June 7, 2026 — Virtual Programme — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Monetary Fund Middle East Center for Economics and Finance (IMF-CEF) have launched a new regional training programme to explore how sovereign thematic bonds and sukuk can help governments finance national priorities and long-term development goals.
The initiative convened government officials from across the Arab region to examine how thematic financing instruments can mobilize resources for priority investments while strengthening transparency, accountability, and investor confidence. Discussions linked macroeconomic context, fiscal strategy, and sustainable financing, highlighting practical approaches for designing and implementing sovereign thematic bonds and sukuk.
UNDP emphasized that thematic bonds and sukuk represent a growing shift in development finance. Beyond raising capital, these instruments connect public finance with measurable economic, social, and environmental outcomes, aligning fiscal strategies with sustainable development objectives.
Through its global sustainable finance portfolio, UNDP has already supported more than 40 countries in issuing SDG-aligned sovereign thematic bonds and sukuk, mobilizing nearly USD 30 billion for environmental and social priorities. This new programme builds on that experience, strengthening collaboration with IMF to support governments in balancing economic resilience with long-term sustainability.
