Statement: Financing for Development Forum

Statement by H.E. Ms. Anna Jóhannsdóttir,
Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations,
Financing for Development Forum
23 April 2026

Mr. President, excellencies,

Iceland is honoured to have been entrusted by the president of the Economic and Social Council to co-facilitate, with the Maldives, the consultations on the 2026 Financing for Development outcome document. We wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to all delegations and stakeholders for their active and constructive engagement throughout the process, and of course to the Maldives for the excellent cooperation and partnership.

This process has clearly demonstrated that financing for development is an essential and important issue, a cornerstone of UN’s development pillar, and a critical enabler for advancing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Excellencies,

This year’s Financing for Development Forum takes place less than one year after the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and the Compromiso de Sevilla represents the first inter-governmentally agreed financing for development framework since 2015.

It is important to recall that the Sevilla Commitment 2025 is the result of extensive negotiations and has been agreed at the highest political level. It provides the foundation and framework for the next decade, including our work this week.

Excellencies,

Allow me to highlight a few key points:

First, gender equality and women’s empowerment must remain at the centre of our efforts. This requires targeted and predictable financing to address inequalities and close persistent gender gaps. In particular, investments in sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential to unlock opportunities for women and girls.

Second, we must ensure that Official Development Assistance is used as effectively and strategically as possible. The catalytic role of ODA is critical and should help mobilize additional resources, whether through multilateral development banks, finance institutions or innovative financing mechanisms.

Third, sustainable financing ultimately depends on strong national foundations. Creating an enabling environment is therefore essential. This includes strengthening domestic resource mobilization systems, as reflected in the Sevilla Commitment, fostering trust and reinforcing the social contract, implementing strong and credible anti-corruption measures, and ensuring responsible debt management.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Compromiso de Sevilla highlighted progress on many key issues, and we can already see some actions taking shape.

The Sevilla Platform for Action includes numerous initiatives that will translate commitments into practice. Iceland is pleased to have endorsed five initiatives under the Platform - all of which are well underway.

We look forward to concluding this Forum with a strong common message which the negotiations over the last week have brought us. We will continue to engage and work with all members on further implementation of the actions decided by our ministers and leaders, reflected in the Sevilla Commitments.

I thank you.