At the 2026 United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Operational Activities Segment, governments from around the world called for more effective international cooperation to help countries address rising debt, shrinking development assistance, climate change, and conflict-related challenges while accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Delegates highlighted mounting financial pressures facing developing countries, noting that debt service burdens have reached their highest levels in two decades, with 45 developing countries now spending more on debt interest than on healthcare. Official development assistance also declined by a record 23% in 2025, while the annual financing gap for achieving the SDGs has grown to more than $4.3 trillion.
Countries emphasized that development support should be simpler to access, better coordinated, transparent, and closely aligned with national priorities. Rather than additional administrative processes, governments requested practical assistance that strengthens their ability to deliver quality public services, mobilize financing, improve governance, and achieve measurable development outcomes for their citizens.
The discussions showcased several country experiences demonstrating the value of coordinated UN support. In the Dominican Republic, collaboration between the government and the UN helped mobilize financing for sustainable food systems and strengthen primary healthcare through nationally coordinated investment strategies. In South Africa, the UN is supporting implementation of the country’s Just Energy Transition, linking climate action with job creation, investment, and economic resilience. Meanwhile, Moldova highlighted how flexible international partnerships helped the country respond simultaneously to the impacts of the war in Ukraine, refugee inflows, rising energy costs, and economic pressures while maintaining long-term development efforts.
Participants also stressed the importance of ensuring rapid access to specialized technical expertise through the UN development system. Resident Coordinators were recognized for helping governments coordinate support across UN agencies, connect with financing opportunities, and access technical knowledge tailored to national development needs.
Across the forum, governments agreed that successful international development cooperation should focus on strengthening national capacities, improving coordination, reducing fragmentation, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and aligning financing with country-led priorities. They also emphasized that effective coordination must be accompanied by predictable and adequate financing to sustain long-term progress.
With fewer than five years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, countries concluded that international partnerships will ultimately be judged by their ability to help governments translate national priorities into tangible improvements in healthcare, education, food security, energy access, employment, climate resilience, and overall quality of life for their citizens.
