High-Level Dialogue on Sustainable Development Financing in Ankara Ahead of Global Conference in Sevilla

As momentum builds toward the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Sevilla, Spain, a high-level Policy Dialogue on Financing Sustainable Development was held in Ankara, bringing together key national and international actors to examine how to better align financial flows with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Co-hosted by the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Türkiye, and organized in close collaboration with the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the Presidency of Strategy and Budget, the event brought together senior government officials, UN entities, international financial institutions, donors, private sector representatives, and academia.

Opening the Policy Dialogue, UN Resident Coordinator Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi underlined the urgency of the moment. “We are at a critical juncture to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: mobilizing the resources needed to achieve the SDGs and ensure a future of prosperity, equity, and resilience for all.” He emphasized that the discussions at the Policy Dialogue could shape not only Türkiye’s national financing strategies but also help distill key messages to take forward to Sevilla.

Dr. Ahonsi pointed to the alarming $4.2 trillion annual financing gap facing developing countries, further complicated in upper middle-income contexts like Türkiye by rising debt burdens and borrowing costs. He called for bold and collaborative action, highlighting the need for innovation in financing mechanisms, greater inclusion of all sectors, and stronger integration of financing with national and global priorities. “Aligning financial flows with SDGs and climate goals isn’t just smart policy—it’s an unparalleled economic opportunity,” he said, referencing the UN Secretary-General’s forthcoming global address on climate ambition.

H.E. Cristina Latorre Sancho, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Türkiye, echoed these sentiments, calling the upcoming Sevilla conference a “gathering without precedent since the Universal Exhibition of 1992.” She noted that Spain’s new law on Sustainable Development Cooperation enshrines the country’s commitment to scale up Official Development Assistance to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2030. She also pointed to Spain’s support for systemic reforms in the global financial architecture, including debt relief mechanisms, stronger data systems, and gender parity in international financial institutions. “Our ambition must be translated into tangible actions,” she said, adding that the Dialogue in Ankara would meaningfully enrich the global conversation in Sevilla.

Throughout the afternoon, participants engaged in three focused panel discussions addressing financing from both national and international perspectives, public finance and partnerships, and the role of private capital in advancing the SDGs. Experts explored how countries like Türkiye can strengthen domestic resource mobilization, tap into innovative tools such as green bonds and blended finance, and build stronger cross-sector partnerships to unlock sustainable development funding at scale.

The Dialogue closed with a renewed commitment from all participants to carry the insights and energy from Ankara into global policy discussions and to work together in translating words into action. The event ended with a hopeful wish to carry forward the momentum from the day’s discussion and continue working together to finance a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for all.