The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held in Seville from 30 June to 3 July 2025, was conceived as an opportunity to rethink the global financial architecture and accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In terms of organisation, the Seville Conference was a logistical challenge for Spain, which, despite some of the usual hiccups at this type of event, passed with flying colours. The conference was attended by more than 10,000 people, 187 United Nations member countries attending, more than 100 international delegations (including nearly 60 heads of state and government) and a very prominent civil society presence, making it one of the most well-attended conferences to date. The conference saw a strong presence from developing countries, for whom the meeting was key to the international agenda five years before the SDGs come to an end.
In terms of results, it is important to highlight the achievement of a consensus document (in the absence of the United States), the ‘Seville Commitment’, in a complex global context, which reaffirms the commitment to multilateralism and cooperation as the way to respond to global challenges. This commitment has revitalised an agenda that had been weakened by the international context, creating a space for real, action-oriented engagement. This has resulted in the creation of the Seville Action Platform, which brings together 130 initiatives promoted by countries, international organisations and civil society.
The Seville Commitment will have a monitoring mechanism that Spain is working on with the United Nations, the OECD and international financial institutions, yet another example of this attempt to strengthen alliances at the highest level. Another example is the creation of the Seville Platform for Action, which set out specific measures and coalitions with a high level of participation, in some cases such as initiatives linked to gender and a feminist approach, the fight against hunger and poverty, localisation, debt sustainability, global health architecture and metrics beyond GDP, with Spain taking the lead.
The positive assessment of the summit should not hide the fact that the initial ambition of the commitment was diluted in the negotiations, generating some disappointment. It is now more necessary than ever to reinforce the Seville Commitment with greater participation from civil society, whose voice is essential to ensure the inclusion of diverse rights and perspectives. It is also necessary to address the pending challenge of global economic governance in an international financial architecture that must advance democracy. ‘Seville does not end in Seville’. The 0.7% commitment, ratified once again, must cease to be an empty commitment. It requires concrete and realistic plans, such as turning it into law, as Spain has done.
While acknowledging the satisfaction generated by the Commitment, especially given the circumstances in which the summit was held, we cannot fail to mention some issues that have been reduced in the final text, such as humanitarian action and its link to development, climate and environmental financing, debt treatment and aspects of international governance. These issues remain important, and civil society must work to keep them on the agenda.
Finally, as health and humanitarian organisations, we would like to highlight the initiative on global health and the inclusion of direct references to armed conflicts and the need to address their root causes.