We are happy to announce the release of our comprehensive policy brief analysing key African priorities for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), scheduled for mid-2025 in Spain. The brief examines critical financing challenges and opportunities in the African region amid growing global polarization and faltering progress toward Sustainable Development Goals.
Authored by Karim Karaki (ECDPM), San Bilal (ECDPM), and Kathrin Berensmann (IDOS), with contributions from Niels Keijzer (IDOS), Yabibal Walle (IDOS), Iliana Olivié (ETTG, Elcano), and Damien Barchiche (IDDRI).
Key takeaways include
- African stakeholders emphasize strengthening domestic resource mobilization through developing local capital markets, improving tax collection systems, and addressing illicit financial flows.
- The brief highlights the importance of reforming the G20 Common Framework for debt treatment and addressing challenges with credit rating agencies that affect African nations’ access to financing.
- Special attention is given to optimizing external financial flows, including the rechanneling of Special Drawing Rights through multilateral development banks and fostering climate finance alongside development finance.
- The analysis reveals significant alignment between African and European Union priorities, suggesting opportunities for enhanced partnership based on mutual interests and common goals.
The report provides detailed insights into African financial priorities and practical recommendations for strengthening international development financing frameworks.
This publication is part of a series of three briefs examining perspectives from different regions of the Global South on FfD4. It reflects ongoing ETTG work on FfD4 preparations in the framework of a partnership with the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
