The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development: exploring the key priorities for the African region
Karaki, Karim / San Bilal / Kathrin BerensmannExterne Publikationen (2025)
in: ETTG Policy Brief 1/2025
This Policy Brief reflects ongoing ETTG work on FfD4 preparations in the framework of a partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Key messages:
1. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), scheduled for mid-2025 in Spain, emerges amid global polarisation and faltering progress toward Sustainable Development Goals. This brief puts forward the key priorities of African stakeholders for the FfD4.
2. On domestic resource mobilisation, African stakeholders emphasise the need to develop local capital markets, improve tax collection systems and address illicit financial flows. The reform of the G20 Common Framework for debt treatment and work around credit rating agencies are also important, although these are longer-term endeavours that are typically dealt with outside of UN policy processes.
3. Regarding the optimisation of external financial flows, African priorities include the rechannelling of Special Drawing Rights through multilateral development banks (MDBs), reforming MDBs to provide more affordable financing and fostering climate finance in addition to development finance. The brief also highlights the importance of better representation of African interests in global financial architecture.
4. The document concludes by highlighting the alignment between Africa and the European Union on certain priorities, suggesting potential for a strengthened partnership between the two regions in a way that is mutually beneficial and based on common interests.
