Berne Union and UNDP partner to strengthen sustainable trade and investment for the SDGs
London May 12, 2026 —The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Union of Credit and Investment Insurers (Berne Union) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen how trade and investment insurance supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The partnership will enhance the role of export credit agencies (ECAs) and investment insurers in mobilizing private capital toward national development priorities, particularly in developing and emerging markets where investment risks often constrain sustainable growth.
Developing countries face a US$4.3 trillion annual financing gap to achieve the SDGs. At the same time, fiscal pressures are intensifying and official development assistance has declined. Stronger risk-sharing mechanisms and sustainability standards are increasingly essential to ensure that trade and investment flows advance inclusive growth, climate resilience and long-term development impact.
Under the agreement, UNDP and the Berne Union will collaborate to:
- Strengthen the contribution of ECAs and investment insurers to sustainable development, including by supporting foreign direct investment through guarantees and risk-transfer solutions.
- Develop joint analytical and programmatic initiatives to mobilize guarantees, reinsurance and blended finance solutions in priority sectors such as clean energy, resilient infrastructure and sustainable supply chains.
- Explore regional and country-level initiatives to strengthen enabling environments for sustainable trade and investment.
- Promote knowledge-sharing and good practices in sustainability governance and impact reporting.
“Export credit agencies and political risk insurers play a significant role in shaping global trade and investment flows,” said Marcos Neto, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. “Through this partnership, we aim to better align risk-sharing instruments with national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda, helping unlock sustainable investment at scale.”
“UNDP plays a key upstream role in addressing policy risk, regulatory uncertainty, and government implementation capacity in emerging economies. By helping create conditions where risks can be assessed and priced, UNDP enables BU members—ECAs, private insurers, and MDBs—to originate and structure projects more effectively,” said Yuichiro Akita, Berne Union President. “Enhanced cooperation and information exchange between UNDP and the Berne Union are expected to convert this upstream work into increased downstream business opportunities for our members. This partnership will be taken forward immediately, including discussions on Central Asia at the Berne Union Astana Spring Meeting in May.”
Sustainable finance is a core accelerator of UNDP’s Strategic Plan 2026–2029. UNDP supports countries to reform fiscal systems, strengthen investment frameworks and develop risk-sharing mechanisms so finance consistently delivers national priorities. Since 2022, UNDP support has helped catalyse more than $900 billion in SDG-aligned public and private finance through nationally led reforms.
Berne Union Members collectively support around $140 billion in long-term capital flows to developing countries each year. The Berne Union facilitates cross-border trade and investment by promoting sound principles in export credit and foreign investment, and by strengthening risk sharing and cooperation among its Members and with public and private partners.
The MoU provides a framework for non-exclusive cooperation and reflects a shared commitment to building coherent, resilient and impact-oriented financial systems that align economic development with the needs of people and planet.
Contact Information: Christopher Hughes, UNDP Strategic Communications Specialist, christopher.hughes@undp.org. Paul Heaney, Secretary General, Berne Union.
About UNDP: UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.
About Berne Union: The Berne Union is the international association of export credit and investment insurers. The 89 members include government-backed export credit agencies, private credit and political risk insurers and multilateral agencies from across the globe supporting approximately 13% of global cross-border trade annually.
