Lead implementing countries/entities:
South Africa, Egypt, UNDP, INFF Facility (UNDP, UNDESA, OECD, UNICEF), IDFC/Finance in Common, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Endorsing countries/entities:
Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, European Union, UN DESA, OECD, ODI Global, WINGS, La Caixa Foundation, Barcelona European Financial Centre
Initiative description:
In a challenging global context – marked by constrained fiscal space, rising debt burdens, and deepening climate and biodiversity crises – strong national leadership in financing climate and development goals is both essential and strategic. Country ownership is not just appropriate, it is fundamental to ensuring long-term political alignment and the sustained success of any transformative agenda. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville presents a once-a-decade opportunity to reassess and update financing policy frameworks for sustainable development at both national and global levels. It also marks a critical milestone on the way to COP30 in Belem for international efforts – and particularly for South-South collaboration – to strengthen and support country-led financing approaches to accelerate development and climate progress.
Countries articulate their sustainable development and climate priorities through various plans, strategies and visions, including national development plans (NDPs), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), amongst others. To achieve these goals, countries must lead and design their own strategies and implementing mechanisms.
This includes building national financing strategies to structure the policy reforms necessary to attract and scale the finance needed, which is what the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), led by Ministries of Finance, aim to achieve. Governments are using the INFF approach to identify financing needs and opportunities, develop policy reform agendas, and embed sovereign financing strategies within national institutions to mobilise, align and derisk public and private investment in their NDPs, NDCs and NBSAPs.
Country leadership is equally vital in the design and operationalization of this vision, through initiatives like country platforms. These are mechanisms to achieve deep systemic transformation towards particular goals identified in national strategies. They are embedded at the highest levels of government and within other national and subnational institutions, including national development banks. They build bankable project pipelines, link them with financing partners and policy reforms – often identified through national financing strategies – under a clear and credible financing strategy. Inclusive country platforms can increase alignment of domestic and international actors with national plans and reduce fragmentation. All of this is done in concert with international partners but with country leadership and ownership grounded throughout the platform.
In the Compromiso de Sevilla, UN Member States committed to develop and strengthen country-led and nationally-owned sustainable development strategies, supported by integrated national financing frameworks, and to put in place and enhance country-led national coordination platforms.FN
This initiative aims to accelerate implementation of the Compromiso de Sevilla and country-led financing strategies by supporting governments to operationalize INFFs and scale country platforms in an integrated manner, strengthening national institutions—such as ministries of finance, governments national development banks and engaging stakeholders from the private sector, philanthropy, civil society, development partners and finance institutions—to mobilize and align investment with policy priorities. It draws on lessons from countries like Egypt, where the government is using its INFF to coordinate reforms and investment to implement its Vision 2030 and mobilize finance through its Nexus of Water, Food and Energy country platform.
To support country-led efforts, a growing coalition of finance and development institutions is developing a new Global Financing Playbook to deliver coordinated, country-level support when and where it is requested. The Playbook seeks to scale proven - and pioneer innovative - approaches for finance and development institutions to collaborate in support of sovereign financing priorities, leveraging the strengths of different institutions to work more effectively and amplify impact. The initiative also aims to scale up technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) efforts by international partners in support of the implementation of country-led financing strategies.
FfD4 represents a pivotal moment to take stock, affirm and strengthen support for country leadership on financing. It also forms a key milestone on the roadmap to COP30 in Belém, with its strategic focus on country platforms, reinforcing the call for integrated, nationally driven solutions that bridge climate and development finance. By integrating efforts across national priorities, financing frameworks, country platforms, and international institutional support, this initiative within the Sevilla Platform for Action will accelerate delivery of the FfD4 Outcome.
Specific Actions (measurable and time-bound):
- By COP30 in Belém, at least 5-10 countries announce or launch nationally-led financing initiatives, including country platforms, aligned with NDPs, NDCs and NBSAPs
- By 2027, 10 countries mobilise finance for project pipelines underpinning INFFs and country platforms to deliver on NDPs, NDCs and NBSAPs including with support from a broad range of public, private and philanthropic sources
- By 2030, 100 countries implementing their financing strategies, INFFs or country platforms for NDPs, NDCs and NBSAPs with financing for project pipelines from a broad range of public, private and philanthropic sources
- UN, PDBs, national and international partners continue to share knowledge and seek synergies in their technical assistance for nationally-led financing initiatives aligned with NDPs, NDCs and NBSAPs
Scope of initiative:
FfD Action Areas: Domestic public resources; private business and finance; international development cooperation; systemic issues; data, monitoring and follow up.
SDGs Addressed: SDG 17 (Partnerships), SDG 13 (Climate), SDG 9 (Industry & Infrastructure), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 10 (Inequality), SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 1 (No poverty), SDG 5 (Gender equality).
Geographic Focus: Global, with regional focus in Africa, LDCs, and climate-vulnerable countries leading on integrated financing efforts
This initiative will accelerate delivery of the FfD4 outcome by positioning national leadership and integrated strategies at the center of financing for people and planet.
Focal points for follow-up
- Emily Davis, Lead Advisor for Programme and Partnerships, Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP, emily.davis@undp.org
- Tim Strawson, SDG Finance Advisor and INFF Team Lead, Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP, tim.strawson@undp.org
- Archie Gilmour, Senior Research Officer: Climate and Sustainability, ODI Global, a.gilmour@odi.org
FN Compromiso de Sevilla, paragraph 40.