The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4)
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The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) offers a unique opportunity to reform financing at all levels, including supporting the reform of international financial architecture.
It is the only forum where leaders from governments, international organisations, financial and trade institutions, businesses, civil society, and the UN system meet at the highest level to strengthen cooperation.
The framework for development financing shapes the architecture of international development. It is essential to ensure that public interest media are explicitly referenced in the outcome document, recognising their vital role in promoting transparency, accountability, and public engagement in development financing.
Furthermore, the outcome document should include stronger references to civil society and robust human rights commitments, reinforcing the principle that international development and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing.
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) is one of the key global policy processes shaping the future of journalism and is pivotal in ensuring journalism remains a cornerstone of democracy and the public interest. To effectively advocate for journalism and media freedom, we must actively engage in these discussions.
As we face growing challenges in securing the necessary preconditions and infrastructure—legal, financial, technological, and institutional—required for journalism to operate, it is essential to ensure that human rights, freedom of expression, civil society, and, in particular, the journalism and media community are recognised—not only as stakeholders but as a sector deserving of funding from both state and multilateral institutions.
10th March 2025 - New draft of the text was circulated. Time will be given for Member States to comment on the next draft and consult Capitals.
24th March — PR Level Meeting for general comments on the new text.
1st - 8h April will be the first round of intersessionals (negotiations).
28 - 29 April - ECOSOC Forum on FInancing for Development.
30 April - 1 May 2025 - First part of the PrepComm’s fourth session.
2 - 9 May 2025 - Second round of intersessionals (negotiations).
between intersessionals (May-June):
Member States offer general comments on the draft outcome document.
Line-by-line text-based negotiations.
Co-facilitators hold informal informals and consultations.
27-30 May 2025 - Third intersessional featuring line-by-line text-based negotiations.
Mid-June 2025 - Fourth session of the PrepComm reconvenes with the aim of reaching consensus on the outcome document.
30 June - 3 July 2025 - FFD4 convenes in Seville, Spain, focused on reforming financing and international financial architecture.
The Co-Chairs of the FFD4 Preparatory Committee are Mexico, Nepal, Norway and Zambia.
The First Draft Outcome Document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development was published on March 10, 2025.
Previously, the Zero Draft Outcome Document was released in January 2025.
GFMD urges UN member states to consider two key points to strengthen FFD4 and ensure its success:
PT 1: Strengthen and incorporate existing global commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future as foundations for success of the FFD4 agreement
While we commend first draft version document reaffirming commitment to realize sustainable development, including effectively implementing the 2030 Agenda and upholding all principles enshrined in it we call upon specifically referencing SDG16 and longstanding UN frameworks for fundamental freedoms including freedom of expression, and SDG 16’s specific targets for effective governance, transparency and safety of journalists.
While we commend the commitments on financing and development in the Pact for the Future in the first draft outcome document, we call for further reference to specific parts of the Pact representing broad consensus on a series of fundamental commitments to build trustworthy news and information systems that enhance transparency, accountability, access to data, and information literacy. Furthermore, as part of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact establishes principles for digital governance, digital rights, and diverse media ecosystems to ensure that the internet, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies serve human needs and progress. We urge that FFD4 reiterate these important goals in this section of the document as part of its foundational aims and objectives.
We urge member states to acknowledge the pivotal role of public interest media in fostering transparency, accountability, and the protection of human rights within the context of financing for development—particularly the contributions of investigative journalists. We ask that FFD4 recognize the need for strengthening the institutional infrastructure for professional media that serves the public good and that it endorse enhancing the capacities of journalists to cover and explain the development finance process to the public.
We also encourage states to recognize the role of public interest media in advancing financial literacy, raising awareness, empowering citizens to demand accountability, scrutinizing those in power, and guaranteeing public access to reliable information.
FF4D’s initiative to enhance the quality of data and statistics and to strengthen the capacity of countries to produce their own development statistics necessitates a complementary focus on building statistical literacy among journalists and the public. This approach will ensure that new data is communicated in accessible and comprehensible formats, thereby providing essential feedback on the efficacy of development initiatives and enabling citizens to hold both governments and donors accountable for their actions.
The successful implementation of FF4D will depend not only on widespread public understanding of its objectives but also on the availability of timely and accurate information regarding its progress. This flow of information will rely on the presence of a robust and independent media system—operating both domestically and internationally.
PT 3: Ensure investments in public digital infrastructure are transparent, secure, and user-centered
As international development financing increasingly supports digital infrastructure—often in collaboration with private sector partnerships—states bear the responsibility to implement robust safeguards that protect human rights, ensure transparency, and promote accountability. We urge member states to invest in resilient, secure, affordable, inclusive, and interoperable digital financial infrastructure, prioritizing the public good. These investments must be transparent and based on comprehensive human rights impact assessments and risk evaluations, incorporating secure digital systems and user-centered safeguards at their core.
It is essential to prioritize initiatives that enhance civic resilience against digital information manipulation and improve digital, media, information and financial literacy. Both traditional and digital media play a critical role in bridging knowledge gaps and facilitating the dissemination of culturally relevant content, thereby fostering informed and engaged societies.
