Time for Global Public Investment: Leaders and experts rethink sustainable development finance

As leaders, experts and activists across the world try to unblock the financing bottleneck and target money at our many global challenges, including the Sustainable Development Goals, one thing has become clear to an increasing number of them: it is time for Global Public Investment (GPI).

Yes, we need to mobilise domestic finance and, yes, we need private money to play a major part. But this is not the time to be winding down our global efforts to raise and spend more public money on public objectives in a more effective and accountable way than we have managed so far. A new way of financing global challenges is long overdue, whether for health equity, food security, the climate crisis or tax and debt justice.

From eminent economists like Mariana Mazzucato, Thomas Piketty and Jayati Ghosh, to government agencies (Chile, Colombia and Norway). From climate leaders like Saleemul Huq to health leaders like Winnie Byanyima. From the think tanks of Africa and Europe, Asia and Latin America to global campaigners and local NGOs. This collection brings values-based arguments about GPI’s potential for decolonisation and equity, rebuilding multilateralism, international solidarity and trust, and upholding human rights principles. It puts forward practical arguments for GPI’s potential in building climate resilience, improving responses to humanitarian crises, and strengthening social protection and health systems. And it shows that every region in the world has cause to adopt a GPI approach.

Development Initiatives (DI) has played a role in the development of the Global Public Investment concept, and is a member of the Global Public Investment Network. DI's Africa Hub works with national partners – in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and beyond – to share and socialise the principles of GPI on behalf of the Network, elevating the voices of Africans in the dialogue.

Download the full report to read the contribution from DI's Stephen Chacha and Martha Bekele, which gives more detail on how DI is partnering to enable policies and investments that improve the lives of people experiencing poverty, inequality and crisis.

► Read more resources and blogs from DI covering the key concepts and opportunities of global public investment

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