussions in Madrid can help connect global financing commitments, including those made in Sevilla, with practical country-level implementation and the public, private and international finance needed to support it.”

Country experience will anchor the discussions. Ninety countries are using the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) approach, and more than 70 are implementing reforms informed by their frameworks. Across a subset of countries, these reforms have mobilized US$56 billion in new financing and aligned a further $49 billion with national SDG priorities. Since 2022, UNDP-supported work has aligned or leveraged more than $920 billion in public and private finance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Dialogue will conclude on 29 October by identifying country financing priorities, implementation gaps and opportunities for coalitions of partners to provide technical assistance, strengthen coordination and accelerate country-level implementation through the Sevilla Platform for Action.

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Media contacts
Christopher Hughes, Communications Specialist, Christopher.hughes@undp.org, Madrid | Sangita Khadka, Communications Specialist, Sangita.khadka@undp.org, New York

About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.