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FfD4 CSO Forum Calls for Transparency, Inclusion and Accountability towards Reforming the Global Financing Framework

Over a thousand representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs), trade unions, and social movements from around the world convened on 28th to 29th June 2025 in Sevilla, Spain ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) to discuss and finalize the CSO Forum Declaration on FfD4. This Forum is the culminating event of the months of preparatory work of CSOs in engaging the FfD4 process to address the key financing challenges amidst the multiple crises confronting people and the planet.

ASPBAE, through its Regional Advocacy Coordinator and Lead Policy Analyst, Rene Raya, and its member, E-Net Philippines, through its National Coordinator, Joelyn Biag, engaged in this Forum, providing the critical education lens especially from the Asia Pacific context.

CSO panels engaging the FfD4 process presented and discussed the situation and positions on interrelated issues – the growing inequality, unsustainable debt burdens, continued illicit financial flows, global tax abuse, cuts in budgets and development aid, rise in conflicts and militarism, and waning multilateralism. Despite the gravity of the situation and the obstructive forces along the way, the engagement will be pursued to achieve just, inclusive and sustainable development. This was the resounding consensus of the Forum participants – to pursue beyond the little spaces accorded to CSOs in the FfD4 processes.

 

The CSO Forum Declaration highlighted the following messages:

  • The current global financial system is failing to address rising inequalities, debt distress, climate and ecological breakdown, and chronic underfunding of public services that affect billions of lives – especially in the Global South.
  • Quality, inclusive, and publicly funded lifelong education and healthcare must be prioritized as a corner-stone of sustainable development.
  • A new global financing approach must be centered in the Right to Development – every country and every person should have the right to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural, and political development, where all human rights and fundamental freedoms can be fully realized. This right cannot be subject to limitations imposed by unjust global power structures, which maintain the extraction of wealth and resources from the Global South while prescribing restrictions of their fiscal and policy space.
  • For FfD4 to be truly transformative, it must move beyond vague commitments and an overreliance on private finance to fill in financing gaps and instead focus on addressing the structural issues that perpetuate inequality and hinder sustainable development.

CSOs have also expressed concerns on being sidelined and confined within restricted spaces, preventing their meaningful participation in the main FfD4 processes in Sevilla.

During the closing ceremonies, the Forum was joined by the Prime Minister of Nepal, K.P. Sharma Oli, the First Vice President of Spain, María Jesús Montero Cuadrado, and the UN Deputy Secretary‑General, Amina J. Mohammed.

Responding to the Forum Declaration, the invited dignitaries expressed appreciation for the constructive engagement of CSOs in the FFD4 processes and supported inclusion and meaningful participation in the main conference. The Nepali Prime Minister expressed strong agreement to CSO’s meaningful participation in reforming financial institutions, calling for inclusion and transparency. He expressed support for reduced debt, increased domestic revenues, stronger development cooperation, and for addressing the financing gap for the SDGs.

You may access the full CSO Forum Declaration for FfD4 through this link.