BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8e59bb2d2a7 DTSTART:20241125T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20241125T160000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Financing for Development\, 8 th session CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Addressing the cost of development finance to achieve the Susta inable Development GoalsPolicymakers\, international experts and represent atives from multilateral organizations will come together to address one o f the most pressing challenges facing developing nations: the high cost of development finance.The discussion takes place amid rising debt service o bligations\, global financial tightening and volatile currency markets – all of which are straining fiscal space and limiting investment in infras tructure\, social sectors and other critical development priorities.Develo ping economies saw sharp increases in external interest payments in 2023. Low-income and lower-middle-income economies – also referred to as front ier-market economies – saw a 42% jump\, while other developing economies faced a 112% spike. Between 2010 and 2023\, the external interest costs o f frontier-market economies increased at an average 15.5% – double the r ate for other groups.Developing countries are disproportionately affected by "\;flight to quality"\; during global financial tightening\, wh ich increases borrowing costs. These nations often face risk premiums on i nternational bonds that are 200 basis points higher than comparable borro wing costs for developed countries​.Currency depreciation and exchange r ate volatility have further increased the cost of servicing foreign-denomi nated debt. This volatility stems from the dominance of a few major curren cies. For example\, the United States dollar accounts for 70% of internati onal transactions.The meeting will examine the systemic factors driving th ese challenges\, including inequities in global financial integration. It will explore how coordinated policies at the national\, regional and inter national levels can help developing countries access affordable and sustai nable financing.Panellists will draw from their diverse expertise to propo se actionable strategies to reduce debt burdens and mitigate the financial vulnerabilities of emerging and low-income economies.This session comes a t a pivotal moment\, as global efforts to reform the financial system gain momentum following the commitments made at the Paris Summit for a New Glo bal Financing Pact. By fostering dialogue and collaboration\, the meeting aims to identify practical solutions to create a more equitable financial environment that supports sustainable development for all.ParticipationThi s session is open to all member States of UNCTAD. Other organizations\, in cluding specialised agencies\, intergovernmental bodies and non-government al organizations in the general and special categories\, as well as academ ia and the private sector\, may participate as observers.Written contribut ionsIn order to facilitate deliberations and the informal exchange of expe riences and best practices on the topics to be discussed\, member States a nd observers are requested to submit written contributions to the UNCTAD s ecretariat\, by Wednesday\, 6 November 2024.RegistrationOnline registratio n is mandatory for all those wishing to attend the meeting and is required in order to be included in the list of participants.LogisticsThe session will be held with physical participation in room XVII of the Palais des Na tions. Those who cannot attend the meeting in person will be able to liste n to the live audio stream in the six official languages of the United Nat ions. The link to listen live will be sent to registered participants\, a t the email address used for registration\, one day in advance of the star t of the session. <\;h3 class="\;text-align-center\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/intergovernmental-group-experts- financing-development-8th-session DTSTAMP:20260826T031259Z END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8e59bb2d2c3 DTSTART:20241126T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20241126T160000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Financing for Development\, 8 th session CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Addressing the cost of development finance to achieve the Susta inable Development GoalsPolicymakers\, international experts and represent atives from multilateral organizations will come together to address one o f the most pressing challenges facing developing nations: the high cost of development finance.The discussion takes place amid rising debt service o bligations\, global financial tightening and volatile currency markets – all of which are straining fiscal space and limiting investment in infras tructure\, social sectors and other critical development priorities.Develo ping economies saw sharp increases in external interest payments in 2023. Low-income and lower-middle-income economies – also referred to as front ier-market economies – saw a 42% jump\, while other developing economies faced a 112% spike. Between 2010 and 2023\, the external interest costs o f frontier-market economies increased at an average 15.5% – double the r ate for other groups.Developing countries are disproportionately affected by "\;flight to quality"\; during global financial tightening\, wh ich increases borrowing costs. These nations often face risk premiums on i nternational bonds that are 200 basis points higher than comparable borro wing costs for developed countries​.Currency depreciation and exchange r ate volatility have further increased the cost of servicing foreign-denomi nated debt. This volatility stems from the dominance of a few major curren cies. For example\, the United States dollar accounts for 70% of internati onal transactions.The meeting will examine the systemic factors driving th ese challenges\, including inequities in global financial integration. It will explore how coordinated policies at the national\, regional and inter national levels can help developing countries access affordable and sustai nable financing.Panellists will draw from their diverse expertise to propo se actionable strategies to reduce debt burdens and mitigate the financial vulnerabilities of emerging and low-income economies.This session comes a t a pivotal moment\, as global efforts to reform the financial system gain momentum following the commitments made at the Paris Summit for a New Glo bal Financing Pact. By fostering dialogue and collaboration\, the meeting aims to identify practical solutions to create a more equitable financial environment that supports sustainable development for all.ParticipationThi s session is open to all member States of UNCTAD. Other organizations\, in cluding specialised agencies\, intergovernmental bodies and non-government al organizations in the general and special categories\, as well as academ ia and the private sector\, may participate as observers.Written contribut ionsIn order to facilitate deliberations and the informal exchange of expe riences and best practices on the topics to be discussed\, member States a nd observers are requested to submit written contributions to the UNCTAD s ecretariat\, by Wednesday\, 6 November 2024.RegistrationOnline registratio n is mandatory for all those wishing to attend the meeting and is required in order to be included in the list of participants.LogisticsThe session will be held with physical participation in room XVII of the Palais des Na tions. Those who cannot attend the meeting in person will be able to liste n to the live audio stream in the six official languages of the United Nat ions. The link to listen live will be sent to registered participants\, a t the email address used for registration\, one day in advance of the star t of the session. <\;h3 class="\;text-align-center\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/intergovernmental-group-experts- financing-development-8th-session DTSTAMP:20260826T031259Z END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a8e59bb2d2c9 DTSTART:20241127T080000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20241127T160000Z LOCATION:Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Financing for Development\, 8 th session CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:Addressing the cost of development finance to achieve the Susta inable Development GoalsPolicymakers\, international experts and represent atives from multilateral organizations will come together to address one o f the most pressing challenges facing developing nations: the high cost of development finance.The discussion takes place amid rising debt service o bligations\, global financial tightening and volatile currency markets – all of which are straining fiscal space and limiting investment in infras tructure\, social sectors and other critical development priorities.Develo ping economies saw sharp increases in external interest payments in 2023. Low-income and lower-middle-income economies – also referred to as front ier-market economies – saw a 42% jump\, while other developing economies faced a 112% spike. Between 2010 and 2023\, the external interest costs o f frontier-market economies increased at an average 15.5% – double the r ate for other groups.Developing countries are disproportionately affected by "\;flight to quality"\; during global financial tightening\, wh ich increases borrowing costs. These nations often face risk premiums on i nternational bonds that are 200 basis points higher than comparable borro wing costs for developed countries​.Currency depreciation and exchange r ate volatility have further increased the cost of servicing foreign-denomi nated debt. This volatility stems from the dominance of a few major curren cies. For example\, the United States dollar accounts for 70% of internati onal transactions.The meeting will examine the systemic factors driving th ese challenges\, including inequities in global financial integration. It will explore how coordinated policies at the national\, regional and inter national levels can help developing countries access affordable and sustai nable financing.Panellists will draw from their diverse expertise to propo se actionable strategies to reduce debt burdens and mitigate the financial vulnerabilities of emerging and low-income economies.This session comes a t a pivotal moment\, as global efforts to reform the financial system gain momentum following the commitments made at the Paris Summit for a New Glo bal Financing Pact. By fostering dialogue and collaboration\, the meeting aims to identify practical solutions to create a more equitable financial environment that supports sustainable development for all.ParticipationThi s session is open to all member States of UNCTAD. Other organizations\, in cluding specialised agencies\, intergovernmental bodies and non-government al organizations in the general and special categories\, as well as academ ia and the private sector\, may participate as observers.Written contribut ionsIn order to facilitate deliberations and the informal exchange of expe riences and best practices on the topics to be discussed\, member States a nd observers are requested to submit written contributions to the UNCTAD s ecretariat\, by Wednesday\, 6 November 2024.RegistrationOnline registratio n is mandatory for all those wishing to attend the meeting and is required in order to be included in the list of participants.LogisticsThe session will be held with physical participation in room XVII of the Palais des Na tions. Those who cannot attend the meeting in person will be able to liste n to the live audio stream in the six official languages of the United Nat ions. The link to listen live will be sent to registered participants\, a t the email address used for registration\, one day in advance of the star t of the session. <\;h3 class="\;text-align-center\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/intergovernmental-group-experts- financing-development-8th-session DTSTAMP:20260826T031259Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR