OeEB and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNIDO have taken an important step to deepen their collaboration by signing a Joint Declaration aimed at scaling up climate finance for small and medium sized enterprises in developing countries.
The signing underlines the strategic importance of the partnership and marks a new phase of cooperation between the two institutions, building on past exchanges that brought together experts from UNIDO and OeEB to explore shared priorities and complementary strengths.
"Strengthening cooperation between UNIDO and the Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank reflects our shared commitment to scaling up climate finance for small and medium sized enterprises in developing countries. By combining UNIDO's technical cooperation expertise, global field presence and access to multilateral climate funds with OeEB's strong instruments and networks in green finance, we can jointly unlock investments that accelerate climate mitigation and adaptation while supporting sustainable industrial development," said Gunther Beger, Managing Director, UNIDO.
Leveraging complementary expertise for greater impact
The cooperation brings together UNIDO's technical expertise, global field presence and access to multilateral climate funds with OeEB's financing instruments, private sector focus and experience in developing bankable projects.
This complementary expertise creates strong synergies, particularly at the interface between industry and finance, where SMEs play a pivotal role in driving sustainable industrial development.
UNIDO contributes knowledge of industrial value chains, market development and enabling environments, while OeEB provides tailored financial solutions for sustainable private sector investments. Together, the two institutions aim to close critical gaps between project preparation and financing, ensuring that climate mitigation and adaptation initiatives can move from concept to implementation.
Knowledge exchange and capacity building
Knowledge exchange forms a key pillar of the cooperation. OeEB will share best practices and insights on structuring and assessing bankable projects. In parallel, UNIDO will support OeEB with market intelligence drawn from its technical cooperation portfolio and its network of 49 field offices in partner countries.
This mutual exchange strengthens institutional capacities and helps align technical project design with financing requirements at an early stage, a critical factor in increasing project success rates.
From dialogue to joint action
The Joint Declaration provides a framework for collaboration in areas such as market intelligence, joint events and the potential co-development of dedicated climate finance initiatives. It also formalizes the partners' intention to engage in each other's platforms and forums, fostering continued exchange and alignment.
As climate finance needs continue to grow, partnerships such as this demonstrate how well aligned institutions can translate shared expertise into practical solutions that support SMEs, strengthen industries and advance inclusive and sustainable industrial development.
Supporting SMEs in emerging markets and developing economies
The partnership places strong emphasis on SMEs, recognizing their role as engines of employment, innovation and inclusive growth. SMEs are also critical actors in climate action, particularly in renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing and climate smart agriculture.
Africa is a shared geographic priority. By expanding collaboration and jointly developing projects on the African continent with high development impact, UNIDO and OeEB aim to mobilize climate finance where it is most needed, while supporting local industries and strengthening regional value chains.
"OeEB has been Austria's largest private contributor to international climate finance for several years, reflecting our strong commitment to climate action and green finance. By deepening our collaboration with UNIDO, we are combining complementary expertise and instruments to scale up support for SMEs investing in climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. At a time when climate action is essential for resilience and sustainable growth, this partnership demonstrates how aligned institutions can deliver meaningful impact," said Sabine Gaber, Chief Executive Officer, OeEB.