18 May 2018: The UN and the World Bank Group have signed a Strategic Partnership Framework outlining cooperation to help countries implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The project includes four areas of cooperation: finance and implementation support for countries to achieve the SDGs; “decisive” global action on climate change; joint work in post-crisis and humanitarian settings; and harnessing data to improve development outcomes.

The Framework was signed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim on 18 May 2018, in Washington DC, US.

Specifically on the SDGs, the Framework includes a focus on improving implementation capacity, particularly at the national and local levels. The Strategic Partnership Framework’s initiatives also will focus on:

• Mobilizing increased and better finance from all sources, including through domestic resources, and helping countries attract and manage private capital;
• Promoting joint investments to improve infrastructure and build human capital (including education and health);
• Convening governments, financial institutions, private investors, and development banks to coordinate and deliver financing to help countries make the transition to a low-carbon future;
• Strengthening collaboration and joint action in post-crisis and humanitarian settings to build resilience for the most vulnerable people;
• Improving national statistical systems and enhancing countries’ digital data capacities to maximize positive development impacts, and;
• Expanding partnerships in policy development and advocacy, joint analysis and assessments, and program design and delivery.

The UN and the World Bank Group report that their respective leadership will meet annually to review the partnership and take stock of results. Technical teams from the two institutions are expected to work together to ensure the implementation of the commitments under the Framework. [World Bank Group Press Release] [UN Press Release]