The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) – due to be held next month in Sevilla– aims to drive forward critical reforms to the international financial architecture and to help close the significant financing gap for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the fourth and final preparatory committee (PrepCom) meeting, held at the end of April at the UN headquarters in New York, revealed the remaining points of contention. As informal negotiations continue over the next few weeks, the journey promises to be challenging. Instead of the hoped-for final sprint towards an ambitious new global financing framework adopted by consensus, the road ahead resembles an obstacle race.

Hurdles on the way to Sevilla | Global Policy Forum