Sevilla, 1 July – As the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) convenes in Seville, the Government of Spain and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have joined forces to address one of the most pressing development challenges of our time: the chronic underfunding of recovery and resilience initiatives. 

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and UNDP launched the Recovery and Resilience Financing Platform (RRFP) – an initiative under the Sevilla Platform for Action (SPA). Taking forward the outcomes of FfD4, the SPA is mobilizing new alliances to address shared global challenges and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. 

“As the world faces unprecedented and compounding risks, we need bold and innovative solutions and stronger partnerships. The Recovery and Resilience Financing Platform creates an opportunity for smarter, more inclusive financing for resilience. Sevilla is the jumpstart we need to channel investments into recovery pathways that will have a lasting positive impact,” said Haoliang Xu, UNDP Acting Administrator and Associate Administrator at the launch event. 

Bridging the ‘missing middle’   

Crises are becoming more frequent, protracted, and complex. Whether caused by conflict or climate change, these crises hinder development progress. Furthermore, these crises and the disruption and vulnerability they cause are increasingly long-lasting, recurrent, and complex. In many countries, limited fiscal space forces governments to prioritize short-term crisis response, leaving little room for investment in long-term development and peace. 

This persistent financing gap – often referred to as the ‘missing middle’ – undermines recovery and resilience efforts and perpetuates vulnerability. These efforts are crucial to restore essential services, rebuild critical infrastructure, support governance systems, ensure access to jobs and livelihoods, and enhance resilience to future shocks. Despite the acute need, these efforts are often overlooked and underfunded. 

A new global coalition 

The RRFP aims to close this gap. Backed by early endorsements from institutions such as: Agence française de dévelopment (AFD) Group, African Development Bank (AfDB), European Investment Bank (EIB), World Bank (WB), European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI), United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), g7+, Meridiam, and Shuraako  Capital. The platform brings together public and private actors to scale up financing for resilience. Through this collaboration, it is envisioned that public and private financing, both domestic and international, will be combined by fostering cooperation among countries, financial institutions, and national stakeholders. 

The RRFP will leverage development cooperation to de-risk development and catalyze financing to invest in economic revitalization and rebuild communities. In addition, the Platform will:  

• Elevate the global conversation on financing for recovery and resilience. 
• Integrate recovery and resilience into country and partner plans and programmes.
• Design tailored financing instruments, tools, and solutions for diverse risk contexts. 
• Facilitate knowledge exchange and capacity building to scale up successful efforts.  

“The Recovery and Resilience Financing Platform is more than a funding vehicle – it is an advocacy and learning hub that unites the many partners already financing early recovery and long-term resilience on the ground. UNCDF is proud to join the Platform as a core partner. Through the UNCDF-UNDP ReStart Fund, we will be deploying catalytic, concessional first-loss capital and other de-risking tools to overcome the liquidity constraints that stall local economies after crises. By embedding this hands-on experience within the Platform’s country-level support, we can help restore basic governance functions, unlock finance for MSMEs, and crowd in additional investors – turning fragile recoveries into inclusive, enduring growth,” said UNCDF Executive Secretary, Pradeep Kurukulasuriya. 

A new approach to risk and recovery   

Unlike traditional recovery funds, the RRFP is designed to be nimble, inclusive, and impact-driven. It focuses on unlocking investment where it is needed most. Both AECID and UNDP support a co-design approach and an inclusive governance structure, which will ensure the Platform reflects country priorities and adapts to dynamic contexts. 

The Director of AECID, Antón Leis García, noted at the launch event that this Platform “is a structured ‘meeting place’ of diverse actors, coming together to understand financing challenges and needs, to highlight lessons learned, and to scale up proven strategies, tools, and solutions.” 

The RRFP represents a bold step toward building sustainable systems to support communities exposed to multidimensional risks and shocks. By fostering collaboration, innovation, and investment, this initiative promises to usher in a new approach to financing for recovery and resilience.

For additional information or to endorse and participate in the initiative, please contact: 

Christian Freres - Spain christian.freres@aecid.es

Piper Hart - UNDP piper.hart@undp.org