Investing in Impact: The Power of Remittances for the SDGs As the global community prepares for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), we must seize this moment to place remittances and diaspora investments at the centre of development finance strategies. The United Nations Network on Migration calls on governments, international organisations, the private sector and civil society to recognise the extraordinary contributions of migrants to the well-being of their families, communities and countries of origin, and to help advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2024, migrants sent over USD 685 billion to low- and middle-income countries. Driven by their remarkable regularity and sustained growth over the years, these private flows serve as lifelines for families, supporting food security, education, healthcare, housing and climate resilience. As remittances continue to grow, their cumulative contribution plays an increasingly vital role in advancing the SDGs. While they are often perceived as being used solely for consumption, a modest yet significant share is actually saved or invested by recipient families. With greater financial options, remittance-receiving households can make the most of their income, from secure savings tools and access to credit to insurance and investment opportunities. With the right financial services, digital innovations and inclusive frameworks, remittances can become a powerful lever for building resilience and fostering sustainable development. For migrant women on both sides of the remittance corridor, this means reducing and removing underlying barriers to mobile phone ownership and internet access, including improving access to financial literacy, so that they can avail themselves of more remittance sending options. This year’s International Day of Family Remittances (IDFR) theme, “Remittances Financing Development”, reminds us that remittances are not only private transfers but also development accelerators. The Progress Declaration of the first International Migration Review Forum (IMRF) recognises this, highlighting that remittances “are a critical source of support for families and communities” and committing Member States to reduce remittance costs to below 3% by 2030, in line with SDG target 10.c. https://ihrc-geneve.org/f/investing-in-impact-the-power-of-remittances-for-the-sdgs