PVBLIC Foundation Contributes to Financing Solutions at Global SDG Sprint

Above: Attendees at the Bilbao Local Finance Design Sprint in Spain

Bilbao, Spain - From May 14–16, 2025, PVBLIC Foundation joined global leaders and financial innovators at the Bilbao Local Finance Design Sprint, a high-level workshop convened to develop transformative financing strategies for sustainable food systems and green energy transitions. Held in Bilbao, Spain, the event brought together over 50 key stakeholders, including UN agencies, national and local governments, philanthropic institutions, and impact investors. It was co-hosted by the UN Joint SDG Fund, the UN Local2030 Coalition, and the Basque Government, in collaboration with the World Rural Forum and with support from the City of Bilbao and the BBK Foundation.

Representing the Foundation, Stephen Keppel, President of PVBLIC Foundation, engaged in strategic conversations around unlocking capital at the subnational level—particularly in contexts where traditional financing models often fall short. 

Stephen joined the Sprint as part of an expert group, offering feedback and guidance as country teams presented bold, practical solutions to localize sustainable development financing. 

“The collaboration, creativity, and ambition shown by the SDG Fund and country teams during the Bilbao Design Sprint were truly inspiring. It was an honor to be part of such a focused and forward-thinking effort to drive real impact,” Stephen added.  

The Design Sprint aimed to co-create practical financing blueprints that align with national development priorities while empowering local actors. This effort is especially urgent in the lead-up to the Fourth Financing for Development Conference (FfD4), where territorial implementation of the SDGs will be central to the agenda. Participants collaborated on frameworks for aligning financing with local pathways, creating policy environments conducive to investment, and designing innovative financial instruments adapted to diverse country contexts.

The culmination of the workshop was the presentation of the Bilbao Action Plan, a strategic document offering actionable pathways for systemic change and investment readiness at the local level. It serves as both a roadmap and a call to action for governments, investors, and development actors to replicate and scale these efforts globally.

This convening underscored the importance of building inclusive financing mechanisms that not only unlock resources but also empower the communities most affected by global challenges. By integrating territorial knowledge with innovative finance, the Design Sprint demonstrated that the future of sustainable development lies in local leadership, global collaboration, and systemic action.

PVBLIC Foundation remains deeply committed to supporting these approaches and advancing scalable solutions and programs that deliver on the 2030 Agenda.