Despite unprecedented levels of global wealth, developing countries continue to face a US$4.3 trillion annual financing gap to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainable Finance at UNDP: The Engine of Development – Making National Priorities Investable highlights how the challenge is not the availability of capital, but how finance is structured, governed and directed. The publication shows the systemic barriers that prevent finance from reaching where it is needed most and illustrates the reforms required to align financial systems with sustainable development priorities.

Drawing on results from across UNDP's sustainable finance portfolio, the brief demonstrates how countries are strengthening public finance systems, mobilizing private investment, managing risk and building integrated financing approaches that connect national priorities with investment. It showcases how UNDP has helped align and leverage more than $920 billion in public and private finance for the SDGs since 2022, illustrating the role of sustainable finance as a key enabler of development outcomes at scale.