Event overview
Representatives from Ethiopia and Nigeria gathered in Abuja and Lagos for a five-day learning exchange on implementing Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs). The exchange brought together government representatives, policymakers, UN colleagues and technical experts to explore practical ways to align financing systems with national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The programme combined discussions on Nigeria’s federal-level INFF architecture with first-hand learning from Lagos State. Sessions covered INFF governance, domestic resource mobilisation, public financial management, integrated data systems, project preparation, private finance mobilisation, SDG localisation and subnational financing.
From financing strategies to implementation
A central message from the exchange was that development financing is not only about mobilising additional resources. It also requires strong systems that connect planning, budgeting, financing, implementation, data and accountability.
Nigeria’s experience demonstrated the importance of high-level political leadership, clear institutional mandates and sustained coordination among public institutions, development partners, private investors and subnational actors. Participants also highlighted the need to move beyond financing strategies by developing credible, investment-ready project pipelines supported by feasibility studies, risk mitigation and transaction expertise.
The visit to Lagos State illustrated how national priorities can be translated into results at the subnational level. Its experience showed the value of aligning long-term plans, medium-term strategies and annual budgets while combining participatory budgeting, performance monitoring, investment promotion and capital-market instruments.
Key areas of exchange
The learning exchange focused on:
- Political leadership and institutional arrangements for INFF implementation
- Domestic resource mobilisation and digital tax administration
- Integration of financing, development and results data
- Project preparation and the development of bankable investment pipelines
- Blended finance, public-private partnerships and capital-market instruments
- Subnational financing systems and SDG localisation
- Engagement with development partners, the private sector and civil society
Implications for Ethiopia
For Ethiopia, the exchange provided practical lessons for moving its E-ISFF from framework development to implementation. Priority areas identified included strengthening governance, operationalising the Country Platform as an investment delivery mechanism, preparing a national investment pipeline, establishing project preparation support and linking financing data with development results.
The mission also recommended piloting implementation approaches at regional and city levels and using a pooled or basket fund to finance the systems, technical assistance and institutional capacity needed to implement the E-ISFF. More complex instruments, including green bonds, carbon markets and diaspora finance, should be introduced gradually as the necessary regulatory and institutional foundations are established.
Read the full report
The Ethiopia–Nigeria INFF Experience Exchange Mission Report presents the discussions, lessons and priority actions emerging from the exchange, including recommendations for translating the learning into a time-bound implementation plan.
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