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By Asl谋 Hekimo臒lu & Ousmane Bocuum

The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville was more than a global convening鈥攊t was a place where ideas, commitments, and personal connections came together with a shared purpose: creating opportunities for Member States, and most importantly for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), to harness science, technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable graduation and growth.

For the UN Technology Bank, it was a week of active engagement鈥攕peaking, listening, and, most importantly, connecting.

Our flagship side event, Leveraging Low-Cost High-Impact Technologies to Drive Transformation in LDCs, was among the most well-attended STI sessions at the conference. It brought together voices from LDC governments, international financial institutions, and technical partners to discuss how affordable, scalable technologies can deliver tangible change, even in contexts of limited fiscal space. The event concluded with a concrete step forward: the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the UN Technology Bank and the Impact Licensing Initiative鈥攐pening the door to expanding technology access for LDCs through inclusive licensing models.

Beyond the podium, the real strength of FfD4 lay in the conversations that happened in hallways, coffee breaks, and small meeting rooms. We met with government leaders, development partners, and institutions exploring new ways to collaborate鈥攆rom preparing a Technology Needs Assessment for Guinea, to joining forces with the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) in contributing to their third cohort, to joint work with the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), and a potential capstone capacity-building initiative with Columbia University.

On a personal note, one of the most memorable moments was meeting Professor Jeffrey Sachs鈥攁 long-standing advocate for sustainable development. Our exchange was a reminder of the value of individual connections in shaping institutional collaboration.

We were also proud to represent the UN Technology Bank at the European Commission鈥檚 Joint Research Centre side event on Financing STI4SDGs Roadmaps. The discussions underscored the importance of leveraging scientific data and analysis for aligning STI investments with national priorities, the 2030 Agenda, and local realities鈥攕omething at the core of our work with LDCs.

As we return from Seville, we carry with us not just notes and agreements, but a renewed sense of momentum. We are committed to following up on the conversations, turning promising ideas into actionable initiatives, and ensuring that the commitments made at FfD4 translate into real impact for LDCs.

It was a privilege to be part of this gathering鈥攁nd to contribute to the collective effort of unlocking science, technology, and innovation for those who need it most.