Joint SDG Fund 

Objectives

Fund scope

The Joint SDG Fund incentivizes integrated and transformative policy shifts at the country-level through collective action. Resident coordinators and United Nations country teams are supported in creating SDG strategic investments in the areas of integrated policy and financing so governments cover more distance on the road to 2030.

By using strategic and inclusive strategies to activate and ramp up SDG efforts, the United Nations mobilizes investments for initiatives that accelerate SDG progress and attract public and private financing to advance the 2030 Agenda. Resources and policy expertise mobilized by the Fund are used to:

• Identify and activate SDG “accelerators” through an integrated approach based on data, assessments, and analyses carried out by partners at national, regional, and global levels, which lead to rapid progress across different goals and targets.
• Reinforce SDG financing architecture and systems. The Fund supports the development of financing strategies for SDG investment. This work includes: convening and creating networks with partners (including governments, development banks, institutional investors and the private sector), strengthening national and sub-national SDG financing architecture, and producing multi-stakeholder financing strategies with the aim of dramatically increasing the scale and focus of SDG investments.
• Catalyze strategic programming and investments. The Fund invests in initiatives that leverage public and private financing to advance the SDGs. These initiatives provide a demonstration of concept and are scalable in-country and elsewhere. 

Theory of change 

Operating in three domains—transformative policies, new SDG financing architecture, and mobilizing SDG programming and investments—the Fund helps United Nations country teams (UNCTs) turn integrated policy change into transformative action. 

The Joint SDG Fund contributes to the acceleration of the SDGs by supporting joint programmes and facilitating national partnerships. By providing resources, partnership opportunities, and access to expertise innovative and transformative approaches can be implemented based on integrated SDG policy and financing practices. 

New, coordinated and inclusive financing strategies and investments lead to Fund results that are measurable, ‘chain-reactive’, and sustainable. Each joint programme supported by the Joint SDG Fund has its own theory of change aligned with that of the Fund, and which includes select indicators that adequately measure results at national, regional, and global levels. 

Funds are invested in: 

1. Integrated policy and SDG “accelerators”, lead to rapid progress across various goals and targets at national, regional, and global levels.
2. Reinforcing the SDG financing architecture to support the development of financing strategies for SDG investment.
3. Catalysing strategic programming and investments to leverage public and private financing and advance the SDGs.

Governance

Governance arrangements

Strategic Advisory Group

Chaired by the United Nations Deputy Secretary General and Chair of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, the Strategic Advisory Group provides leadership, vision, and direction to the Fund. The Group is responsible for facilitating stakeholder consultation and taking stock of overall progress.

Operational Steering Committee

Under the direction of the Strategic Advisory Group, the Operational Steering Committee is responsible for the efficient management and coordination of operational, oversight, and technical aspects of the Joint SDG Fund. It ensures the Fund is a timely, fast, and flexible instrument for responding to country needs by drawing on technical expertise from the entire United Nations Development System. Based on the direction set by the Strategic Advisory Group, the Operational Steering Committee oversees calls for concept notes submitted by Resident Coordinators/UNCTs, supervises the development of full proposals, and agrees on allocations.

Joint SDG Fund Secretariat

The Secretariat provides operational and administrative support to the Strategic Advisory Group and Operational Steering Committee. Responsible for the coordination and day-to-day management of the Fund, the Secretariat provides quality assurance for the implementation of activities. Additionally, the Secretariat facilitates collaboration and communication between governance bodies, Participating United Nations Organizations, Resident Coordinators, and UNCTs.

Administrative Agent

Capital for Joint SDG Fund programmes is routed via a pass-through mechanism. Participating United Nations Organizations receive funds through the Administrative Agent, the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Office. The Administrative Agent is responsible for the receipt, administration and management of contributions from donors, disbursement of funds to Participating Organizations, and consolidation and dissemination of progress reports to donors.

Projects

Joint SDG Fund

Joint SDG Fund is currently supporting count_projects ongoing projectscount_globalInterregional and count_countries country-specific. This table shows the most recently approved ongoing projects.

All project financial information can be found in the Financials section, including delivery analysis by organization, theme and project; project financial status by country and by theme.

Joint SDG Fund

Results

Focus on impact and results

Contacts

Points of contact

Contacts

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