New financing solutions are urgently needed to support post-conflict recovery and reconstruction at a scale that matches today’s global challenges. This was the central message of a high-level event co-hosted by the Qatar Fund for Development, the United Nations Capital Development Fund, and the United Nations Development Programme on the sidelines of the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow-Up. Held under the theme “From Commitments to Capital,” the event highlighted the urgent need to mobilize large-scale financing for fragile, conflict-affected, and crisis-hit regions where access to capital remains limited and recovery opportunities are often missed.
Speakers stressed the importance of rethinking how development finance is structured to better serve high-risk environments. Fahad Al-Sulaiti emphasized the need for a more inclusive and responsive global financial system that works effectively in fragile contexts, reflecting a shared commitment among partners to adapt financing approaches to evolving global realities.
A key focus of the discussion was the UNDP-UNCDF ReStart Fund, a platform designed to bridge the gap between humanitarian aid and long-term development finance. By combining risk-sharing financial tools with technical support, the fund aims to stabilize financial systems, sustain lending to small businesses, and attract larger investments. Its early intervention approach helps prevent long-term economic damage, protect jobs, and support livelihoods in crisis-affected economies.
The event also highlighted practical implementation through initiatives such as the joint programme for recovery and resilience in Palestine, including the Palestine Investment Facilitation Guarantee facility. Supported by an early $10 million contribution from the Government of the Netherlands, the initiative demonstrates how catalytic funding can stabilize financial systems and maintain access to finance even under extreme conditions.
Haoliang Xu noted that rebuilding economies after crises requires coordinated efforts involving policy support, enterprise assistance, and financing that attracts further investment. Similarly, Pradeep Kurukulasuriya highlighted the importance of directing private finance to high-risk areas where development impact is greatest, particularly in least developed countries, through mechanisms that absorb early-stage risk and enable broader investment.
Participants underscored that timely action is critical, with early deployment of catalytic financing seen as essential to preventing economic collapse and accelerating recovery. The event concluded with a collective call for more countries and development partners to scale up contributions to initiatives like the ReStart Fund, ensuring that financial commitments translate into real support for communities and markets most in need.
