Amid rising debt stress, limited fiscal space and escalating climate threats, country ownership of the development process is more important than ever. At the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4), two initiatives were launched under the Sevilla Platform of Action (SPA) to scale country-driven approaches to financing sustainable development and climate action and coordinate international support through the Global Financing Playbook.
These initiatives will help achieve the Compromiso de Sevilla, the Outcome Document of FfD4. They aim to help countries take the lead in their own development – and thereby align key national and international interests behind them – by integrating their national development plans (NDPs), climate strategies (NDCs) and biodiversity goals (NBSAPs) with actionable finance strategies through the Integrated National Financing Frameworks (INFFs), and to deliver their nationally- identified priorities through country platforms.
“Countries are using INFFs to close the gap between ambition and action—bringing strategy, coordination and country leadership back to the heart of the financing agenda,” said Marcos Neto, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of UNDP’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support. “As a founding member of the INFF Facility, UNDP is proud to support countries in mobilizing the finance they need through integrated national financing frameworks and country-led platforms.”
“Spain is proud to launch the Sevilla Platform for Action and support country-led efforts to align finance with sustainable development and climate goals,” noted Eva Granados, Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation. “As a partner to the INFF Facility, we are committed to advancing integrated, inclusive financing that promotes gender equality, environmental sustainability and local leadership.”
Both mechanisms are set to become pillars of climate-resilient development with country ownership at their core. With more than ten country platforms launched since South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in 2021, and with over 85 countries already using INFFs, the initiative seeks to enhance support to the existing mechanisms and to empower the next generation of national financing frameworks and country platforms. Some countries, like Egypt, are using both: the INFF supports the national Vision 2030 and is delivering key priorities of the vision through Nexus of Water, Food and Energy platform (NWFE), the Egyptian country platform launched in 2022.
H.E. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, noted that "Egypt is proud to lead on integrated financing and country platforms that drive our national priorities. Through our Integrated National Financing Strategy and the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy platform (NWFE Program), we are mobilizing finance for development, focusing on economic growth, quality jobs and more private sector engagement.”
Similarly, Sam Mugume, Commissioner, Uganda Ministry of Finance and Co-Chair of the Coalition of Finance Ministers underlined, “Country ownership is fundamental to the long-term success of climate-resilient development and is at the heart of the country platform model. The Coalition of Finance Ministers welcomes this initiative, which will help embed this principle in the development agenda for the next decade.”
Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships said: “The continued EU support to the INFF Facility underlines our commitment to country ownership and leadership, and our partnership approach.”
Milestones Ahead
- By COP30 (2025): 5–10 countries to launch nationally-led financing
- By 2027: 10 countries to mobilize finance for project pipelines aligned with national goals.
- By 2030: 100 countries to be implementing INFFs or country platforms with financing from public, private and philanthropic
The initiatives are led by South Africa, Egypt, UNDP, INFF Facility (UNDP, UNDESA, OECD, UNICEF), IDFC/Finance in Common and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and are backed by a broad coalition of Member States, regional governments, development partners, international organizations, public development banks, private sector organizations, think tanks and other actors.
Together, these partners will also roll out a Global Financing Playbook to help countries access coordinated technical assistance and investment support tailored to national priorities.
“The Sevilla Platform for Action paves the way to turn national priorities into global progress. National Public Development Banks are key to making this vision real - channeling financial flows to ensure local impact. The Global Financing Playbook supports this effort with practical tools to align partners, scale action, and deliver results for people and planet. " Adama Mariko, Secretary General, Finance in Common highlighted. Rodrigo Salvado, Director General, Operational Partnership Department, underscored that “the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is committed to supporting country-led approaches that mobilize technical, financial, and human resources for sustainable development and climate action. Through the Global Financing Playbook, we are proud to join forces with a broad coalition of public and private partners to align investments with country priorities. This initiative reinforces our shared ambition to deliver more coordinated, catalytic, and impactful solutions for our Members.”
By placing country ownership at the heart of global cooperation, the initiatives offer a practical path toward aligning fragmented finance with national priorities – making finance work for people and planet.
Lead and endorsing Member States and entities
SPA Initiative: Country-driven approaches to financing sustainable development and climate action
Lead Member States and entities:
- South Africa, Egypt, UNDP, INFF Facility (UNDP, UNDESA, OECD, UNICEF), IDFC/Finance in Common, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Endorsing Member States and entities:
- Spain, Italy, United Kingdom, European Union, OECD, ODI Global, WINGS, La Caixa Foundation, Barcelona European Financial Centre
SPA Initiative: Global Financing Playbook - Fostering Collaboration across Finance and Development Institutions
Lead Member States and entities:
- IDFC, UNDP, AIIB
Endorsing Member States and entities:
- IFAD, CAF, UNCDF, FONPLATA, CDP, CABEI, MIGA
