The Integrated National Financing Strategy (INFS) serves as a vital pillar of Malawi’s broader Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF). It provides a strategic roadmap to mobilize, manage, and align financial resources with the country’s development priorities, particularly those outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The strategy reflects Malawi’s commitment to fostering inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth, while addressing its unique socioeconomic challenges.
Malawi faces considerable development obstacles, including widespread poverty, macroeconomic instability, and overreliance on agriculture. As of 2021, it was ranked the fourth poorest country in the world, with a large proportion of the population living on less than USD 1.90 a day. Structural vulnerabilities such as limited economic diversification, exposure to climate shocks, and unsustainable public debt have further constrained Malawi’s ability to finance its development ambitions. While some progress has been made in areas such as gender equality, clean energy, and climate action, advancement across the SDGs remains uneven, with setbacks in key sectors such as education.
Recognizing these challenges, the Government of Malawi, with the support of UNDP and in close consultation with national stakeholders and development partners, developed the INFS through a broad, participatory process. The strategy was informed by the Local Level and Development Finance Assessment (LLFA/DFA), which provided a diagnostic of existing financial flows and economic conditions. The INFS builds on this foundation to identify innovative policy, regulatory, and institutional reforms that can close financing gaps and expand access to new and diverse sources of funding.
The INFS adopts a whole-of-society approach and explores financing opportunities across four key dimensions: domestic public finance, domestic private finance, international public finance, and international private finance. It calls for reforms to improve revenue generation, enhance fiscal management, and encourage private sector investment—both local and foreign. Strengthening coordination mechanisms and improving financial governance are central to the strategy’s implementation.
Ultimately, the INFS is not just a technical document but a call to collective action. It emphasizes the need for all sectors—government, private sector, civil society, academia, and international partners—to work together to mobilize resources and implement necessary reforms. The Government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, has pledged strong leadership and a commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective resource stewardship. Guided by principles of unity, innovation, and resilience, the INFS aims to ensure that no one is left behind on Malawi’s path to sustainable development.