The UN looks for investors for projects to help meet its 2030 Sustainability Goals

The United Nations has partnered with a number of the world’s largest financial institutions for support in connecting investors with projects.

With 2030 fast approaching,  The Global Investors for Sustainable Development Alliance –  whose members include Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc. and Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund – has created an investor platform with the United Nations Development Programme. 

This online tool has been developed to encourage private sector investments in projects by giving market data, which includes on-the-ground insights into the local investment landscape and connections with relevant partners.

“Increasing transparency and matching of demand and supply is key for the success of SDG-oriented investments,” said Allianz SE chief executive officer Oliver Baete and JSE Ltd. CEO Leila Fourie, who co-chair the UN-backed alliance, in a joint statement. The platform will be a resource “for all like-minded investors, development finance institutions and governments.”

The UN’s 17 sustainable development goals have been widely publicised and range from ending poverty and hunger to reducing inequality and protecting marine life. They are already used as a guide for decision-making by many impact investors as well as a roadmap for some purpose-driven businesses. 

While some goals, such as climate action, have captured market attention others haven’t had the same pull. This means there’s now much more of a focus on finding investment for projects relating to the UN’s social goals.  

Developing countries are facing a shortfall of US$4.2 trillion (AUD$5.2 trillion) in the financing they would need this year to keep them on track for the 2030 goals, according to data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Reallocating just 1.1 per cent of the total assets held by banks, institutional investors, or asset managers would be sufficient to fill the gap, the UN said.