This year's Financing for Development Forum (FfD) held increased significance as the first meeting following the 5th Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5). The forum aimed to address challenges in financing sustainable development and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The LDC5 focused on promoting the Doha Programme of Action, aimed at supporting sustainable development in the 46 least developed countries. The UNCDF, as the UN's Catalytic Finance Entity, is working to unlock public and private finance to realize this program, with the FfD serving as an essential platform for highlighting their progress.

In Conde Village, Northwestern Benin, climate change has made farming increasingly difficult due to longer dry seasons. However, a new solar-powered irrigation system, funded partly by eco taxes on polluting imports, has transformed the community's farming prospects. The irrigation project is one in a series of investments financed through climate finance channeled by the local climate adaptive living facility (LoCAL). Eco taxes target secondhand vehicles, tires, clinker, and disposable plastic packaging, with proceeds directed to local governments for projects helping communities adapt to climate change. Benin's eco tax system has been credited with securing the country's accreditation with the Green Climate Fund in 2019.