What is an INFF?
INFFs are a country-led approach to strengthen financing for national sustainable development priorities and the SDGs.
INFFs are voluntary and country-led. Through INFFs, countries develop a strategy to mobilize and align financing with all dimensions of sustainability, broaden participation in the design, delivery and monitoring of financing policies, and manage risk. INFFs are embedded within national plans and financing structures, enabling gradual improvements and driving innovation in policies, tools and instruments across domestic and international sources of public and private finance.
Who is using the INFF approach?
As of April 2024, the INFF approach is being used by more than 85 countries. These are country-led initiatives, typically led by the Ministry of Finance and Planning, that bring together stakeholders from across the public sector, private sector, civil society, partners and beyond.
Thirteen national and subnational governments have an operational financing strategy, and more than 50 countries are implementing reforms shaped through their INFF. Analysis of reforms implemented by 17 of these countries finds $16 billion in new finance leveraged for investment in sustainable development and alignment and scope for alignment of more than $32 billion.
Reports
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Making finance work for people and planet: how countries are building their sustainable finance ecosystem through integrated national financing frameworks
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The INFF building blocks
INFFs are not a one-size-fits-all approach.
INFFs are developed and implemented through four building blocks: assessment and diagnostics, financing strategy, monitoring and review, governance and coordination. Each building block represents a critical component in building national capacity to strategically plan and manage the financing of sustainable development actions. Designing and implementing activities within each of these building blocks is an iterative process, with progress in each building block reinforcing the development of the others.
Actions within each component build upon the structures, processes and mechanisms already in place within national sustainable development and financial planning frameworks. While these critical components remain the same, activities within the building blocks will differ by country. The end result is an INFF that reflects the unique capacities, priorities, vulnerabilities and strengths of each country.
Read the INFF building block technical guidance here.
Origins of the INFF
"Cohesive nationally owned sustainable development strategies, supported by integrated national financing frameworks, will be at the heart of our efforts”. – Addis Ababa Action Agenda, 2015
In 2015, at the United Nations’ Third International Conference on Financing for Development, world leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to agree upon a new global framework for financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 SDGs. The Addis Ababa Action Agenda outlines key policy recommendations for mobilizing and aligning resources with the Global Goals and addressing the considerable challenges that face developing countries in financing their sustainable development.
Why should countries adopt an INFF?
To better manage financing policy in an increasingly complex landscape.
As the financing landscape continues to evolve with the emergence of new risks and opportunities, actors, financing instruments and modalities, countries are using INFFs to navigate the growing diversity and complexity of mobilizing, managing and tracking funding.
To mobilize additional financing to support sustainable development.
Through their INFFs, countries are identifying and implementing reforms that tap into new sources of short and long-term investment in sustainable development, from public, private, domestic and international finance sources.
To better align financing with national priorities for greater sustainable development impact.
Through their INFFs, countries are reconfiguring financing policies, incentives and institutions to promote more sustainable, inclusive public and private financing that accelerates sustainable development priorities.
To strengthen institutions and collaboration for more coherent financing.
Through their INFFs, countries are strengthening capacities and building partnerships to deliver more coherent, sustainable and inclusive financing for the future.
Building on these central added values, countries are also using the INFF approach to better align development cooperation with national priorities, enhance transparency and accountability of financing flows and articulate priorities and needs in regional and global policy processes.
How is the international community supporting INFFs?
The international community supports country-led INFFs in various ways.
The INFF Facility brings together UNDP, UN DESA, the OECD and UNICEF along with the European Union and the Governments of Italy, Spain and Sweden to support country-led INFFs. Find out more about how the INFF Facility brokers technical assistance, facilitates knowledge exchange and provides
Between 2020 to 2023, the Joint SDG Fund has supported countries to define the financing behind their development priorities, encompassing financial reforms in budgeting, taxes, public-private partnerships, access to finance and capital markets. Learn more about it here.
The Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development has developed guidance materials for each building block and an inception phase to support countries interested in developing and implementing INFFs. You can find them here.
INFFs are also recognised and supported through various international agreements and forums. The G20 has positioned itself as a champion of country-led INFFs, with G20 Leaders notably endorsing the G20 Framework of support to INFFs in 2021. Find out more about G20 engagement here.
INFFs also feature in many international agreements, from the financing for development agenda and SDG Stimulus to programmes of action for least developed countries and small island states - find out more here.
Interested in learning more about INFFs?
Here are publications, reports, guidelines, toolkits and case studies from around the world to help your country learn about INFFs, access tools and approaches, gain exposure to best practices and connect with other countries that have embarked on an INFF.
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Read the latest analysis and lessons
Reports
.
Making finance work for people and planet: how countries are building their sustainable finance ecosystem through integrated national financing frameworks
Download PDF
