Focusing on the Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF), stakeholders engaged in strategic presentations on the needs and mapping of financing for development in Cameroon and the new financial landscape for the mobilisation of internal, international, and alternative finance. This included a presentation by UNDP Cameroon’s Senior Economist, Ms. Ginette Mondongou Camara, on the experiences of the INFF in Africa and how the framework can mobilise resources and investment. The second half of the forum engaged the stakeholders through thematic presentations on sector-based issues (financing of productive infrastructure, agricultural value chains, social services, the private sector, local development, climate change). After the thematic sessions, the stakeholders engaged in plenary discussions, which were interspersed with recommendations. These recommendations will be set out in an action plan that will enable the Government to ensure the effective implementation of the integrated financing strategy, with a view to mobilising additional financing for the implementation of the NDS30 and thus boosting structural transformation and inclusive and sustainable development. The participants welcomed the initiative of the Forum and recommended its regular organisation to strengthen the dialogue on development.

The forum was organised within the framework of the Joint SDG Fund project, whose objective is to support the Cameroon Government in drawing up and implementing an Integrated National Financing Framework (INFF) to create a conducive environment and strengthen the capacity of mobilisation of financing for the National Development Strategy, aligned with the SDGs; strengthening functions, processes, and financial policy and planning systems and their mainstreaming; and conducting studies, including a feasibility study for a One SDG Fund in Cameroon, as innovative financing mechanisms for VSE/SME.

Key achievements of the project include Snapshots on business opportunities in the flour, timber, and fishing sub-sectors; Costing of the NDS30; Updating the Assessment of Development Finance (DFA); Integrated National Financing Framework (draft); Promotion of gender-sensitive budgeting tools by the 2023 gender-sensitive finance law through the adoption of the circular on the integration and evaluation of gender-sensitive budgeting in the state budget; Strategy of mobilisation of innovative finance and green funds; Strategy of mobilisation of local financing in 12 pilot councils; SDG Acceleration Framework Paper (DCAR 30); A feasibility study of the One SDG Fund for the financing of VSME in the agro-industrial and agri-food sectors; Development of two applications for funding monitoring and for the assessment of the impact of public policies and SDGs at the national and local levels.