Nigeria Pushes For Integrated Financing Framework With UN And EU

• The project will be made possible through the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals

• The multi-donor financial contribution will enable Nigeria to finance the implementation of the INFF action plan

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Federal Government is collaborating with the European Union and the United Nations Office in Nigeria to advocate for a specialized fund to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.

This would be made possible through the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGs).

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This Fund would be operated as part of the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF).

The Nigeria INFF was officially launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari on the sidelines of the 77th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York, last September 2022.

The historic launch saw Nigeria becoming a pioneer country to launch an INFF, a planning and delivery tool for financing sustainable development.

The INFF Fund proposal, aimed at helping to ensure sustainability, was presented to members for buy-in during the High-Level Steering Committee Meeting held on 5th May 2023 in Abuja.

The INFF Fund is proposed as collaboration with key partners and stakeholders in the full implementation of the INFF to strengthen the development financing envelope of the government to help achieve the SDGs by 2030.

The multi-donor financial contribution will enable Nigeria to finance the implementation of the INFF action plan through public and private funded initiatives and reforms.

The INFF Chairperson, former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Ahmed while speaking during the meetimg, extended appreciation to partners for supporting the process.

“I am grateful to all our partners including the European Union, United Nations, and the Private Sector Advisory Group for being an integral part of the INFF and for partnering with us to have a process which is inclusive. As a leader in the INFF process, Nigeria has been able to stand out and share valuable lessons with other countries.

“As we now look towards the development of an INFF Fund, we hope we can count on the support of all our partners as we work to ensure a more coherent structure for financing inclusive, gender-responsive, and climate-resilient development in Nigeria,” she said.

During her opening remarks, Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, stated that, “as the largest economy in Africa and an important player in the global arena, Nigeria’s progress on the SDGs could go a long way in improving the wellbeing of the poor, and strengthening peace and securityon the continent.”
Princess Adejoke Orelope- Adefulira concluded by stating that the INFF Fund presents a more efficient strategy to addressing the challenges of financing sustainable development.

She emphasized that everyone should be fully committed and should re-double their efforts to effectively implement the Nigeria INFF in the coming years.

The UNDP Resident Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Yahya stated that “the financing constraint amid development challenges call for a coordinated approach to financing for SDGs and national development priorities.

He further added that, “Nigeria has a funding gap of $10 billion per year to meet the SDGs. Hence, more integrated financing policy solutions and reforms are thus needed to ensure resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth in Nigeria.”

Head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Samuela Isopi, represented at the occasion, pledged more support for Nigeira.

He said: “The European Union is a strong supporter of INFFs globally – a key tool for countries to achieve the SDGs and Paris Agreement.

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“This is why the EU has partnered with Nigeria as a front runner of the INFF since 2020. We believe strongly in Nigeria’s capacity to transform her development landscape. I thus would like to pledge the European Union’s unwavering support to Nigeria as we move forward with the INFF.”

UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale also pledged the union’s continuous support and engagement to drive the INFF forward and to see the actualization of the INFF Fund in Nigeria.

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