The UNDP Global Policy Centre for Governance successfully convened the 2nd Policy Symposium on Finance, Integrity and Governance (FIG) from 30-31 October 2024 in New York.

The 2nd FIG Symposium focused on how to make public debt arrangements and the practice of finance-related professional service providers (‘enablers’) more inclusive, effective, and accountable. 

Opening remarks were delivered by Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa and Mr. Navid Hanif, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Development in the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA). 

More than 65 participants joined the event, including from governments, international organisations, civil society and private sector. As countries are now entering the negotiation phase of the FfD4 agreement, a total of 18 governments joined the event.

It was held under the Chatham House rule enabling open discussions in a safe space where participants extensively shared experiences and insights from their work.

UNDP GPCG released a working paper summarising key insights from the 2nd FIG symposium. Access the working paper: ‘Sovereign Debt and Professional Enablers of Tax Abuse and Illicit Financial Flows’.  Previously, the 1st FIG Policy Symposium on international tax cooperation and illicit financial flows was held in May 2024. Access the working paper of the 1st FIG Policy Symposium using the same link.

In the run-up to the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in July 2025, the FIG Initiative complements member states’ FfD4 negotiations. The FIG Initiative is supported by the Government of Norway and implemented in close collaboration with UNDESA. 

Access more information about UNDP GPCG’s work on FIG here.