Part One analyses the United Nations funding situation with the latest available data, giving an overview of where the UN system is and how the ambitions are translated into concrete action. It lifts the areas of progress and lessons to be learnt, as well as areas for action. The authors describe how the UN’s revenue is generated, and where and for what purposes resources are allocated. Contributions to the UNDS for development action in 2020 amounted to US$ 42 billion, an increase of 16% compared to 2019. Though this funding is largely financed by Members State governments, non-state actors are also increasing their engagement. It is, however, still less than needed for all the mandates and secure Sustainable Development Goals results for peace, prosperity, people and the planet.

Part Two reviews the key data and provides an overview of how funding is used. It highlights critical areas to be funded or where resources could be redirected. Examples are human development, environmental protection, gender-based violence and the need for global upscaling along with the expectations, including listing achievements and actions needed to meet the SDGs delivery.

Part Three A reviews the Funding Compact, progress highlighting positive trends in the availability of assessed contributions. It stresses the importance of prevention in a world where up to two-thirds of the global extreme poor will be living in fragility and conflict situations by 2030. While evidence shows that for every US$ 1 invested in prevention up to US$ 16 is saved in post-disaster recovery, the volume of funding that goes to prevention remains extremely low, with only 0.5% of official development assistance allocated to disasters in 2018 and 2019 going to disaster risk reduction. This is also despite the majority of humanitarian assistance – which is at the highest level ever – going to countries that have been experiencing crises for years.

Part Three B provides tangible recommendations on how to position development projects on longer-term scaling pathways, including systematic handovers that enable continued scaling at project end. Also spotlighted is the convergence between development finance and private finance. The report concludes with key takeaways from the UN high-level meeting on financing for peacebuilding and the various roundtables leading up to it.