The overarching goal of international development cooperation is to end poverty, as reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals, where “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” has a leading position in these goals. Spanish cooperation has embraced this goal and made it a core element for its action, as demonstrated by the cooperation programmes developed with the United Nations. Of particular note in this respect is the Sustainable Development Goals Fund, a pioneering initiative that demonstrates Spain's support for the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) is a development cooperation mechanism created in 2014 by the United Nations Development Programme with an initial contribution by the Government of Spain. Its purpose is to support sustainable development activities through integrated and multidimensional joint programmes. The Fund is based on the experience, knowledge, lessons learned and best practices accumulated from the Millennium Development Goals Achievement Fund (MDG-F). Currently, the SDG-F works in 18 countries, implementing integrated approaches for sustainable development in three thematic areas: inclusive economic growth, water and sanitation, and food security and nutrition.
Spain was one of the main promoters of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) thanks to the creation of the MDG-F, which led to the biggest increase in contributions by a single donor for the MDGs in the United Nations. Thanks to this contribution, the MDG-F has financed 130 joint programmes in 50 countries, which have helped nearly nine million people.
The varied nature of poverty requires coordinated action to address its causes on a number of fronts. Spain is tackling this challenge with instruments such as the Water and Sanitation Cooperation Fund (Spanish acronym: FCAS), in which it has invested 800 million euros to help partner countries in Latin America to construct key infrastructures in the fight against poverty, and the Development Promotion Fund (Spanish acronym: FONPRODE). In addition, Spain participates actively in international initiatives such as the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria and the GAVI Alliance, aimed at improving the health of the most disadvantaged people.
The efforts made by the Spanish people over the last 30 years have been recognised by society around the world. The Secretary-General of the United Nations expressed this recognition when during his visit to Madrid to celebrate 60 years of Spain's entry into the United Nations, he referred to “the firm and active commitment of Spain to the UN, with its values, aims and principles”.