Spending money is not enough to implement the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs), said the panellists in the fourth session of the October Days for Sustainable Development dedicated to “Financing the SDGs”, organised by the Institute and the University of Luxembourg with the support of CARITAS and under the auspices of Luxembourg’s Ministry of Sustainable Development.

The financing gap is huge but relevant governance structures, an appropriate legal environment and political will are also often lacking, added the panellists of the four roundtables (on the financing gap, water (SDG6), health (SDG3) and gender (SDG5).

The 22 panellists from academia (LSE, Vienna University, University of Essex, IDDRI Sciences Po…), multilateral institutions (UNESCO, UNDP, WHO…), NGOs (Médecins du Monde, SWA..) and the private sector (Luxembourg Stock Exchange, Mercer, Enat Bank Ethiopia) underlined the role that civil society should play to promote the implementation of Agenda 2030.

Blending finance (grants and loans or even equity) can help shift resources from bankable projects to beneficial ones, they said, citing new instruments such as green bonds and the newly launched sustainable awareness bonds.

Every year since 2015, the October Days have contributed to the global debate on the SDGs by enhancing dialogue among stakeholders.

Please click here for the  full programme of the event.