Egypt’s Integrated National Financing Strategy was launched on March 18, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt under the auspices of His Excellency Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly as part of a joint programme supported by the Joint SDG Fund and led by the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Egypt. Its implementation is driven by UNDP, in collaboration with the broader UN system and in partnership with the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation. This strategic initiative is a key step in aligning financial resources with Egypt’s Vision 2030, advancing sustainable development, and accelerating progress on the SDGs.
Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat said:
"The launch of Egypt’s Integrated National Financing Strategy (E-INFS) introduces a transformative approach to development financing, leveraging diverse and innovative mechanisms. The strategy emphasizes the importance of complementary financing sources, fostering intergovernmental coordination, public-private partnerships, and collaboration with international financial institutions and the UN. By optimizing public and private domestic and international resources, we aim to bridge financing gaps in key areas such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, climate resilience, and social protection through evidence-based solutions."
Globally, the investment gap is now $4 trillion, up from $2.5 trillion in 2015. The current investment gap is 60% higher than the gap of $2.5 trillion estimated by UNCTAD in 2014 on the eve of the adoption of the SDGs. This gap has been exacerbated by multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions in various parts of the world.
The development of Egypt’s Integrated National Financing Framework is based on a ‘whole of government approach’ and strong coordination between 18 different Government ministries and the UN, under the technical leadership of UNDP and the expertise of the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and UN Women.
The strategy builds on Egypt’s engagement with the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), a UN-led initiative supported by the UN SDG Joint Fund, which aims to align financial flows with national priorities. The INFF provides tools for evidence-based decision-making, enhancing transparency, and leveraging innovative financing mechanisms such as blended finance, sustainable bonds, and impact investing.
“Financing is the cornerstone of sustainable development. The Integrated National Financing Strategy is a financial roadmap and a commitment to mobilizing resources efficiently and innovatively to ensure that no one is left behind in Egypt’s development journey,” said Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt. He added: “The launch of Egypt’s Integrated National Financing Strategy represents a crucial step toward enhancing the country’s ability to mobilize resources and finance sustainable development in an inclusive manner. UNDP is proud to have supported this process, reinforcing our commitment to innovative financing solutions that empower national development.”
The strategy will be governed by a dedicated steering committee comprising representatives from key ministries, financial institutions, and development partners. This governance structure will oversee the implementation of the financing roadmap, ensuring a coordinated and results-driven approach.
In the coming months, Egypt will engage with international financing institutions, private sector stakeholders, and bilateral partners to operationalize the strategy and secure new funding streams that support its long-term development vision.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) co-chairs and Technical Lead Agency representatives, including Dr. Rania Al Mashat, Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator, and Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative, who emphasized the significance of integrated financing in advancing Egypt’s sustainable financing agenda.
The event brought together high-level representatives, including Dr. Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister for Human Health and Population and Minister of Health and Population, Mr. Ahmed Kouchouk, Minister of Finance, Dr. Maya Morsy, Minister of Social Solidarity, Eng. Sherif El Sherbini, Minister of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Latif, Minister of Education and Technical Education, Dr. Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development, Mr, Mohamed Gibran, Minister of Labor, Mr. Ahmed Abdel Rahman El Sheikh, Chairman of the Egyptian Stock Exchange, and Ms. Ghada Nour, Assistant Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade.
The sessions also brought the development partners Mr. Álvaro Iranzo Gutierrez, Ambassador of Spain to Egypt, Ms. Clémence Vidal de la Blache, French Development Agency (AFD) Country Director in Egypt and Mr. Stephane Guimbert, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti.
Note:
All joint programmes of the Joint SDG Fund are led by UN Resident Coordinators and implemented by the agencies, funds and programmes of the United Nations development system. With sincere appreciation for the contributions from the European Union and Governments of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and our private sector funding partners, for a transformative movement towards achieving the SDGs by 2030.
