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Mr President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, 

UNOPS is here today with a clear message: we stand ready to support countries in their efforts to unlock much needed financing for sustainable development, and then to help translate financing into sustainable, lasting results.

We recognize that mobilising large-scale investment in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is an urgent and collective task, which goes hand in hand with the reform of the international financial structure.

Yet as countries work to plug the $4.3 trillion annual financing gap to achieve the SDGs, it is equally important to focus on implementation, which can yield tangible results for communities.

The past 10 years since the Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa have shown that in addition to mobilizing much needed finance - we need to address all bottlenecks to development.

Countries need support in building capacity to implement.

Often, finance is misaligned with policy.

Available finance is often targeting those easiest to reach - rather than those most in need. Least developed countries, Small Island Developing States (SIDS), fragile and conflict-affected contexts face a disproportionate gap despite urgent needs. If we are to deliver on the SDGs, we need to align finance with the goals and get it to those who need it most.

Additionally, the new development finance architecture needs to reflect current realities and the new sources of finance.

Now is the time to fix this.

The finance gap won’t be fixed without addressing the implementation gap. It is encouraging to see that the outcome document of this conference acknowledges the importance of implementation in achieving shared goals.

This is an area where UNOPS can play a key role. We stand ready to support our partners on the demand-side of development finance. Through technical assistance, capacity building and project implementation, we can support an enabling environment to attract financing and deliver results.

At UNOPS, we offer practical solutions to our partners to advance the SDGs and climate action. We work in over 130 countries, including in the most fragile and complex environments. And we have particular expertise in infrastructure, procurement and project management.

Infrastructure underpins sustainable development and is central to climate action. It impacts the achievement of 92 percent of all SDG targets, and is key to developing resilience. Our infrastructure investment decisions define our collective future.

UNOPS supports governments and development partners in planning, designing, and implementing infrastructure projects that are aligned with national priorities and the SDGs.

Public procurement can be a powerful force for change. Around the world, it represents on average 13 per cent to 20 per cent of GDP.

Through our procurement efforts, UNOPS helps countries respond to conflicts and crises, advance their climate priorities, and foster sustainable, inclusive development around the world.

Whether we are procuring on behalf of our partners, or working with them to strengthen national capacity for procurement, our focus is on ensuring that procurement processes benefit local communities, build more resilience and accelerate the shift to low-carbon economies.

UNOPS also manages a range of multilateral initiatives that drive collaborative development and climate action, including by focusing on supporting inclusive energy transition.

In all we do, we focus on practical solutions, built on strong partnerships.

The financing gap for the SDGs remains vast—but closing it is not just about more finance. It’s about making sure the finance available works harder, goes further, and delivers real, lasting impact.

UNOPS is ready to be your partner in doing just that.