Civil Society Letter to European leaders on FfD4

Published: 29th April 2025

Over 200 civil society organisations and individuals have sent a letter urging European leaders to commit to a transformative and ambitious agenda of financial architecture reform at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development.

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, urge European leaders to commit to a transformative and ambitious agenda of financial architecture reform at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), taking place in Sevilla, Spain in mid-2025.

FfD4 is a pivotal moment for Europe to commit to equitable global economic governance and reforms that are needed to tackle the deep inequality and environmental crises which drive and exacerbate grave problems today and tomorrow. The consequences of the current system are felt across generations.

Critical reforms include how countries deal with the vicious circle of sovereign debt; the development of a fair and inclusive system of international tax cooperation; and the strengthening of development cooperation. Public finance continues to have a proven and distinct role in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the eradication of hunger and poverty, in gender equality and the fight against climate change.

The Financing for Development conference is the only space where global economic and financial matters are discussed in a transparent and inclusive manner and where all countries participate on an equal footing. FfD4, therefore, has the potential to bring fairness and justice into global economic governance.

It is also the first time an FfD conference has taken place on European soil. This gives Europe the opportunity to play a role in reinvigorating trust and cooperation into a rulesbased multilateral order. The success of the conference is a matter of Europe’s reputation and a test of its value-driven approach to engaging with the rest of the world.

In January 2025, a civil society letter addressed to European leaders provided a list of key policy demands regarding FfD4. We welcome the openness to dialogue that has been demonstrated in meetings with civil society ever since. We also welcome the reiteration of European support for the Financing for Development process, demonstrated during the meeting of the European Council and the UN Secretary General on 20 March in Brussels.

At the same time, we are concerned by the lack of visible positive change in the European position in the negotiations of the Conference’s outcome. Instead of backing proposals for more democratic decision-making on global economic issues, European countries have so far opposed any meaningful reform, defending an unfair and dysfunctional status quo and limiting the European offer to using scarce public resources to leverage private finance. Indeed, the official EU position and conduct in the negotiations on the road to Sevilla are highly problematic. While the EU supports ambitious development goals and stands for gender equity and human rights, it blocks the actual means of implementation that are needed to achieve these goals.

In a world where only 17 per cent of the SDGs have been achieved, with only five years to their deadline, this cannot be the European approach to accelerate action. The Sevilla conference is the last chance to fill the SDG financing gap through meaningful structural reforms. It must not be wasted.

Europe must play its part in a multilateral system that contributes to fair and democratic global economic governance. This would reflect the poverty eradication objective of Article 208 of the Lisbon Treaty.

Aligning with progressive voices calling for meaningful reforms to global economic governance in the negotiations leading up to Sevilla is not only the right thing to do. It will also strengthen Europe’s geopolitical standing. It is an unprecedented strategic opportunity and we call on you - European leaders - to seize it.

Signatories

International organisations: 187

  1. Society for International Development
  2. Oxfam
  3. ActionAid International
  4. Care International

    Europe
  5. ACT Alliance EU
  6. Africa-Europe Faith & Justice Network
  7. Caritas Europa
  8. Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe
  9. Counter Balance
  10. Debt4Climate
  11. Eurodad
  12. Fern
  13. Recourse
  14. Save the Children
  15. SDG Watch Europe
  16. SOLIDAR

    Austria
  17. AG Globale Verantwortung
  18. KOO - Co-ordination office of the Austrian Bishops‘ Conference for international development and mission
  19. SDG Watch Austria
  20. VIDC

    Bangladesh
  21. Centre for Environment, Human Rights & Development Forum (CEHRDF)
  22. COAST Foundation

    Barbados
  23. Caribbean Policy Development Centre

    Belgium
  24. 11.11.11
  25. ACV-CSC
  26. BOS+
  27. Broederlijk Delen
  28. CNCD-11.11.11
  29. Entraide et Fraternité
  30. FOS - Socialistische Solidariteit
  31. Join For Water
  32. Monetary Diversity
  33. Rikolto
  34. Solidagro
  35. UCOS
  36. Viva Salud

    Botswana
  37. Success Capital Africa

    Brazil
  38. Brazilian Campaign for the Right to Education
  39. Gestos

    Bulgaria
  40. BulgariaCVS
  41. Obshtestven Center za Okolna Sreda i Ustoichivo Razvitie
  42. Za Zemiata

    Congo
  43. ONG CONSTRUISONS ENSEMBLE LE MONDE
  44. Plateforme dette et developpement

    Croatia
  45. Croatian Platform for International Citizen Solidarity (CROSOL)

    Czechia
  46. FoRS - Czech Forum for Development Cooperation

    Denmark
  47. Civil Society in Development
  48. Global Focus
  49. The People’s Fund for Global Health and Development

    Ecuador
  50. Mujeres Luna Creciente

    Estonia
  51. Estonian Roundtable for Development Cooperation

    Ethiopia
  52. East Action Organization

    France
  53. CCFD-Terre Solidaire
  54. Coordination SUD
  55. Global Health Advocates (GHA)
  56. Plateforme Francaise Dette et Developpement

    Germany
  57. Brot für die Welt
  58. erlassjahr.de
  59. German NGO Forum on Environment & Development
  60. Germanwatch
  61. Global Policy Forum Europe
  62. Netzwerk Steuergerechtigkeit / Wem gehört die Stadt
  63. SocDevJustice
  64. Urgewald
  65. WEED - World Economy, Ecology & Development

    Ghana
  66. Abibinsroma Foundation 

    Haiti
  67. Groupe de Réflexion et d'Initiative pour l'Avancement de la Grand'Anse (GRIAG)
  68. UNASCAD (Union des Amis So io Culturels d'Action en Developpement)

    Hungary
  69. Barn Owl Foundation
  70. BODROG EGYESÜLET
  71. Consultants for Sustainable Development
  72. CSEMETE Association of Nature and Environmental Protection
  73. E-misszió Environmental Association
  74. Ecological Studio Foundation
  75. Éghajlatvédelmi Szövetség / Hungarian Climate Alliance
  76. Green Action Association
  77. HAND Association
  78. HELYES Association (Association for Supporting Local Energies)
  79. Hungarian Society for Environmental Education (HSEE)
  80. Inspi-Ráció
  81. Közép-magyarországi Zöld Kör
  82. Magyar Természetvédők Szövetsége - Friends of the Earth Hungary
  83. Mozgalom az Egészséges Város Környezetéért Civil Társaság
  84. Pécsi Zöld Kör
  85. Planetrise Foundation
  86. Reflex Environmental Association
  87. Towards Sustainability Association

    India
  88. Nadi Ghati Morcha- India Indonesia

    Indonesia
  89. Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity for Human Right)

    Ireland
  90. Financial Justice Ireland
  91. Trócaire 

    Italy
  92. ECCO think tank
  93. Focsiv

    Kenya
  94. Good Health Community Programmes
  95. Women In Democracy And Governance
  96. Global Public Investment Network 

    Kyrgyzstan
  97. Nash Vek PF 

    Liberia
  98. Liberian Women Empowerment Network

    Lithuania
  99. Lithuanian NGDO Platform
  100. Vartotoju aljansas (Lithuanian Consumers Alliance) 

    Malta
  101. Kopin
  102. SKOP (The National Platform for Maltese NGDOs)

    Mexico
  103. DECA, EQUIPO PUEBLO
  104. Equidad de Género 

    Morocco
  105. Espace Associatif pour le développement participatif 

    Nepal
  106. LDC Watch
  107. National Campaign for Sustainable Development Nepal
  108. Rural Area Development Programme (RADP) 

    Nicaragua
  109. RENICC 

    Nigeria
  110. Village Farmers Initiative (VFI)

    Norway
  111. Debt Justice Norway
  112. The Norwegian Forum for Development and Environment (ForUM)

    Pakistan
  113. Alternative Law Collective 

    Peru
  114. Chirapaq/ECMIA President 

    Philippines
  115. Ecumenical Institute for Labor Education and Research
  116. IBON International
  117. Reality of Aid - Asia Pacific

    Portugal
  118. ACEP
  119. CIDAC
  120. Plataforma Portuguesa das ONGD

    Senegal
  121. Organisation d’Appui aux Jeunes Opérateurs Économiques pour la Gouvernance Locale

    Serbia
  122. CEKOR- Center for Ecology and Sustainable Development

    Sierra Leone
  123. RESCUE THE EARTH INTERNATIONAL 

    Somalia
  124. Somali Youth Development Foundation 

    South Africa
  125. ISIZIBA Community Based Organizations of South Africa NPC 

    Spain
  126. ACCIÓN VERAPAZ
  127. Action Against Hunger
  128. Alianza por la Solidaridad - ActionAid Spain
  129. Amadecul, SCA
  130. Amani-Laicos Combonianos por el Sur
  131. Anesvad Foundation
  132. APDHA-Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía
  133. ARCORES International
  134. ASOCIACIÓN PARA LA SOLIDARIDAD
  135. Bosco Global
  136. Centro de Estudios e Investigación sobre Mujeres
  137. Coordinadora Andaluza de ONGD
  138. Enlázate por la Justicia
  139. Entreculturas
  140. Federación de Asociaciones Medicus Mundi en España
  141. FETS - Finançament ètic i solidari
  142. Fundación Proclade
  143. Fundación Savia por el Compromiso y los Valores
  144. Futuro en Común
  145. INCIDEM
  146. JPIC-IBVM Spain
  147. JUAN CIUDAD ONGD
  148. Karit, solidarios por la paz
  149. La Coordinadora de Organizaciones para el Desarrollo
  150. Lafede.cat - Organitzacions per a la Justícia Global
  151. Movimiento Por la Paz - MPDL
  152. Mujeres en Zona de Conflicto
  153. Observatori del Deute en la Globalització
  154. Observatorio UCM 2030
  155. Oscarte
  156. PROYDE
  157. Red Entidades para el Desarrollo Solidario
  158. REEDES
  159. SEDRA-Federación de Planificación Familiar

    Sri Lanka
  160. Institute of Political Economy

    Sweden
  161. Act Church of Sweden
  162. Afrikagrupperna
  163. Diakonia
  164. PMU

    Switzerland
  165. Alliance Sud
  166. Global Social Justice

    The Netherlands
  167. Oil Change International
  168. Wemos

    Togo
  169. Amis des etrangers au Togo: ADET
  170. ITUC-AFRICA

    UK
  171. Amnesty International
  172. Bond
  173. Center for Economic and Social Rights
  174. Debt Justice UK
  175. The Freedom Fund
  176. Christian Aid

    USA
  177. The Society for Children Orphaned By AIDS Inc. (SOCOBA)
  178. WEDO
  179. Women and Youth Advancement Inc.

    Uganda
  180. DISABILITY PEOPLES FORUMUGANDA
  181. Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information Negotiations Institute
  182. Uganda Debt Network
  183. Uganda Peace Foundation
  184. Voice Life Health Organization (VLHO) 

    Yemen
  185. National Forum for Human Rights 

    Zambia
  186. Civil Society SDGs Campaign GCAP Zambia
  187. Climate Action Network (CAN) Zambia


Individual signatories: 47