Joint SDG Fund: A Time to Act

The world is moving towards a low carbon future. Clean energy, like wind and solar, is now the cheapest source of electricity in most countries; many of the world's car makers are shifting to make only electric and hybrid models; countries around the world are starting important work to protect and restore nature; cities, states and regions across the world are also committing to reduce emissions to zero. More and more countries, businesses, and investors are also coming forward with commitments to decarbonize by 2030 or 2050. But while these long-term commitments send a very important signal, it is the decisions we make today that really matter. What we say yes to. What we say no to and where we choose to invest our human and financial capital right now and not in years to come.

This Joint Programme (JP) aims to support the Government of Malawi (GoM) to adapt the national social protection system to meet emergency food needs and reduce the vulnerability of those most at risk of food insecurity by 2022, while strengthening the social protection system for all vulnerable households across the lifecycle. Leveraging the expertise of three implementing UN agencies to accomplish its targets, UNICEF, WFP, and ILO have in-country and regional expertise in providing direct social protection system implementation and technical assistance. The programme combines advancing an innovative Shock-Sensitive Social Protection (SSSP) prototype with reinforced financial structures and the transformation of existing policies into legal frameworks to enhance the social protection system to be more robust, comprehensive, and sustainable, leaving no one behind.

The discussion would focus on investing in SDG 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls with Henriette Kolb, Manager of Gender and Economic Inclusion Group, International Finance Corporation (IFC). Understanding how resources from both public and private sector could leverage multiple SDGs to achieve the 2030 agenda and close gaps between women and men. Gender equality is not only a social and moral imperative, but also an economic necessity. Across the world, countries are losing $172 trillion in wealth because of differences in lifetime earnings between women and men, according to a recent World Bank Group study. Companies, however, are increasingly realizing that they can gain greater competitive advantage and improve profits by targeting women as employees, entrepreneurs, consumers, and business leaders. Closing gaps between women's and men's economic participation drives the growth of businesses and economies and improves the lives of families and communities. This conversation will foster a unique opportunity to showcase the action that is being done by the UN, Governments and private sector, to speak about how important these partnerships are in these urgent times for the lives of the most vulnerable and for the planet. At the same time, it would provide insight on the work plan of IFC in Gender and how it impacts the achieving of other SDGs.

Oceans Health and Wealth with Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer & Global Head Sustainability Strategy, Advisory and Finance (SSAF), Credit Suisse and Casey Clark, CFA, Managing Director, Global Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investments, Portfolio Manager, and member of Rockefeller Capital Management's Management Committee will explore practical, profitable, and creative solutions, the SDGs are beginning to be integrated into public budgeting and planning by governments while the financial markets and investment community have also started to embrace the SDGs. The Swiss investment bank Credit Suisse has partnered with Rockefeller Asset Management to launch an impact fund that will finance projects improving ocean health, raising $212m pre-launch. The businesses claim that the ‘Ocean Engagement Fund' is the first impact fund of its kind, in that it is solely dedicated to and fully aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. The Goal includes targets to address issues such as overfishing, marine pollution and acidification, and to boost conservation and restoration. At the same time, Small Island Developing States over-reliance on economic sectors such as tourism and fisheries, high-debt-levels, and severe constraints to mobilizing both private and public finance amplify vulnerabilities. This conversation will foster a unique opportunity to showcase the action that is being done by the UN, Governments and private sector, to speak about how important these partnerships are in these urgent times for the lives of the most vulnerable and for the planet.

Supporting Mental Health Awareness month, Luz Kyncl LCSW, CHC, Licensed Psychotherapist, Certified Health Coach, Public Speaker and Author explores creative solutions in channeling the importance of accessing healthy diets and mental health. Drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition - conflict, climate variability, economic downturns, and COVID-19 have a great impact on leading healthy lives. Mental health intersects and influences the SDGs - poverty eradication, nutrition, health, education, women's empowerment and more. Poverty directly affects mental health, through malnutrition which can impair brain development and function - deficiencies can inhibit intellectual and physical potential and cause lifelong disability.  Efforts to eradicate poverty, prevent conflicts and disasters, and promote education will not be successful unless mental health is prioritized. Poor mental health and unfulfilled human potential pose major risks to the changes that are needed if we are to reach the SDGs.

Business and industry have a key role to play in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, as well as implementing climate-smart technologies and innovations. They must be part of the collaborative, global effort to tackle climate change and meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. Already, global markets for climate-smart businesses and technologies have grown to $1 trillion annually. This growth is expected to accelerate, delivering environmental and social benefits while creating value for investors. Analysis by IFC shows that 21 emerging market economies alone hold $23 trillion in climate-smart investment opportunities through 2030. A deep dive into urban investments found that cities across emerging markets could attract more than $29 trillion in green buildings, public transport, electric vehicles, waste management, water treatment and renewable energy. – IFC work in climate business. IFC is mainstreaming - opening new markets in key areas such as clean energy, sustainable cities, climate-smart agriculture, energy efficiency, green buildings, and green finance. This conversation will foster a unique opportunity to showcase the action that is being done by the UN, Governments and private sector, to speak about how important these partnerships are in these urgent times for the lives of the most vulnerable and for the planet.

Women in Leadership features an insightful discussion on the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with Graham Macmillan, President of Visa Foundation, and Najada Kumbuli, Head of Investments at Visa Foundation. Head of Joint SDG Fund Secretariat, Lisa Kurbiel interviews our guests on women’s economic advancement and inclusive economic development. Gender equality and women’s full and equal participation in all areas of life, especially decision-making, are integral to the Decade of Action. Indeed, meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will only be possible when we recognize the value of women front and centre, together, leading the way and rising for all. With 400 million USD in assets and 200 million USD commitment over the next five years in both grants and investment capital, the Visa Foundation is advancing economic opportunity though philanthropy and investments in support of women entrepreneurs worldwide. This episode explores how the Visa foundation is financially empower millions of women globally by prioritizing the resilience and growth of micro and small businesses benefiting women through grant-making and investing.

Through this Joint Programme, female tea garden workers and their families in Sylhet Division, one of the most left behind population groups of the country, will enjoy strengthened and more coordinated access to national social protection coverage and local social services, in a more empowering and non-discriminatory environment contributing to decent work. On the ground, the women and their families, as well as trade unions, will be more empowered to claim their rights to social protection and development, information and participation, as well as labour rights.

In our first episode of 2021, Joint SDG Fund Head of Secretariat Lisa Kurbiel interviews our guests,Sergio A. Fernández de Córdova, Chairman PVBLIC Foundation, and Robert Lawrence Skinner, Executive Director, UN Office for Partnerships on the intrinsic motivations of legacy and impact of family offices, and their unique flexibility in making significant investments without return demands.According to the most recent UBS Global Family Office Report, a quarter of family offices are engaged in impact investing. Over a third expect to increase their impact allocation to as much as 24% over the next five years, while 30% will allocate 25% or more. The Joint SDG Fund aims to bring the UN system into the impact investment space, connecting with investors, funds and philanthropists to mobilize financing to accelerate the SDGs. Family offices have a special opportunity to experiment with investments, and this discussion explores why building a relationship with these investment firms has the potential for profound growth and change.The episode explores practical, profitable and creative solutions in channelling public and private investments towards sustainable development, and explores the role of Family offices in SDG Advancement.

Dr. Joon Yun is President and Managing Partner of Palo Alto Investors LP, a healthcare hedge fund founded in 1989. Board certified in radiology, Joon served on the clinical faculty at Stanford from 2000-2006. Joon has served on numerous boards, and he is currently a trustee of the Salk Institute. Joon has published dozens of patents and scientific articles. Joon and his wife Kimberly launched the $1 million Palo Alto Longevity Prize in 2013 to reverse the aging process and recently donated $2 million to launch the National Academy of Medicine Aging and Longevity Grand Challenge. 

To commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with Allegra Baiocchi, UN Resident Coordinator for Costa Rica and Sam Vaghar, Social Entrepreneur for Millenium Campus Network and Advisor to UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo for a discussion on practical and innovative solutions in investing in women’s economic empowerment and developing innovative investment mechanisms to advance gender equality. Investing in women’s economic empowerment sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth. However, women remain disproportionately affected by poverty, violence and discrimination as well as socio-economic and climate-related shocks and disasters, more particularly the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oceans and seas generate a GDP equivalent to the world’s seventh largest economy, however even providing countless benefits and generating at least US$2.5 trillion a year the oceans and seas’ are under a major threat. The need for action to foster a sustainable Blue Economy is immediate in order to preserve marine ecosystems, ensure food security, maintain quality livelihoods and promote economic stability to people and countries that rely on ocean resources. In an effort to protect the marine resources and coral reefs while offering profitable investment opportunities creative financial instruments have been introduced in the global market.Jean-Paul Adam, Director, Climate Change, Natural Resource Management and Technology at UNECA, Nicolas Pascal, Executive Director & Co-founder of Blue Finance and Stephen M. Liberatore, CFA, Head of ESG and Impact for Global Fixed Income at Nuveen for a discussion on how to structure a bankable pipeline of blue investments.

Gabon is taking a leading role in the fight against climate change. Adopting a ‘Green Gabon’ approach, Gabon aims to transition away from an extractive-based (oil and mining) economy to a more green and sustainable economy that is aligned with the 2030 Agenda. The Joint SDG Fund aims to help Gabon establish a ‘deeply green’ Integrated National Financing Framework, aligning public and private financing towards the transition with a gender-sensitive budget.

Contributing to closing the financing gap to achieve the SDGs in developing countries by bringing together the UN system and the private sector, the Joint SDG Fund showcases its role in SDG Financing, that aims to support key initiatives that can leverage public and private financing to advance the SDGs.

The Joint SDG Fund will provide funding to support the development of solutions that facilitate public and private investments towards the 2030 Agenda. In partnership with Convergence, The Global Network for Blended Finance, as an independent evaluator and advisor on how to leverage strategic investments. Introducing the Government of Sweden who invested efforts to accelerate innovative financing mechanisms to power sustainable development.