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 constrainedfiscal space, rising debt burdens, and deepening climate and biodiversitycrises – strong national leadership in financing climate and development goalsis both essential and strategic. Country ownership is not just appropriate, itis fundamental to ensuring long-term political alignment and the sustainedsuccess of any transformative agenda. The Fourth International Conference onFinancing for Development (FfD4) in Seville presents a once-a-decadeopportunity to reassess and update financing policy frameworks for sustainabledevelopment at both national and global levels. It also marks a criticalmilestone on the way to COP30 in Belem for international efforts – andparticularly for South-South collaboration – to strengthen and supportcountry-led financing approachesto accelerate development and climate progress.
Countries articulate their sustainable development andclimate priorities through various plans, strategies and visions, includingnational 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 andimplementing mechanisms.
This includes building national financing strategies tostructure the policy reforms necessary to attract and scale the finance needed,which is what the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), led byMinistries of Finance, aim to achieve. Governments are using the INFF approachto identify financing needs and opportunities, develop policy reform agendas,and embed sovereign financing strategies within national institutions tomobilise, align and derisk public and private investment in their NDPs, NDCsand NBSAPs.
Country leadership is equally vital in the design andoperationalization of this vision, through initiatives like country platforms.These are mechanisms to achieve deep systemic transformation towards particulargoals identified in national strategies. They are embedded at the highestlevels 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 throughnational financing strategies – under a clear and credible financing strategy. Inclusivecountry platforms can increase alignment of domestic and international actorswith national plans and reduce fragmentation. All of this is done in concertwith international partners but with country leadership and ownership groundedthroughout the platform.
In the Compromiso de Sevilla, UN Member Statescommitted to develop and strengthen country-led and nationally-ownedsustainable development strategies, supported by integrated national financingframeworks, and to put in place and enhance country-led national coordinationplatforms.FN
This initiative aims to accelerate implementation of theCompromiso de Sevilla and country-led financing strategies by supportinggovernments to operationalize INFFs and scale country platforms in anintegrated manner, strengthening national institutions—such as ministries offinance, governments national development banks and engaging stakeholders fromthe private sector, philanthropy, civil society, development partners andfinance institutions—to mobilize and align investment with policy priorities.It draws on lessons from countries like Egypt, where the government is using itsINFF to coordinate reforms and investment to implement its Vision 2030 andmobilize finance through its Nexus of Water, Food and Energy country platform.
To support country-led efforts, a growing coalition offinance and development institutions is developing a new Global FinancingPlaybook to deliver coordinated, country-level support when and where it isrequested. The Playbook seeks to scale proven - and pioneer innovative -approaches for finance and development institutions to collaborate in supportof sovereign financing priorities, leveraging the strengths of differentinstitutions to work more effectively and amplify impact. The initiative alsoaims to scale up technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) efforts byinternational partners in support of the implementation of country-ledfinancing strategies.
FfD4 represents a pivotal moment to take stock, affirm andstrengthen support for country leadership on financing. It also forms a keymilestone on the roadmap to COP30 in Belém, with its strategic focus on countryplatforms, reinforcing the call for integrated, nationally driven solutionsthat bridge climate and development finance. By integrating efforts acrossnational priorities, financing frameworks, country platforms, and internationalinstitutional support, this initiative within the Sevilla Platform for Action willaccelerate delivery of the FfD4 Outcome.
Specific Actions(measurable and time-bound):
- ByCOP30 in Belém, at least 5-10 countries announce or launch nationally-ledfinancing initiatives, including country platforms, aligned with NDPs, NDCs andNBSAPs
- By 2027, 10 countries mobilise finance for project pipelines underpinning INFFsand country platforms to deliver on NDPs, NDCs and NBSAPs including withsupport 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 projectpipelines from a broad range of public, private and philanthropic sources
- UN,PDBs, national and international partners continue to share knowledge and seeksynergies in their technical assistance for nationally-led financinginitiatives aligned with NDPs, NDCs and NBSAPs
Scope of initiative:
FfD Action Areas: Domestic public resources; privatebusiness and finance; international development cooperation; systemic issues;data, monitoring and follow up.
SDGs Addressed: SDG 17 (Partnerships), SDG 13 (Climate), SDG9 (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 outcomeby positioning national leadership and integrated strategies at the center offinancing for people and planet.
Focal points for follow-up
- Emily Davis, Lead Advisor for Programme andPartnerships, Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP, emily.davis@undp.org
- Tim Strawson, SDG Finance Advisor and INFF TeamLead, Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP, tim.strawson@undp.org
- Archie Gilmour, Senior Research Officer: Climateand Sustainability, ODI Global, a.gilmour@odi.org
FN Compromisode Sevilla, paragraph 40.
