In Colombia, small-scale farmers in rural areas have historically struggled with subsistence farming and limited access to capital, which has constrained their growth. Through the Joint SDG Fund, the United Nations is supporting programmes that link sustainable finance with food systems, while digital platforms connect farmers to social protection and private capital flows into nature-positive agriculture. A specialized facility is helping these farmers transition from survival mode to viable business operations, unlocking over US$13 million in private lending for environmentally friendly agriculture. In parallel, urban centers are expanding green finance for circular production that converts waste into resources, and nationwide efforts are improving access to social services and jobs through digital platforms. By aligning public policy, private capital, and local systems, these initiatives create reinforcing effects: farmers gain market access through finance, urban circular production creates jobs, and social protection provides stability. The programmes demonstrate that coordinated UN action can simultaneously mobilize private capital, modernize public systems, and empower marginalized communities, delivering tangible improvements in daily life while promoting a sustainable economy.
In Niger, one of the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, the Joint SDG Fund is addressing interconnected challenges including youth unemployment, food insecurity, and environmental pressures. Programmes are enhancing access to education and market-relevant skills for young people, while investments in the Maradi region support climate-resilient agriculture, improved nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods, with a focus on women and youth historically excluded from economic opportunities. Building on prior work that digitized agricultural value chains and connected rural producers to markets, these initiatives strengthen national systems to respond to recurrent food and economic shocks. Niger’s approach emphasizes integration: when youth gain market-relevant skills, they contribute to climate-smart agriculture; when women farmers access resilient techniques and digital platforms, they improve household income and nutrition. This coordinated strategy creates economic and social infrastructure capable of withstanding pressures, demonstrating that inclusive growth and long-term stability are mutually reinforcing objectives.
All programmes under the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by UN agencies, funds, and programmes, with support from the European Union and governments including Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, collectively advancing transformative efforts to achieve the SDGs by 2030.
