Thirty-five countries in sub-Saharan Africa are using INFFs to shape financing for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and investment in medium and long-term sustainable development. Despite the disruption of the pandemic, governments have achieved tangible progress in laying the foundation for INFF development and tailoring INFFs within different development contexts.
Drawing on survey data from 25 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, this brief provides the first overview of how African countries are adopting INFFs, the objectives and anticipated benefits of the INFF approach, and the planned steps for INFF development within national processes. Check out the INFF Dashboard to explore the full results of the survey.
More than three-quarters of countries have formalised or are in the process of formalising INFF oversight committees. Scoping assessments are underway with 26 countries using a development finance assessment alongside other diagnostics to shape the inception phase. Two countries have launched INFF Roadmaps, and a further six are currently developing their plans. Twelve countries in the region will use the INFF to introduce a financing strategy for the first time, while ten will strengthen existing financing strategies.
Countries across the region are using INFF processes to explore and progress a wide range of innovations to public and private financing policies, regulations, instruments and institutions. These reforms will mobilise, leverage and align financing with national sustainable development priorities, including climate change and energy transition, gender equality, and social protection. Sixteen UN organisations and a wide range of other international partners, including the European Union, are supporting government-led efforts to build a more integrated approach to financing recovery from the pandemic and medium- to long-term sustainable development.