Faith-based finance, particularly Islamic finance, holds significant potential to bridge the SDG financing gap. Islamic finance offers a unique alternative to other financing tools, based on the principles of ethical investment, risk-sharing, and social responsibility. It emphasizes collective funding for humanitarian, economic, social, and environmental goals,  aligned with the SDGs. 

This side event aims to highlight the potential of Islamic finance to advance the broader sustainable development agenda. 

DC1 Building, UNDP

Conference Room 1860, 18th Floor

and Online / Zoom

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With over half of global income held by just 10% of the population — with the top 1% holding more wealth than the remaining 95%  — extreme inequality has become one of the defining crisis of our time. But inequality is not inevitable, and can be reversed by political decisions. This session will explore the centrality of reducing inequality to the Financing-for-Development agenda, with a focus on progressive taxation and effective taxation of high-net-worth individuals. Drawing on global and Global South experiences, the discussion will highlight how fair tax systems can foster economic resilience and social cohesion.

Speakers:

• Mr. José Gilberto Scandiucci Filho, Minister-Councelor at the Permanent Mission of Brazil to the United Nations
• Mr. Sergio Colina Martín, Director General for Sustainable Development Policies at the Secretariat of State for International Cooperation of Spain
• Ms. Grace Wandera, Deputy Commissioner, Kenya Revenue Authority (tbc)
• Mr. Hernán Saenz, EU-LAC FfD Global Lead, Oxfam
• Mr. Quentin Parrinello, Policy Director at the EU Tax Observatory
• Mr. Hector Ulloa, Outreach Director, Skatteforsk

Online / Zoom

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This event aims to identify financing solutions and regulatory approaches from the perspective of insurance regulators that mitigate risk, protect livelihoods, and promote financial stability  — ensuring that insurance markets contribute to global development goals. 

Speakers:

• Mr. Marcos Mancini, Sustainable Finance Advisor, Bureau for Policy and Programme Services, UNDP
• Dr Emily Duffy, Head of Function - Actuarial Services (Insurance Supervision Directorate, Central Bank of Ireland
• Mr. Carlos Guiné, Head of Horizontal Unit Sustainability, Policy and Supervisory Convergence Department, European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority
• Mr. Iwan Pasila, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance, Guarantee, and Pension Fund Supervision, Indonesia Financial Services Authority (OJK)
• Mr. Jeffery Yong, Principal Advisor, Financial Stability Institute (FSI), Bank of International Settlements (BIS)
• Mr. Ricardo Ochoa, President, National Insurance and Surety Commission (CNSF), Mexico.
• Ms. Hanne van Voorden, Head of Supervisory Practices and Operations, International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS)
• Mr. Thomas Beloe, Director, Sustainable Finance Hub, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
• Mr. Stephen Nolan, Managing Director and Head of Secretariat, UNDP FC4S and SIF (Moderator)

This side event will focus on the urgent need to mobilize development finance for solutions to internal displacement. It will explore barriers and innovative strategies for unlocking financing and integrating these efforts within broader SDG investments and international financial reforms.

Organized by UNDP, IOM, UNHCR and Germany.

Speakers:

• Corli Pretorius, Head of Knowledge and Partnerships, UNDP Crisis Bureau
• H.E. Dr. Abbas Al-Fatlawi, Charge d’Affaires, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations
• Mr. Andrés Rodríguez Durán, Head of Multilateral Cooperation of the Directorate of International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia
• H.E. Mr. Mohamed Rabi A. Yusuf, Ambassador / Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the United Nations
• Ms. Jade Ndiaye, Senior Operations Officer, Fragility, Conflict and Violence and Forced Displacement, World Bank
• Ms. Suma Swaminathan, Independent Expert on private markets impact investment
• Ms. Lasia Bloss, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations
• Catalina Devandas, Representative of the Director General and Senior Director for Partnerships, Advocacy, and Communications, IOM (Moderator)

UNHQ Conference Room TRI (CR-TRI)

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This event builds on the momentum generated during the January 2025 Dialogue on Public Finance and the SDG. Discussions will include: building fiscal resilience in an era of uncertainty; ensuring fiscal policy coherence by aligning tax, spending and debt for systemic impact; and rebuilding trust through inclusive governance and fiscal accountability. The 2024 Annual Report of UNDP's Tax for SDGs Initiative will be launched during this event.

Speakers:

• H.E. Mr. Seedy Kaita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, The Gambia
• H.E. Mr. Gareth do Espírito Santo Guadalupe, Minister of Finance, São Tomé and Príncipe
• H.E. Ms. Soili Mäkeläinen-Buhanist, Ambassador, Financing for Sustainable Development, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland
• Mr. Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director-General of the Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar
• Mr. Sergio Colina, Director General for Sustainable Development Policies at the Secretariat of State for International Cooperation of Spain (tbc)
• Mr. Thomas Beloe, Director, Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP (Moderator)

Online / Zoom

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Online / Zoom

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UNHQ, Conference Room F (CR-F)

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This event will explore how digital finance can enhance corporate human rights due diligence and anti-trafficking efforts. Through collaboration among the financial sector, businesses, and policymakers, digital finance can drive systemic change, ensuring equitable resource allocation, reducing vulnerabilities, and preventing exploitation. 

For any questions, please contact FAST@undp.org.

Speakers: 

• His Excellency Mr. Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of the Principality of Liechtenstein to the United Nations
• H.E. Mrs. Maria Michael, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the United Nations
• H.E. Dr. Agnes Mary Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations
• Nshuti Mbabazi, Managing Director, Better Than Cash Alliance
• Chris Kip, Head of Social Sustainability, UN Global Compact
• Megan Galvin, Corporate Sustainability Manager, UN Global Compact
• Marcos Paya, Partner and Director of the Mexico City office, Dalberg Advisors
• Professor Agostino Capponi, Director of the Center for Digital Finance and Technologies, Columbia University
• Eileen Dong, Executive Director & Anti-trafficking Survivor Consultant, Hope Pyx Global
• Nawaz Peerbocus, Sustainable Finance & Anti-Trafficking Consultant, FAST Initiative (Moderator)