Financing for Development: The Forum Takes Action in Sevilla

While the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) continues in Sevilla, the Paris Peace Forum has just wrapped up its 2025 Spring Meeting, gathering its community in a context of major aid cuts and a financing crisis threatening the 2030 Agenda, and offering a platform to forge new coalitions and strategies to finance what matters with all actors willing to engage.

Over two days, the Forum highlighted priorities essential for building a more resilient and sustainable world: investing in the next generation, supporting Africa’s agriculture, and promoting better nutrition for all.

Day 1: Putting children first

On the opening day, together with the Gates Foundation and the Spanish Ministry of Health, the Forum advanced the Child Priority Framework, placing children’s health, education, and nutrition at the heart of development strategies.

As concessional financing declines, the message from Sevilla was clear: investing in children is not only a moral imperative but the smartest pathway to building resilience, human capital, and shared prosperity.

“Investing in children is the best investment governments, philanthropies and businesses can make.” – Carla Haddad Mardini, UNICEF

Key voices, including Mark Suzman (Gates Foundation), Kate Hampton (CIFF), Carla Haddad Mardini (UNICEF), Marcos Neto (UNDP), and Raj Kumar (Devex), underlined the need to anchor childhood as a cross-cutting priority within international cooperation.

Day 2: Spotlight on Africa’s agriculture and nutrition

The second day focused on supporting Africa’s farmers and improving global nutrition.

In partnership with Boston Consulting Group, the Forum’s ATLAS initiative explored how investment and innovation can transform Africa’s agriculture, creating jobs, enhancing food security, and empowering communities.

“We need to start changing narratives. The face of Africa is not a hungry child, but should be a successful female entrepreneur in the agrifood systems.” – Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli, CEO, ONE

Later, hosted by Devex, in partnership with, ATNi and GAIN, the Forum highlighted how nutrition is not only a health issue but also an economic opportunity, with each dollar invested in tackling undernutrition yielding a $23 return. The Paris Declaration on Business & Nutrition 2030 is helping direct resources and policy attention towards healthier diets and futures.

“We can’t fortify a jelly bean and call it nutritious. We can’t take intrinsically unhealthy food and add a few nutrients and then call it healthy.” – Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, GAIN

As public funding becomes tighter, the message from Sevilla is clear: food systems and nutrition are not just about feeding people; they are about building resilient, prosperous societies.

Looking ahead

As global challenges multiply for people and the planet, the Paris Peace Forum calls for a stronger international financial architecture and greater solidarity to address today’s crises and build a fairer future for all.

This October 29-30, the Forum will continue this mission at its 8th edition in Paris, under the theme: “New Coalitions for Peace, People and the Planet.”

Stay tuned!