World: UNCDF, UNDP, and Qatar Fund for Development call for global partners to unlock finance for conflict-affected and fragile settings

Countries: World, occupied Palestinian territory Source: UN Development Programme “From Commitments to Capital”: The State of Qatar, the Qatar Fund for Development, UNCDF, UNDP, and key stakeholders working to unlock finance in fragile and crisis-affected settings. New York, 30 April 2026 – New financing solutions are needed for post-conflict recovery and reconstruction that can be delivered at a scale that meets today’s challenges. Solutions were presented by the Qatar Fund for Development, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme at a high-level event they co-hosted on the sidelines of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-Up (FfD Forum). The event, held under the theme From Commitments to Capital, called for the deployment at scale of global financing in fragile, conflict, and crisis-affected settings, where capital remains scarce, and opportunities for decisive recovery are too often missed. “At the Qatar Fund for Development, we believe that responding to today’s realities requires rethinking how development finance is structured and delivered. Qatar Fund for Development is proud to co‐host this dialogue with UNCDF and UNDP, reflecting our common determination to help shape a more inclusive and responsive international financial architecture, one that works for fragile and high‐risk contexts, not despite them, ” said Mr. Fahad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). At the centre of the discussion was the UNDP-UNCDF ReStart Fund, a ready-to-deploy platform designed to bridge the gap between humanitarian response and long-term development finance. By combining catalytic de-risking financial instruments with targeted technical assistance, the ReStart Fund stabilizes financial systems, sustains lending to small businesses and helps rebuild their capacities, and crowds in larger pools of capital. Acting early, it enables markets to recover before irreversible economic damage occurs, preserving jobs, sustaining livelihoods and reducing the long-term cost of recovery. Within the broader framework of the ReStart Fund, the UNDP–UNCDF Joint Programme on Financing for Recovery and Resilience in the State of Palestine was highlighted as a concrete example of this approach in action. The Palestine Investment Facilitation Guarantee facility, as an integral component of the joint programme, was presented as a key instrument to help stabilize the Palestinian financial system. Partners also expressed strong appreciation to the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for its early and decisive contribution of USD 10 million to the facility. This early leadership has been instrumental in operationalizing the facility and demonstrates how catalytic capital can stabilize financial systems under extreme stress and unlock continued access to finance where it would otherwise contract. “In the aftermath of a crisis, countries need to rebuild their economies and give local businesses a chance to recover. This requires supporting local governments, providing hands-on assistance to local enterprises and mobilizing financing that attracts further investment. By bringing together the right policies, practical support, and funding, UNDP and UNCDF help countries strengthen the investability and credibility of their businesses and create pathways for long-term sustainable development, ” remarked Mr. Haoliang Xu, Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. “Without deliberate intervention, private finance at scale is not designed to go where risk is highest. Yet, that is precisely where development impact is greatest, and where, in the face of declining ODA, we must be more deliberate in crowding in private finance. Focused on frontier market segments in developing countries, first and foremost the Least Developed Countries, which are typically below B- investment grade, UNCDF absorbs early-stage risk and enables larger financial institutions to come in at scale for reconstruction and economic recovery to take root, ” said Mr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary of UNCDF. “We are proud to work with UNDP in an integrated approach to ensure capital is used productively alongside UNDP’s policy derisking imprint to ensure finance reaches both national and sub‐national actors and supports sustained recovery that builds on short-term immediate relief efforts”, he continued. Participants emphasized that timing is critical. Acting early through catalytic, risk-sharing solutions is essential to prevent economic collapse and accelerate recovery. The event concluded with a shared call to scale these solutions and invited additional Member States and development partners to contribute to scaling the ReStart Fund and to ensure that commitments translate into capital reaching the markets and communities that need it most. For more information contact Aimee Brown, UNDP Crisis Bureau Communications Specialist: aimee. brown@undp. org

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