About INFFs

An integrated national financing framework (INFF) helps countries strengthen planning processes and overcome existing impediments to financing sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the country level. It lays out the full range of financing sources – domestic and international sources of both public and private finance – and allows countries to develop a strategy to increase investment, manage risks and achieve sustainable development priorities, as identified in a country’s national sustainable development strategy.

Briefs

2021

Intro to INFFs

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The 2030 Agenda has reinvigorated national development planning processes, as countries work to align their national development priorities with global goals for sustainable development. National development plans outline a country’s vision for sustainable development and the steps needed to achieve that vision. Still, most plans and strategies lack concrete plans for how to finance these actions – a critical missing link that leaves many SDGs underfunded.

While achieving the SDGs will require a global effort to raise and direct financing to where it is most needed, national development plans, strategies and policies are at the centre of the Addis Ababa Agenda. The Agenda highlights ‘cohesive nationally owned sustainable development strategies, supported by integrated financing frameworks’ as the key vehicle for strengthening national resource mobilisation, coordination and tracking efforts. The Agenda lays the foundation for the development of the INFF concept and approach.

In 2020, the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development published the first two documents in a series of guidance materials to support INFF implementation – an inception phase guide to support countries in starting their INFFs and establishing INFF work structures; and guidance for building block 1: assessment and diagnostics.

There has been considerable and growing interest from countries to receive further guidance and support to design INFFs. This demand needs to be met with international cooperation and action that coherently brings together existing initiatives, diagnostic tools and capacity-building efforts.

Tools and guidelines

2020

Integrated national financing frameworks: Inception phase

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Several countries have already taken steps towards developing financing strategies, drawing on tools and frameworks offered by different organisations, such as development finance assessments, medium-term revenue strategies and medium-term expenditure frameworks.

To help build cohesion between these frameworks, the United Nations and the European Union, in cooperation with a growing network of partners, are developing joint approaches to bring together the respective expertise, tools and relationships of different organisations in support of country-led processes. Joint approaches have begun in a number of INFF pioneer countries. The methodological guidance for the INFF inception phase and for building blocks 1 – 4 are both informing and being informed by the work underway in the INFF pioneer countries.

The INFF Facility was launched in 2022 following the endorsement by G20 Leaders of the G20 Framework of voluntary support for INFFs. The INFF Facility brings together UNDP, UN DESA, the OECD, UNICEF, the European Union and the Governments of Italy, Spain and Sweden as a vehicle to support countries using the INFF approach. It brokers technical support in response to country demand, provides a platform for countries to share experiences and learn from one another, and strengthens partnerships in support of country-led INFFs.