Somalia’s Minister of Finance, Biixi Imaan Cige, has held talks with UNDP Somalia Resident Representative Christophoros Politis during a visit to the Ministry of Finance in Mogadishu, with discussions focusing on strengthening cooperation and improving financing plans for the country’s development priorities.
The meeting comes as Somalia continues efforts to strengthen its public financial system and coordinate different sources of financing to support national development programmes. A key focus of the discussions was the Integrated National Financing Framework, known as INFF.
The ministry and UNDP discussed the implementation of the INFF, coordination among government institutions and the development of financing plans aligned with Somalia’s national priorities.
The INFF is designed to help governments coordinate domestic and international sources of finance and align them with national development objectives. UNDP says more than 80 countries are developing or implementing such frameworks as part of efforts to strengthen sustainable financing systems.
Somalia has been working with UNDP on the development of its own financing framework, with the process intended to identify additional financing opportunities and improve coordination between government institutions and development partners.
The framework could also help Somalia identify potential financing from domestic resources, international partners and the private sector, while linking those resources more closely to national development priorities.
Direct Quote: “The INFF provides a strategic framework to identify financing opportunities, strengthen coordination and align financing with the country’s development priorities,” UNDP has said in relation to Somalia’s financing efforts.
The two sides also discussed opportunities to expand UNDP’s technical support to the Federal Government of Somalia, particularly in areas linked to development programmes, financing strategies and institutional coordination.
Christophoros Politis recently took up his role as UNDP Somalia’s Resident Representative. UNDP has described him as an international development professional with more than two decades of experience working on development, governance and programmes in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
Indirect Quote: UNDP has indicated that its continued partnership with Somalia is intended to support the country’s development priorities while strengthening institutions and improving their capacity to mobilise and manage financial resources.
The meeting highlights the growing importance of coordinated financing as Somalia seeks to expand domestic revenue, attract investment and secure resources for national development programmes.
For the government, strengthening coordination between public institutions and development partners remains a key part of efforts to ensure that available financing is directed towards the country’s most pressing priorities.
The post Somalia and UNDP Strengthen Cooperation on National Financing first appeared on Radio Dalsan.
