Local governments will be critical in ensuring that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development delivers for the poorest and most vulnerable people on the planet.

They are in charge of providing basic and essential public goods and services, investing into critical infrastructure and expanding economic opportunities to an ever-growing number of people. However, local governments need to be in the position to fulfil these complex tasks. The financing needs at the local level are enormous. Especially in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), local governments do not have sufficient means to match the continuously increasing range of responsibilities and opportunities they face. Thus, improving urban finance is a global development imperative and can be a game changer for the implementation of the SDGs.

The side event will feature the launch of the FfDO/UN-DESA - UNCDF publication “Financing Sustainable Urban Development in the Least Developed Countries” and an interactive discussion on critical approaches to strengthen urban finance. It will address issues related to local revenue generation, public financial management and long-term investment financing; as well as ideas how to strengthen international cooperation for local finance.

PROGRAMME

Launch of the FfDO/UN-DESA - UNCDF publication: Financing Sustainable Urban Development in the Least Developed Countries

• Ms. Judith Karl, Executive Secretary, UNCDF
• Mr. Alexander Trepelkov, Director, FfDO/UN-DESA

Opening Remarks

• H.E. Mr. Nabindra Raj Joshi, Minister of Industry, Nepal

Panel discussion

• Mr. Wild Ndipo, Mayor of Blantyre, Malawi
• Mr. Daviz Simango, Mayor of Beira, Mozambique
• Mr. Mpho Khunou, Mayor of Rustenberg, South Africa
• Mr. Philippe Orliange, Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Communication, AFD
• Mr. Edgardo Bilsky, Director of Research, UCLG

Moderator: Ms. Christel Alvergne, Deputy Director, Local Development Finance, UNCDF

For more information, contact Ms. Simona Santoro, Policy Specialist, UNCDF, simona.santoro@uncdf.org