In her opening remarks at the 8th edition of the UNECE International PPP Forum, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean emphasized the urgency of accelerating the implementation of the SDGs and climate action through sustainable Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and infrastructure finance.  

With less than six years remaining to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the unprecedented climate crisis, along with escalating conflicts and man-made disasters, necessitates the use of sustainable PPPs and infrastructure finance as pivotal tools for accelerating progress toward the SDGs. 

During her bilateral discussions with Mr. Mehmet Şimşek, Minister of Treasury and Finance of Türkiye, and Mr. İbrahim Şenel, President of Strategy and Budget, Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Ms. Molcean shared insights on how to strengthen partnerships for the SDGs. This dialogue comes at a critical moment as the international community is preparing for the Summit of the Future and its highly anticipated Pact of the Future. 

The Forum also served as a platform to promote the UNECE PPP and Infrastructure Evaluation and Rating System (PIERS), which supports governments in identifying, financing, and implementing infrastructure and public services through PPPs, in line with the SDGs. 

“The PIERS methodology has become our ‘jewel in the crown’. Since its launch in 2022, the PIERS methodology has been applied to over 220 projects across 50 countries and in more than 20 different sectors, demonstrating its practicality,” underscored Ms. Molcean.  

UNECE announced the launch of the PIERS programme at the Forum, designed to offer assisted self-assessments to member States using the PIERS methodology. As part of UNECE’s demand-driven capacity building and policy advisory services to its member States, the PIERS programme will facilitate more robust and credible project assessments. Moreover, the programme is set to extend its reach beyond the UNECE region. In collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), UNECE will soon support six UN Member States – Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Tajikistan, Uganda, Ukraine and Zambia – in evaluating at least 40 PPP and infrastructure projects using the PIERS methodology. 

Ms. Miryam Saade Hazin, Economic Affairs Officer at ECLAC, highlighted that “the PIERS methodology can assist countries in Latin America and the Caribbean in identifying sustainable PPPs and help close the growing infrastructure gap in the region”. Additionally, Mr. Robert Lisinge, Economic Affairs Officer at ECA, pointed out that “PIERS can address significant challenges in managing and financing infrastructure initiatives in Africa, such as limited access to financing and the capacity and skills gap within PPP Unit”. 

Co-organized by UNECE and the Government of Türkiye, this year’s Forum focused on the priority topics of economic recovery, climate resilience, and the rebuilding of communities ravaged by natural disasters and armed conflicts. The event attracted over 600 participants and 180 speakers from 93 countries. A total of 28 sessions were held, covering topical topics such as digital transformation, women’s empowerment, and climate resilient infrastructure, as well as emerging areas such as small-scale PPPs, generative artificial intelligence and PPPs, and PPPs for road safety.