What UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub does

The UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub is a specialized initiative within the United Nations Development Programme, founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York with regional hubs in Istanbul (Europe and Central Asia) and Panama City (Latin America and the Caribbean). The Hub serves as UNDP's center of expertise for sustainable finance, supporting national governments, development finance institutions, and private sector partners in over 100 countries to align public and private finance with the Sustainable Development Goals. Its service portfolio is organized around four integrated offerings: Public Finance for the SDGs (budget, tax, and debt alignment), Private Finance for the SDGs (capital mobilization), Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs) for national planning, and the SDG Finance Academy for capacity building. The Hub is led by Director Thomas Beloe, with Maxwell Gomera directing the Africa Sustainable Finance Hub.

The Hub's technology stack is built on digital intelligence platforms and frameworks rather than proprietary software products. Core platforms include the SDG Investor Platform (sdgprivatefinance.undp.org), which hosts SDG Investor Maps covering nearly 700 investment opportunity areas across 40+ countries, SDG Impact Standards adopted by 623 publicly listed companies in Thailand, and the Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF) covering 30 countries. It also jointly operates Tax Inspectors Without Borders with the OECD, generating $2.72B in additional tax revenue for developing countries. The Hub does not generate commercial revenue; it is funded through UN member state assessed contributions, voluntary bilateral grants (UK Government, Gates Foundation), and multilateral mechanisms, with services delivered at no cost to recipient countries. Since 2022, it reports helping align or leverage more than $920 billion in public and private finance for the SDGs, achieved at a $60 of SDG-aligned investment per $1 of donor funding leverage ratio.

Name

UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub

Legal name

United Nations Development Programme

Website

https://sdgfinance.undp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub is a UN agency initiative supporting 100+ national governments to align public and private finance with the SDGs through four integrated services (INFFs, public/private finance advisory, SDG Finance Academy). Since 2022 it has helped leverage over $920 billion in sustainable finance globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Development Finance Advisory

NAICS

Other Financial Vehicles (52599), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Sector & Blended Finance Arms (IFC-type) (BPADACAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Infrastructure & Project Finance Facilities (BPADACAG), Climate Finance Funds & Green Investment Facilities (BPADACAH), Guarantee, Insurance & Risk Mitigation Facilities (BPADACAK), Development Finance, Guarantees & Blended Finance Programs (BPADABAM)

Keywords

• Sustainable finance advisory
• Development finance mobilization
• Integrated financing frameworks
• Investor mapping intelligence
• Insurance risk finance

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Development Funding and Grants: UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub operates as part of the United Nations Development Programme, funded through member state contributions, development partner grants, and multilateral funding mechanisms. The Hub does not generate commercial revenue but rather deploys development financing and technical assistance to recipient countries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub provides technical assistance, advisory services, and capacity building to governments and partners to align public and private finance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It delivers four integrated services—Public Finance for the SDGs, Private Finance for the SDGs, Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), and the SDG Finance Academy—supported by digital platforms including the SDG Investor Platform, SDG Impact Standards, and SDG Investor Maps.

Product overview

UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub offers an integrated suite of services, platforms, and initiatives focused on transforming public and private finance to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The core service offering consists of four interconnected services: Public Finance for the SDGs (aligning budgets, tax and debt with SDGs), Private Finance for the SDGs (mobilizing private capital), Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF) providing a national planning methodology, and the SDG Finance Academy providing open-access learning. These are supported by technology-enabled intelligence tools including the SDG Investor Platform, SDG Impact Standards, and SDG Investor Maps which provide market intelligence on investment opportunities. The Hub also operates specialized programs including the Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF), Tax Inspectors Without Borders (jointly with OECD), and the Global Insurance Innovators Community. Key publications include the annual Africa Investment Insights Report series. Since 2022, UNDP has helped align or leverage more than $920 billion in public and private finance for the SDGs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SDG Investor Platform: Market intelligence platform providing SDG investment data and trends
• SDG Impact Standards
• SDG Finance Academy
• Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF)
• Tax for SDGs
• Global Insurance Innovators Community (GIIC)
• Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S)

Products and services

• Public Finance for the SDGs Service helping governments align public finance, budgets, tax administration, and debt management with the Sustainable Development Goals. Supports countries in strengthening domestic resource mobilization and public finance systems.
• Private Finance for the SDGs Service focused on leveraging and aligning private capital with the SDGs. Works with private sector partners to transform financial systems and mobilize private investment for sustainable development.
• Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFF) Framework providing a methodology for financing national sustainable development priorities and the SDGs. Analyzes financing sources including domestic public resources, aid, and private finance to develop actionable strategies. Designed for national governments.
• SDG Finance Academy Open-access learning platform building skills for financing sustainable development worldwide. Offers courses on Islamic Finance for SDGs, Biodiversity Finance, and Nature, Business and Finance, available in multiple languages with certificates.
• SDG Investor Platform Online platform hosting SDG Investor Maps and UNDP's market intelligence tool on SDG investments. Provides data on investment opportunity areas and connects investors with sustainable development opportunities across emerging markets.
• SDG Impact Standards Voluntary management standards designed to guide businesses and investors on their sustainability journeys and engagement with financial institutions on SDG and climate aligned frameworks.
• SDG Investor Maps Market intelligence tools providing data on SDG investment opportunities across emerging markets, aligned to national development needs and government policy priorities.
• Insurance and Risk Finance Facility (IRFF) Facility working to embed insurance and risk finance into public policy, strengthen local insurance markets, and develop innovative solutions. Works with partners in 30 countries to protect vulnerable populations from climate and disaster shocks.
• Tax Inspectors Without Borders Joint OECD/UNDP initiative supporting developing countries in building tax audit and investigation capacity. Has generated $2.72 billion in additional tax revenue for developing countries.
• Tax for Sustainable Development Goals Initiative Initiative supporting developing countries in increasing domestic resource mobilization. Works with 25 focus countries to advance achievement of the SDGs through enhanced tax administration.
• Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S) Network of financial centres working to align capital flows with national climate priorities and sustainability goals, with UNDP providing secretariat functions.

Quantifiable outcome

• $920 billion aligned and leveraged for SDGs since 2022
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Access to Insurance Initiative (A2ii)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to promote inclusive insurance and risk finance solutions, particularly for vulnerable populations and smallholder farmers in developing countries
• African Development Bank (AFDB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainable finance initiatives in Africa, including INFF development, investment mapping, and climate finance
• African Risk Capacity (ARC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on climate risk management and insurance solutions for African governments
• AUDA-NEPADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on AUDA-NEPAD 100,000 Initiative and alignment of sustainable finance with African Union Agenda 2063
• Boston Consulting GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerStrategic consulting support for sustainable finance initiatives and analysis
• Central Banks and Supervisors Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on green finance taxonomy and climate-related financial risk management for central banks and supervisors
• Climate Bonds InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on green and climate bonds, supporting countries to develop thematic bond frameworks
• ConvergencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of Strategic Framework for Blended Finance, providing blended finance market intelligence and analysis
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on sustainable finance reforms and investment in EBRD countries of operation
• UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on sustainable finance standards, principles, and environmental and social risk management
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership on sustainable finance, INFF development, and development financing
• UNCTADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on investment and development finance issues
• UNCTADcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Investment for Development and sustainable finance frameworks
• UNDP Insurance and Risk Finance Facility PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking with governments and insurance industry actors in 30 countries to develop risk finance products and insurance solutions
• timbuktoocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP's pan-African innovation initiative collaborating on Africa Investment Insights Reports and investment ecosystem activation
• OECDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative on Tax Inspectors Without Borders (TIWB) supporting developing countries in building tax audit capacity. Also collaborated on climate and NDC report.
• Insurance Development ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on parametric insurance and climate resilience solutions
• GeneralicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint report on parametric insurance for financial resilience, combining insurance industry expertise with UNDP development reach
• Berne UnioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to strengthen sustainable trade and investment for the SDGs through export credit and investment insurance mechanisms
• ORRAA (Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupport for coral reef insurance solution development in Indonesia
• Financial Centres for Sustainability (FC4S)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of financial centres working to accelerate sustainable finance, with UNDP providing secretariat functions
• Global Insurance Innovators Community (GIIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity of pioneering organizations applying insurance innovatively for SDGs, including finalists of UNDP's Insurance Innovation Challenges

Scale indicators37 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Finance Corporation (IFC): World Bank Group's private sector development arm, the closest analog to the Hub's blended finance and private capital mobilization work. Both operate as IFC-type private sector/blended finance arms within broader multilateral institutions, structuring investments and advisory services in emerging markets.
• World Bank Group: Core strategic partner and peer in development finance and INFF co-development. Both institutions work on sovereign financing frameworks, country-level sustainable finance reform, and SDG-aligned lending at multilateral scale.
• Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI): Strategic partner on green and climate bonds; both develop standards and frameworks (green/social bond taxonomies, SDG Impact Standards) used by sovereigns and corporate issuers to structure thematic debt.
• Convergence Blended Finance: Co-developer of the Strategic Framework for Blended Finance. Both organizations produce market intelligence, design standards, and convene investors to scale blended finance for development and climate goals.
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD): Strategic partner for sustainable finance reforms in EBRD countries of operation. Both institutions provide blended finance, advisory, and policy support to transition and emerging economies.
• OECD: Joint operator of Tax Inspectors Without Borders and co-author of climate/finance policy reports. Both institutions provide policy frameworks, country-level advisory, and standards that shape global sustainable finance practice.
• African Development Bank (AfDB): Core regional DFI partner; both collaborate on sustainable finance initiatives across Africa, including INFF development, climate finance, and the AUDA-NEPAD 100,000 Initiative targeting SDG-aligned investment.
• UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI): UN-convened network partnering with banks, insurers, and investors on sustainable finance principles. Both operate within the UN system to mobilize private finance for sustainability and coordinate closely on Principles for Responsible Banking and Insurance.

Emerging players

• FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank): European DFI focused on private sector investment in developing countries. Both institutions provide blended finance, climate finance, and capacity building to mobilize private capital for SDGs in emerging markets.

Regional players

• Convergence (broader blended finance) overlaps removed; alternative: GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German bilateral development agency providing sustainable finance advisory and capacity building in developing countries. Comparable mission of mobilizing private capital for development, with a stronger focus on German and European partner countries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UNDP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/undp
• Facebookfacebook.com/UNDP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sustainablefinancehub
• Instagraminstagram.com/undp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub