SDG Investing: Advancing a New Normal in Global Capital Markets

This report, which was commissioned by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations (UN-DESA), seeks to contribute to the ongoing and expanding discussion on how to increase and optimize the involvement of the private sector in financing sustainable development. Its main objective is to understand the financing challenges of the above mentioned landmark agreements through a private sector lens. The report highlights the need for a ‘sustainable financial system,’ flags the critical role of investment capital in sustainable development finance, describes drivers and barriers to investing with impact as well as to using the SDG framework of choice, and reviews available public sector mechanisms for advancing the role of private sector capital in development finance. It also lists critical success factors to public sector interventions, and begins to articulate recommendations for ongoing UN efforts to contribute to the establishment of more sustainable financial systems and the advancement of private sector investments in the 2030 Agenda.