MPTFs include global flagship initiatives such as the Peacebuilding Fund and the Joint SDG Fund, as well as pooled mechanisms supporting joint UN action on cross-cutting issues, such as gender-based violence, migration, disability inclusion and forest protection. Despite an annual funding compact target of US$ 500 million each, contributions to the Peacebuilding Fund and the Joint SDG Fund amounted to just US$ 126 million and US$ 90 million respectively in 2024. Meanwhile, the Central African Forest Initiative and the 2gether 4 SRHR were among the regional funds that in 2024 received a total of US$ 126 million in development inter-agency pooled fund contributions. At a country level, development MPTFs – which facilitate Resident Coordinator-led development support for national development plans, bringing together diverse partnerships under a common results framework– received US$ 220 million in contributions in 2024.

Funding of UN inter-agency pooled funds is highly  concentrated among a small number of partners. The top 15 contributors in 2024 – all OECD-DAC members, as shown in Figure 21 – accounted for 88% of total contributions. Germany, the largest contributor, provided US$ 442 million, while the next two largest contributors, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, provided US$ 382 million and US$ 258 million respectively. Combined, these three contributors provided more than US$ 1 billion of UN inter-agency pooled funding in 2024, under - scoring their leadership in advancing flexible, coordinated financing arrangements.

This concentration also highlights the exposure of UN inter-agency pooled funds to broader trends in ODA. Given the principal contributors to these financing mechanisms are OECD-DAC members, it is likely the increasingly constrained funding environment will put pressure on the volume of contributions to UN inter-agency pooled funds going forward.

Turning to resources transferred from UN inter-agency pooled funds for project/programme implementation, Figure 22 presents the top UN entities receiving such funding in 2024, disaggregated by thematic area. UNICEF was the top recipient of UN inter-agency pooled funds in 2024, having been allocated US$ 348 million, half of which came from development pooled funds. UNDP was second, with US$ 271 million, the vast majority of which (98%) was sourced from development-related funds, in line with its core mandate. WFP ranked third, with US$ 247 million, 73% of which came from humanitarian-themed funds.

Figure 23 presents the top 15 countries/areas with the highest  transfers from UN inter-agency pooled funds in 2024, disaggregated by thematic area. Sudan was the largest recipient with US$ 321 million. Of this, close to $200 million came from the Sudan Humanitarian Fund and US$ 66 million from CERF. Notably, Somalia is the only country among  the top 15 recipients where development pooled funds accounted for more than half of total transfers, highlighting a funding profile distinct from the predominantly humanitarian focus observed in the other countries.

Building on the above, Figure 25 hones in on the top 15 contributors to development UN inter-agency pooled funds in 2024, which together account for 89% of total contributions. The EU was the largest contributor across all development-related categories, providing US$ 143 million, with the next two largest contributors, the United Kingdom and Sweden, contributing US$ 123 million and US$ 112 million respectively. Norway, with a notable emphasis on climate and environment funds, was the fourth major contributor with US$ 106 million, ahead of Germany (US$ 95 million).

Whereas Figure 25 highlights the top donors’ total contributions in absolute terms, reflecting volume-based leadership, Figure 26 showcases Member States with a higher-than-average share of earmarked contributions to development activities channelled through UN inter-agency pooled funds. In this respect, two Member States surpassed the 30% mark: Azerbaijan and New Zealand.