Devex: Guterres launches new plan for SDG financing, as private finance takes the spotlight
“U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres launched a new strategy to help finance the 2030 agenda Monday, but beyond the strategy, the speakers sharing the podium were a sign that times are changing. … The new strategy’s goal is to align global economic policies and financial systems with the SDGs, enhance sustainable financing solutions and investments, and ensure that financial innovation’s potential is used to make access to finance more equitable…” (Saldinger, 9/25).

Public Finance International: Low-income countries ‘need to spend extra $520bn’ a year to meet SDGs
“Poor countries need to collectively spend an additional $520bn a year on key public services and infrastructure if they are going to meet the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, according to International Monetary Fund analysis. Estimates issued by the lender … suggested that ‘significant new spending’ was required on health, education, water and sanitation, roads and electricity, all of which are ‘critical’ for sustainable and inclusive growth…” (Russell, 9/24).

U.N. News: ‘Surge in financing’ needed to transform the world: U.N. chief
“…[Guterres] was joined by Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), several heads of state and government, as well as senior representatives of leading companies — including the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates — and philanthropic foundations…” (9/24).

Xinhua News: U.N. chief: investments of 5-7 trillion USD needed each year to implement SDGs
“United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Monday that globally, investments of 5-7 trillion U.S. dollars are needed each year to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)…” (9/25).

Xinhua News: Bill Gates urges efforts to evolve financing for development
“…Gates said philanthropic organizations can advance the system by using innovative tools that allow them to invest in new technologies, lower or eliminate the risk in innovation, and ‘address market failures.’ … Gates said philanthropies can use challenge grants to tackle some of the toughest health and development problems…” (9/25).