The Fourth Financing for Development (FFD4) Conference will be held in Sevilla, Spain, from 30 June to 3 July 2025. This pivotal global event comes at a time of significant geopolitical shifts, foreign aid cuts and intensifying restrictions on civic space.
FFD4 Outcome Document: Civic Space Protection Overlooked
CIVICUS acknowledges the inclusion of language in the Outcome Document that aligns with international frameworks such as the Pact for the Future and welcomes the recognition of civil society’s contributions to sustainable development.
CIVICUS remains deeply concerned by the absence of an explicit commitment to protect and promote civic space in the Outcome Document. Civic space is not only enshrined in international law, it is a functional necessity. According to the latest CIVICUS data, over 70% of the world’s population lives in countries where civic space is severely restricted. This poses a significant barrier to building meaningful partnership with civil society, which is essential for generating political will and ensuring effective implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The failure to reference civic space in the adopted Outcome Document is not merely a normative oversight; it is a critical and practical implementation gap. Civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and independent media play a vital role in exposing corruption, monitoring illicit financial flows, and holding decision-makers accountable — particularly in addressing the urgent challenges of climate change and systemic inequalities highlighted in the adopted document. Without clear commitments and protective frameworks for civic space, implementation efforts risk being ineffective at best—or at worst, dangerous. Civil society actors and human rights defenders may face reprisals for engaging in the very accountability work the FFD agenda depends on.
US Withdrawal Ends Longstanding Consensus
For the first time in the history of the Financing for Development (FFD) process, the Outcome Document was adopted without consensus — and notably, without the support of the United States. This represents a significant shift in global leadership dynamics and sets a troubling precedent for the future of multilateral cooperation.
The United States cited a range of concerns in its decision to withdraw support for both the preparatory process and the Outcome Document. These include objections to newly proposed mechanisms it considers costly, duplicative, and potentially undermining to existing efforts. The U.S. also reiterated its rejection of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, it opposed proposals granting the United Nations a more prominent role in shaping the global debt architecture and expressed objections to the use of the term “gender” in international policy language.
These positions reflect a broader divergence from multilateral norms and raise concerns about the coherence and unity needed to address urgent global development challenges.
CIVICUS’ Advocacy on the margins of the FFD4
CIVICUS will continue to advocate for the protection of civic space globally, including through a series of official side events led in partnership at the FFD4. We are committed to ensuring that the voices of civil society are heard and respected in all development processes and at all levels of governance.
- Civil Society Networking.
(Register here: bit.ly/4449Fvu)
- From Crisis to Collective Action: Ensuring Solidarity, Accountability and Transparency in a Fragile Financial Landscape.
(Register here: ly/43B9A3t)
- Democratizing Finance: Reimagining Fiscal Systems for Democratic Resilience.
Location: Virtual (Register here)
Resources:
- CIVICUS Lens Interview: CIVICUS discusses financing for development with Elena Marmo, Head of Advocacy and Campaigns at the Transparency, Accountability and Participation (TAP) Network. (Read here)
- CIVICUS input on the First draft: Outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. (Read or listen here)
- CIVICUS’ Input on the Zero Draft: Outcome document of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. (Read or listen here)
Connect with Us at FFD4
Our Civic Space Researcher, Ana María Palacios Briceño, will be attending FFD4 in Sevilla and is available for meetings and collaboration. To connect with Ana María during the conference please contact her at:
You can also connect with our UN Advisor at CIVICUS’ New York Hub, Jesselina Rana, for any other queries or to follow-up on FFD4 at:
