The President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) convened a high-level meeting of the UN Development Cooperation Forum (DCF), which sought to reimagine global cooperation to deliver a sustainable future amid growing challenges. Speakers called for meaningful reform to make development cooperation more equitable, impactful, and country-led, including by reforming the global financial architecture.
Held under the theme, ‘Trends and Progress in International Development Cooperation,’ the Forum met in the ECOSOC Chamber at UN Headquarters in New York, US, from 12-13 March 2025. Convening at a crucial moment for global development when the evolving, multiple crises make it imperative international development cooperation be significantly enhanced, the Forum aimed to shape policy actions throughout 2025, including at the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development (FfD), the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), and the July session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Opening the Forum, ECOSOC President Bob Rae highlighted international development as “indispensable” for achieving the SDGs, but, he said, it “must be reformed to deliver effective results and ensure impact in areas where it is needed most.” He emphasized the need to strengthen national capacities and domestic resources, increase the quantity and quality of official development assistance (ODA), and harness the full resources and capacity of the private sector.
Rae called for reform of international financial institutions (IFIs), underscoring the importance of ensuring that “our collective dollars translate into high impact activities that are joined up and mutually reinforcing.” He recommended a holistic and coherent One UN approach to funding along the humanitarian-peace-development nexus, “addressing the drivers of conflict and social inequities as well as the climate crisis.”
In his remarks, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua emphasized that with ODA shrinking, “the foundation of global solidarity is under strain.” He called for a major paradigm shift that would prioritize the most vulnerable, simplify and streamline development cooperation, respect national ownership, strengthen domestic resource mobilization, and modernize the global development architecture.
The discussions were informed by the report of the Secretary-General on trends and progress in international development cooperation (E/2025/8), which highlights key trends and challenges in international development cooperation. The report reveals the need to strengthen country ownership and leadership, reduce fragmentation, address resource allocation, strengthen alignment with country needs and priorities, and enhance effectiveness, among other actions.
Over the course of two days, participants exchanged views on ways to make development cooperation work for today’s world and on how to improve modalities to better respond to evolving needs, vulnerabilities, and priorities. They underscored the need to refocus, reallocate, and reinforce ODA and reposition development cooperation around tailored support.
Delegates reflected on the drivers of quality, impact, and country leadership in international development cooperation and on improving country-led coordination and strengthening the coherence of international development cooperation to make it fit for purpose, which they recognized as vital. They highlighted the need to build on the momentum for deep structural change ahead of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and pushed for focus on strategic planning, multi-stakeholder dialogue, and stronger institutional capacity.
According to DESA, the outcomes of the Forum will feed into FfD4, where Member States are negotiating reforms to the global financial architecture, and HLPF 2025, especially its in-depth reviews of SDGs 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), and 17 (partnerships for the Goals). HLPF 2025 will also carry out reviews of SDGs 3 (good health and well-being) and 14 (life below water). [2025 DCF] [Concept Note] [UN Meetings Coverage: Development Cooperation Forum, 12 March 2025] [UN Meetings Coverage: Development Cooperation Forum, 13 March 2025] [Media Advisory]
