Across Africa, the Middle East and, most recently, Latin America and the Caribbean, hundreds of UN colleagues have come together to rethink how the system works —and learn— as one. 

Through a series of interagency trainings on UN pooled funds, co-organized by UNICEF, WHO, UNDCO, MPTFO and other UN agencies, participants explored how UN pooled funds such as Joint Programmes and Multi-Partner Trust Funds can transform fragmented efforts into shared solutions for people and planet.

Each regional workshop guided colleagues through the A-to-Z of pooled funding: What it is, how it works, and why it matters now more than ever. But beyond the technical details, the message was clear: Pooled funding is not just about finance; it’s a mindset shift —from competition to collaboration, from individual mandates to collective results. “Communication is key, not just communication, but communication that clarifies the purpose,” emphasized Chikezie Anyanwu, Chief, Partnerships Section at the UNDCO. “Why do we need to do it jointly? Why is it better together than individually? No single agency can set up a pooled fund alone; it requires the engagement and expertise of all”.

The sessions unpacked the Funding Compact and the rapidly evolving landscape of development finance, where diminishing official development assistance is urging UN entities to think and act more creatively. “With diminishing ODA, it’s increasingly difficult to go alone,” Chikezie reflected. “Joint programmes bring our strengths together to achieve an impact that none of us could reach individually. Our big dream,” he added, “is that joint programming becomes the default rather than the exception”.

From Albania’s SDG Fund to Colombia’s Peace MPTF and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, examples echoed across regions: pooled funds are not just financial mechanisms, they are catalysts for trust, accountability, and integrated action.

For Mari Matsumoto, Senior Fund Portfolio Manager at the UNDP Multi Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO), these trainings are about much more than tools. “The biggest takeaway is the tremendous interest in inter-agency pooled funds, and very practical questions on how to coordinate better and work multi-sectorally,” she said. “These sessions demystify pooled funds and put everyone on the same page”. She noted that while shared understanding builds trust, true collaboration also requires intention and effort.

Looking ahead, Matsumoto highlighted the need for sustained commitment and realism. “Delivering results on time, being honest about what resources can achieve, and seeking multi-year commitments through pooled funds are key. Commingled resources create flexibility, and that’s exactly what complex, country-led solutions need”. Her message to country teams was clear: “Be bold, be creative, and look beneath the surface. The real causes of today’s challenges are interconnected and so must be our solutions”.

By Camila Tallar Barba, a communications and international development professional with experience across the United Nations system, academia, and the public sector. She currently serves within UNICEF’s Public Partnerships Division in New York, supporting inter-agency coordination, data-driven communications, and strategic partnerships with UN entities and multilateral donors. Her work focuses on transforming complex development data into clear and compelling narratives that advance the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This article was originally published on https://iseek.un.org/article/Delivering-One-Learning-One.