Sustainable Development Finance

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To meet the Sustainable Development Goals, prepare for the next pandemic, and mitigate the looming climate crisis, the world must ramp up development financing from billions to trillions of dollars. This requires us to not only expand the existing pathways, but also unlock new resources, while respecting the dignity and independence of the worlds most disadvantaged people. CGD’s Sustainable Development Finance program works to advance these goals in pursuit of a resilient and sustainable future.

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Program Goals

The SDF Program has five priorities: fund development for the 21st century; maximize the impact of development finance; promote transparency and sustainability; leverage developing country resources; and bring together development finance institutions to help solve today's pressing crises.

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Adobe stock image of bar graph going up
Maximize the impact of development finance

Not all financing is created equal, and not all financial vehicles are equally effective for rebuilding economies, meeting SDGs, and confronting global challenges. We provide actionable analysis to ensure that every development dollar has the maximum impact possible.

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Nyngan Australia: Shallow depth of field image of a miner inspecting ore rocks on a conveyor in NSW Australia
Leverage the resources of developing countries

Many of the world’s poorest countries are also the world’s richest countries in natural resources. We aim to identify how countries can best use the resources they have to access the resources they need.

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icon list of sustainable development goals
Find funding for the development needs of the 21st century

Funding the sustainable goals will require trillions of dollars. This requires us to look beyond traditional aid, toward leveraging private finance and developing countries own resources. We work to identify and advocate new pathways to fill the development financing gap.

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Magnifying glass over financial figures, Adobe Stock
Promote transparency and sustainability in development finance

The history of international finance is replete with examples of corruption, predatory lending, and debt crises. We endeavor to bring transparency to the complex world of development finance, safeguard public monies, and keep debt levels transparent and sustainable.

05
Banner of the World Bank IMF Annual Meetings in 2021
Facilitate cooperation among development finance institutions

The development finance landscape has grown ever-more complex throughout the past decade with the emergence of new institutions, lenders, and financing vehicles. We strive to point out comparative advantages, highlight synergies, and reduce waste in the interest of aid recipients.

Program Goals

The SDF Program has five priorities: fund development for the 21st century; maximize the impact of development finance; promote transparency and sustainability; leverage developing country resources; and bring together development finance institutions to help solve today's pressing crises.

01
icon list of sustainable development goals
Find funding for the development needs of the 21st century

Funding the sustainable goals will require trillions of dollars. This requires us to look beyond traditional aid, toward leveraging private finance and developing countries own resources. We work to identify and advocate new pathways to fill the development financing gap.

02
Adobe stock image of bar graph going up
Maximize the impact of development finance

Not all financing is created equal, and not all financial vehicles are equally effective for rebuilding economies, meeting SDGs, and confronting global challenges. We provide actionable analysis to ensure that every development dollar has the maximum impact possible.

03
Magnifying glass over financial figures, Adobe Stock
Promote transparency and sustainability in development finance

The history of international finance is replete with examples of corruption, predatory lending, and debt crises. We endeavor to bring transparency to the complex world of development finance, safeguard public monies, and keep debt levels transparent and sustainable.

04
Nyngan Australia: Shallow depth of field image of a miner inspecting ore rocks on a conveyor in NSW Australia
Leverage the resources of developing countries

Many of the world’s poorest countries are also the world’s richest countries in natural resources. We aim to identify how countries can best use the resources they have to access the resources they need.

05
Banner of the World Bank IMF Annual Meetings in 2021
Facilitate cooperation among development finance institutions

The development finance landscape has grown ever-more complex throughout the past decade with the emergence of new institutions, lenders, and financing vehicles. We strive to point out comparative advantages, highlight synergies, and reduce waste in the interest of aid recipients.

A series of arrows pointing upward, teal and gold gradient background

Results and Impact

CGD’s sustainable development finance team has put forth numerous ideas that have shaped how development policy is made. We were among the first organizations to examine the debt sustainability implications of China’s burgeoning overseas lending, prompting a global conversation that ultimately resulted in China’s adoption of a debt sustainability framework modeled on that of the IMF. CGD also led the debate around the Special Drawing Rights reallocation, with a two-day event with the French treasury and extensive research and analysis. In addition, CGD experts have presented their research to a range of interested organizations, such as research on the structure and distribution of Official Development Assistance which was presented to the OECD's new Community of Practice on poverty and inequality.