From Catalytic Investment to Continental Impact examines how the UNDP Regional Programme for Africa uses flexible, strategic funding to unlock development results far beyond the scale of the initial investment.

Drawing on evidence from across the 2022–2025 programme cycle, the report shows how catalytic resources have helped mobilize additional financing, build partnerships, test and scale innovation, and translate regional action into tangible improvements in people’s lives. It highlights the Regional Programme’s role in connecting national priorities with regional and continental solutions, while creating the conditions for governments, development partners, the private sector and other actors to invest, collaborate and take successful approaches to scale.

At a time of increasing pressure on development finance, the report makes the case for investing differently by moving early, taking strategic risks and using flexible resources to unlock what comes next.