At UN Capital Development Fund we understand that the world’s oceans are vital to our planet’s future prosperity. That’s why at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum and the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, UNCDF will join with partners to drive transformational finance solutions that respond to both local needs and global development targets. We want to close the ocean finance gap with scalable, de-risked models that can unlock capital at the pace and scale required for a sustainable ocean-based economy. Ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), we’re working with partners, because ocean finance is development finance.

We’ll be highlighting achievements to date with:

• the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), a joint initiative with UNDP and UNEP. Through GFCR, UNCDF has helped mobilize over USD $240 million in grant and investment capital to support reef-positive enterprises across 21 countries. The Fund provides a working model for how catalytic capital can de-risk investment, unlock private finance, and scale market-based solutions that protect marine ecosystems and support coastal livelihoods. GFCR showcases how blended finance can be structured for both environmental impact and financial viability in the ocean economy.
• the Plastics Transition Investment Facility (PTIF) alongside IFC and UNEP, UNCDF is mobilizing private capital for high-impact solutions across the plastics value chain. By financing upstream innovation, circular business models, and infrastructure for reuse and recycling, the Facility is designed to drive environmental and social outcomes at scale. UNCDF brings its deep expertise in structuring financial architecture, managing secretariat functions, and deploying catalytic capital to ensure the PTIF is built for inclusive, effective, and scalable investment—particularly in underserved markets.