Our Partners
The value added of a dedicated UN Financing Agency has been proofed by UNCDF's track record in the past years
Source: 2021 Partners Survey on the Evaluation of the 2018-2021 Strategic Framework
Programme Countries
In the least developed countries, UNCDF works directly with national governments. A Standard Basic Assistance Agreement is the legal document that sets out how UNCDF works with each government.
UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework
All UNCDF programmes are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (Cooperation Framework) prepared collectively by UN agencies in cooperation with host governments and other partners.
Strong collaboration with
the wider UN System
Governments of host countries benefit from the thematic solutions provided by UNCDF initiatives, which are incorporated into the country's programming through collaborative programmes with UNDP or other UN agencies.
National Ownership
and Scaling-up
All UNCDF programmes share the common approach of ensuring local ownership, Make sure there is a genuine need for the programmes, and make sure they are established as part of a larger national agenda that will permit the successful scaling up of the pilots.
UNCDF deploys catalytic capital and financial advisory services matched with development expertise
UNCDF mobilizes its human capital, resources and expertise around a clear vision—that LDCs are able to access and leverage the development impact of capital to enable sustainable and inclusive economic growth and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Donor Governments
UNCDF is entirely funded by voluntary contributions from UN Member States, multilateral organizations, foundations and other sources.
Official Development Assistance
Support from donor governments presupposes a consistent inflow of ODA to support UNCDF's efforts in the LDCs.
Thematic Support
Donor governments provide financial support in order for UNCDF to carry out exploratory work in a specific country, region, theme or programme.
Learn MoreStrategic Partnerships
Pursuit of strategic alliances with donor governments that are interested in playing a more significant role in supporting the LDCs.
UNCDF builds a culture that leverages innovation
To realize its vision and Strategic Framework, UNCDF builds a culture that leverages digital and other types of innovation and encourages integrated approaches that are responsive to the priorities and opportunities of the LDCs.
UNDP and the UN System
UNCDF and UNDP were designed as complementary institutions in the mid-1960s and they work closely together within the framework set by the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of UN operational activities for development.
Complementarity
The relationship with UNDP is rooted in the complementarity of the two organizations and aims at greater coherence, effectiveness and increased resource flows.
Operational Structure
UNCDF’s development finance mandate is a natural counterpart to UNDP’s focus on technical assistance and capacity building. UNCDF shares UNDP’s governance and operational structures, and the two organizations cooperate on a wide range of programmes and initiatives throughout the LDCs.
UN System
UNCDF also collaborates with the wider group of UN development agencies, including ILO, IFAD, UN Women, UNHCR, UNCCD, UNSIF, UNOPS or WFP.
UNCDF is committed to deliver more support for the LDCs through the UN
UNCDF combines its Sustainable Development Goal financing capabilities, instruments and sector expertise with the wider development and operational capacities of the United Nations development system to deliver more comprehensive and impactful support for the LDCs.
European Union
With more than 110 million euros in EU-supported programmes currently running at UNCDF, the European Union is one of the main strategic development partners of UNCDF.
Common Priorities
The two organizations share numerous development priorities, including green economy, digital innovation, and sustainable growth and jobs.
Geographic Collaboration
Common interests lay the groundwork for extensive collaboration in programmes cutting across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Investment Solutions
Strengthening financing mechanisms and systems for structural transformation through the EFSD+ (e.g. guarantees, blended finance, technical assistance) to raise private sector funds for sustainable development in partner countries.
UNCDF provides partners with adaptable, LDC-focused finance instruments and vehicles
UNCDF expands its role as the United Nations flagship catalytic financing entity for the LDCs to include strengthening financing mechanisms and systems for structural transformation.
Philanthropic Foundations
The work of the UNCDF is supported by a wide variety of foundations on a global scale.
Innovation
Foundations offer novel and innovative strategies for addressing the most pressing problems confronting nations in the global south.
Maximizing SDGs
To leave no one behind, our collaborations and partnerships with philanthropic organisations are intended to maximise SDG-positive outcomes for all.
Investing in Solutions
With their assistance, UNCDF is able to implement new finance mechanisms and systems for the structural transformation required to advance these shared objectives in the least developed countries.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives.
Learn MoreMastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper.
Learn MoreFord Foundation
The Ford Foundation is located in New York City at the Center for Social Justice—a hub for social good.
Learn MoreOmidyar Network
Omidyar Network is a social change venture that reimagines critical systems, and the ideas that govern them, to build more inclusive and equitable societies across the globe.
Learn MoreCiti Foundation
The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world.
Learn MoreUNCDF provides philanthropic organizations with adaptable, LDC-focused finance instruments and vehicles
UNCDF expands its role as the United Nations flagship catalytic financing entity for the LDCs to include strengthening financing mechanisms and systems for structural transformation.
Multinational Financial Service Corporations
Joining forces with financial corporations to invest in infrastructure and human development to build institutions, establish market systems, support entrepreneurship, harness the potential of youth and achieve basic standards of living for all.
Social Impact
Achieving structural transformation and social impact at scale around issues that are relevant to UNCDF and our partners.
SDG Finance
UNCDF acknowledges the importance of the financial sector to achieve the sustainable development goals.
Investing in LDCs
UNCDF works together with multinational corporations, to implement partnerships that leverage the sector's strengths for the LDCs.
Mastercard
Mastercard is a technology company in the global payments industry. We operate the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories.
Learn MoreVisa
Visa is a global payments technology company that connects consumers, businesses, financial institutions and governments in more than 200 countries and territories to fast, secure and reliable electronic payments.
Learn MoreUNCDF works with the financial sector to catalyse additional private flows of capital
UNCDF works along with the financial sector to invest and catalyse capital to support the least developed countries countries in achieving the sustainable growth and inclusiveness envisioned by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Doha programme of action for the least developed countries, 2022–2031.
Regional and International Financial Institutions
UNCDF established mutually-beneficial partnerships with IFIs to enhance support for national governments and local communities and improve the sustainability of development efforts.
Local in-Country Presence and Expertise
Developing pipelines of investable projects in areas where finance does not typically reach, such as underserved and low-income households and small businesses.
De-risking Investments
with Strong Impact
Experience in de-risking investments that have strong development impact but require up-front structuring and risk-taking or are too small to attract IFIs or other investors.
Support Catalytic Investments
Willingness to support catalytic investments and innovative approaches that reveal markets to wider pools of investors—including IFIs, domestic banks, and institutional investors—for scaling-up and replication.
Unique mandate in
the UN System
UNCDF’s unique mandate allows it to issue capital grants, loans, and guarantees directly to the private sector or, where the regulatory environment allows, to sub-sovereign levels of government.
Trusted Partners
of the LDCs
UNCDF is a trusted partner of LDCs and is a specific international support measure to LDCs and brings LDCs together around new innovations in finance.
UNCDF has a track record of working with LDCs and IFIs to scale up successful development projects
UNCDF aims to accelerate financing for development in the LDCs by supporting them to catalyse additional private and public flows of capital, strengthen market systems and financing mechanisms, and accelerate inclusive, diversified, green economic transformation.
The Strategic Framework outlines the mission of the organization
At the center of the Strategic Framework is the UNCDF offer.
Download Strategic Framework Download UNCDF OfferImpact Capital for Development
to invest in infrastructure and human development to build institutions, establish market systems, support entrepreneurship, harness the potential of youth and achieve basic standards of living for all.
UN flagship catalytic financing entity for the LDCs
UNCDF expands its role as the United Nations flagship catalytic financing entity for the LDCs to include strengthening financing mechanisms and systems for structural transformation.
Deliver more support for the LDCs through the UN
UNCDF combines its Sustainable Development Goal financing capabilities, instruments and sector expertise with the wider development and operational capacities of the United Nations development system to deliver more comprehensive and impactful support for the LDCs.
Build partnerships with private and public actors
UNCDF continues to build partnerships with private and public actors to achieve greater results and development impact and unlock additional resources.
Committed to improving transparency and responsibility
To learn how the organization is using its resources please visit our
Transparency PortalStay Connected
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