4th International Conference on Financing for Development

The 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) will convene global leaders from government, international institutions, the private sector, and civil society at a critical moment for the 2030 Agenda. Held from 30 June to 3 July 2025 in Seville, Spain, the event will focus on reshaping the global financing system to unlock the resources needed for sustainable and inclusive development.

FFD4 aims to reshape the international financial system to mobilise more capital at lower costs. The conference will serve as a platform for actionable commitments to accelerate investment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in the world’s most vulnerable regions.

Cities Alliance will bring a local perspective to these discussions, highlighting the need to invest in secondary cities, improve access to climate finance for informal settlements, and promote integrated urban development as a driver of stability and resilience. Our engagement at FfD4 includes:

President Maria Fernanda Espinosa

29 June | 16:25–16:50
Side Event: Global Citizen NOW Summit -Reimagining Global Cooperation: From Aid Dependence to Shared Prosperity”
Organiser: Global Citizen | Co-hosted by the Government of Spain | Venue: CaixaForum, Sevilla
Over 200 global leaders from politics, business, academia, and civil society gather to mobilise urgent action on development finance and explore new models of international cooperation.

1 July | 14:30–16:00
Side Event: “Financing Women for a Fair Future: Alternatives to Retool Development and Reform Finance from a Women’s Rights Perspective”
Hosts: GWL Voices, Government of Spain, ACS, Club de Madrid | Venue: FIBES Conference Centre
High-level panel on how financial systems can advance gender equality, climate justice, and women’s empowerment and on concrete ways to reform the international financial architecture accordingly.

2 July | 08:30–10:00
Side Event: “Financing an Equitable, Fair, Inclusive and Resilient Future”
Organiser: Impact Coalition | Venue: FIBES Conference Centre
Multi-stakeholder dialogue to bridge the gap between financial governance and climate action, strengthen cooperation across regions, and align with global milestones, such as the G20, COP30, and the post-2030 Agenda.

2 July | 10:30–12:00
Side Event: “Unlocking the Virtuous Circle: From Financing for Development to Financing from Development”
Co-sponsored by UNCTAD and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center | Venue: FIBES Conference Centre
High-level dialogue on how external and domestic efforts must work together to support sustainable growth, address debt, and harness climate objectives to drive investment and trade opportunities.

Director Greg Munro

30 June | 14:30–16:00
Side Event: “Unlocking Fiscal Potential for Sustainable Urban Development: Empowering African Mayors to Mobilize Resources for the SDGs and Agenda 2063”
Co-organisers: UN ECA, UN-Habitat, UNCDF | Venue: FIBES Conference Centre, room 1
African Mayors and international partners discuss how cities are reforming financial systems to advance the SDGs and the Agenda 2063.

30 June | 17:00–21:00
Side Event: “World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments”
Co-organisers: UCLG | Venue: Fundación Cajasol, Seville City Center
The Assembly brings together local and regional leaders, international institutions, and partners to strengthen the role of local governments in shaping global financial frameworks for sustainability, equality, care, and climate action. Register

3 July | 12:30–14:00
Side Event: “Maximising the impact of investments: Localising finance solutions for the transformation of informal settlements and slums"
Co-organisers: Cities Alliance, IIED, SDI, Gov. Brazil, Build Change, HfHI | Venue: FIBES Conference Centre, room 8
This event explores how to finance the transformation of informal settlements by strengthening locally driven financial systems.