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4th International Conference on Financing for Development

Public-Private solutions in the spotlight

  • From 30 June to 3 July 2025, Seville hosted a historic gathering: the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). A decade after the last edition in Addis Ababa, this long-awaited event brought together over 180 national delegations, including nearly 70 Heads of State, to shape the future of development finance.
    Xcalibur Smart Mapping was proud to attend as an accredited participant, with a delegation composed of Andrés Blanco, Andrés Niño, Víctor González, and Paola Lancellotti. The team was actively involved throughout the week, engaging in more than 20 side events—with a particular focus on the International Business Forum, which elevated the role of private sector actors in achieving global development goals.

High-Level Engagements & New Connections

Our team had the opportunity to meet with key stakeholders across public and multilateral institutions, including:
✔️ Ministries of Egypt and Zimbabwe
✔️ President of the European Investment Bank (EIB)
✔️ Representatives of the OPEC Fund, Islamic Development Bank, and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
✔️ Spanish institutions and development finance bodies
These engagements helped position Xcalibur’s unique offering—non-invasive airborne geophysics and pre-competitive geoscientific data—as a vital tool for natural resource governance, infrastructure planning, and climate-smart investment.

Why FfD4 mattered to us

FfD4 made it clear: ODA alone isn’t enough. With an estimated need of $4.5 trillions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), innovative public-private solutions are now essential.
Among the most relevant developments:
As a private sector leader in geoscientific innovation, Xcalibur’s work directly supports de-risking investment and enabling sustainable development, especially in emerging economies rich in natural resources.
A Milestone Hosted by Spain
Spain’s leadership under the pillars of Refuge, Reform, and Reinforcement demonstrated a renewed commitment to inclusive development and the mobilization of both public and private actors.
The strong involvement of the business sector—particularly through the International Business Forum—signaled a shift from development as aid to development as investment, innovation, and long-term partnership.
The conference concluded with the adoption of the Seville Commitment for Action
Spain’s effort in hosting this high-level event was widely recognized and reaffirmed its growing role in global development diplomacy.
We return from Seville with renewed energy and a strengthened global network. Our next steps:
– Following up with institutional and multilateral contacts
– Exploring involvement in new development finance initiatives
– Continuing to provide data-driven solutions for resilience, sustainability, and investment readiness worldwide .

We thank all our partners, old and new, and look forward to working together to turn the vision of FfD4 into action on the ground.

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