International Financing for Sustainable Development

FERDI is a leading independent think tank on international financing for sustainable development. Through research, policy analysis and dialogue with international institutions, it helps shape more effective financing policies that better reflect countries' economic, social and climate vulnerabilities.

Objectives

↪ Contribute to the evolution of the international financing architecture and promote the integration of multidimensional vulnerability into the allocation of concessional finance.

↪ Assess the effectiveness, complementarity and coherence of development financing instruments.

↪ Promote the diversification and mobilisation of sustainable development finance.

Chair in International Architecture of Development Finance

The Chair analyses the evolution of the international development finance architecture and develops practical solutions to improve the allocation of concessional finance, with particular attention to countries' multidimensional vulnerabilities.

Highlights (2025–2026) 

  • Contributed to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4, Seville) through the preparatory process and the organisation of three official conference sessions.
  • Participated in major international forums—including the IMF, World Bank, United Nations, OECD and Finance in Common Summit—to promote the integration of vulnerability into financing allocation frameworks. 

>> Explore FERDI’s research on the allocation of financing flows based on vulnerabilities

  •  Published Towards the Effective Use of a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index in Development Finance, by Patrick Guillaumont. 

>> Read the publication (open access)

  • Launched a partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop a decision-support framework integrating multidimensional vulnerability into development finance.
  • Organised a Chatham House dialogue on Attacks on Aid: Causes, Responses and Prospects
  • Contributed to the Financing One Sustainable Health working group, co-chaired by Jacky Mathonnat (FERDI/CERDI) and Agnès Soucat (AFD). At the One Health Summit (2026), Aurore Pélissier presented FERDI's project to develop an observatory on the efficiency of district hospitals.

>> Explore  the work of the Chair on International Development Finance Architecture

Public Development Banks

FERDI analyses the role of public development banks as long-term financing partners and explores how national and multilateral development banks can work more effectively together. Its research combines data, financial analysis and policy recommendations to support development finance institutions.

>> Learn more 

Resource Mobilisation

FERDI examines domestic and international resource mobilisation mechanisms to identify sustainable sources of development finance, particularly for low-income countries. 

Highlights (2025–2026) 

  • Analysis of the role of Caisse des Dépôts in mobilising domestic private resources for development finance >> Read this study
  • Research on innovative international taxation mechanisms, including aviation and maritime levies, and their implications for vulnerable countries. > Read the results of this research
  •  Contributions to international debates on the diversification of development finance. 

Climate Finance and Sustainable Development

 FERDI analyses how climate finance and development finance interact, with particular attention to the allocation of mitigation and adaptation finance towards the most vulnerable countries.

Highlights (2026)

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