A new initiative aimed at holding global development finance commitments accountable to the people they are meant to serve has officially launched today at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville, Spain.
The People-Led Accountability Framework for FfD4 is a civil society-led effort designed to ensure that the promises made at FfD4 are translated into tangible improvements for developing countries, moving beyond commitments to measurable impact.
“Accountability to the people most affected is how we make multilateralism work for all,” said Minh-Thu Pham, CEO of Project Starling. “We must center people’s voices and lived experiences to ensure that development assistance and financing improve lives.”
Spearheaded by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in Bangladesh, New York University’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC), and Project Starling, the initiative will complement formal United Nations (UN) and government review processes by tracking progress through independent monitoring, public reporting, and multi-stakeholder engagement across a few pilot countries.
“Building trust between governments and people requires strong systems of accountability,” said Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, a CPD expert. “When communities can track global commitments—such as those made in Sevilla on Financing for Development—it creates pathways for real impact by turning promises into meaningful action.”
Launched as part of the Seville Platform of Action (SPA), the initiative will establish pilot monitoring systems in a select number of pilot countries. Biennial reports will offer data-driven recommendations and practical tools for advocacy, grounded in national realities and informed by local civil society and research institutions.
“The adoption by consensus of the fourth Financing for Development outcome document represents a major commitment towards multilateralism and international cooperation,” said Betty N. Wainaina, Program Director on Multilateral Reform at CIC. “However, the true test is in fulfilling these commitments, driven by a fidelity towards investing in a better quality of life for both people and the planet.”
Key features of the initiative include:
- A standardized methodology co-developed by think-tanks, civil society, and local actors.
- National, regional, and global monitoring mechanisms aligned with UN processes.
- A People-Led Accountability Framework for the FfD4 Report in 2027 to feed into future FfD deliberations.
To learn more about the People-Led Accountability Framework for FfD4 and find out how to get involved, visit the CIC website.
About the NYU Center on International Cooperation (CIC)
The Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University (NYU) is a think tank and research center that, for over two decades, has been a leader in applied policy, connecting politics, security, justice, development, and humanitarian issues. Our mission is to inform and strengthen collaborative approaches and/or collaboration among national governments, international organizations, and the wider policy community to build trust, prevent and respond to crises—and advance peace, justice, and inclusion at all levels. Learn more on our website and @nyuCIC on social media.
About Project Starling
Project Starling’s vision is a multilateral system that works for all. We are a think and do tank focused on shifting power to those most affected by global governance decisions. We build coalitions of champion governments and civil society partners, identify the best ideas, and help them to navigate political processes to change the multilateral system, together.
About Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) seeks to be the leading institution for in-depth research and dialogue to promote inclusive policymaking in Bangladesh and strengthen regional and global economic integration. CPD was established in 1993 with the vision of creating an inclusive society based on equity, justice, fairness and good governance. Through a quarter century of journey, the Centre has positioned itself as an internationally reputed think tank addressing regional and global policymaking through strategic partnership while serving national needs. CPD’s communication and outreach is branded by its effective and innovative use of 360° communication approach using various forms of communication—face to face, small to large group, webinar, online live etc.—stimulating constructive engagement and informed exchange of views among a wide-ranging reach.