Mobilising Finance for Poor and Vulnerable Countries

 Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals requires mobilising resources well beyond official development assistance (ODA). As public finances come under increasing pressure and financing needs continue to grow, diversifying funding sources and financing instruments has become essential to strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of development finance. 

↪ analyse domestic and international resource mobilisation mechanisms;

↪ promote the diversification of development finance instruments;

↪ strengthen the role of public financial institutions in development finance;

↪ contribute to international debates on the future of official development assistance.

PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT BANKS

FERDI analyses the role of public development banks and national financial institutions in mobilising long-term financing.

In 2025:

•  updated the global database on public development banks, in partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and Peking University; 
•  developed a financial profile of national development banks, presented at the Finance in Common Summit; 
•  published a study on multilateral support for national development banks, funded by the International Development Finance Club (IDFC). 

→ Explore FERDI's work on public development banks

DOMESTIC RESOURCE MOBILISATION

• At the request of the Caisse des Dépôts Group, FERDI analysed the Caisse des Dépôts model as a mechanism for mobilising domestic private savings to finance development. Presented at the Annual Conference of the Forum of Caisse des Dépôts in Nouakchott, the study highlights the strategic role these institutions can play in providing long-term development finance. → Read the study
• FERDI also contributes to the French Domestic Resource Mobilisation Platform (DRM). → Explore the platform's work
• In 2024, FERDI examined the potential of levies on aviation and maritime fuels as a source of financing to support vulnerable countries in addressing climate change.→ See the study's findings

DIVERSIFYING FINANCING INSTRUMENTS

• As part of a study carried out for ENABEL and Technopolis, FERDI analysed the range of financial instruments used by bilateral development agencies and formulated recommendations to broaden their intervention toolbox and enhance their impact.

RETHINKING OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

• FERDI contributes to international discussions on the future of official development assistance and the evolution of the international development finance architecture.
• In 2025, together with the Global Development Network, FERDI organised a strategic Chatham House dialogue entitled "Attacks on Aid: Causes, Responses and Prospects." The discussion explored how official development assistance should evolve in response to new geopolitical and fiscal challenges.

CLIMATE FINANCE

FERDI examines the interactions between climate finance and development finance to improve the complementarity of financing instruments and ensure that resources are better targeted towards the most vulnerable countries.

→ Explore FERDI's work on development finance and climate finance

Against a backdrop of declining official development assistance, multiple global crises and rapidly growing financing needs, mobilising new sources of finance has become more important than ever.

Public development banks, national financial institutions, climate finance, private capital and innovative financing instruments are increasingly expected to complement traditional concessional finance. FERDI's research contributes to designing a more diversified, effective and resilient international development finance architecture, better suited to the needs of developing countries.