Background
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) Financing for Small Island Developing States (FINS) initiative supports SIDS in overcoming structural financing challenges. These include small and undiversified economies, geographic remoteness, limited fiscal space, and heightened exposure to climate and external shocks. These constraints limit access to affordable finance and progress toward the SDGs.
In line with the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), FINS helps countries align development planning and public finance through the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) approach. INFFs support countries in mobilizing and managing diverse financing sources in line with national priorities.
FINS provides tailored, country-led support through embedded consultants, peer learning via the FINS Xchange platform, and linkages to global financing partnerships. Participating countries—Dominican Republic, Seychelles, Fiji, and Vanuatu—are implementing INFFs to strengthen institutional capacity and implement integrated financing strategies aligned with their long-term development goals.
Objectives
The overall aim of the FFD4 Side event on FINS is to share country experiences and strengthen peer learning on how INFFs are being used to align financing with national development goals.
In particular, the event aims to:
- Highlight practical experiences from SIDS in implementing financing strategies through INFFs.
- Promote a shared understanding of integrated financing approaches that connect policy priorities with public and private financing decisions
- Share insights on the use of financing for development tools in diverse SIDS contexts, including the enabling conditions and challenges faced.
- Increase awareness of the role of international support, with reflections from development partners such as Italy and Denmark, in advancing national efforts.
- Recognize lessons and best practices that can inform scale-up similar integrated approaches in other developing countries and SIDS contexts.
Format
This 90-minute in-person side event will include opening remarks from the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, followed by country presentations and reflections from development partners. An open discussion will offer space for dialogue among participants, and the session will close with key takeaways and an outline of the way forward for continued engagement and scaling of the FINS initiative, including in the context of FFD4 outcome.