Platforms that Perform: Navigating Country Platform Implementation

Country platforms—mechanisms that align national priorities, policy reforms, investment pipelines, and financing from diverse partners—are gaining momentum amid broader turbulence in development and climate finance. With official aid in retreat, many emerging markets and developing economies are turning to platforms to mobilize resources, strengthen ownership, and coordinate across fragmented systems. Yet this strong interest risks disappointment if platforms are deployed in contexts where they cannot deliver, or if expectations exceed what they can achieve in implementation, potentially contributing to broader disillusionment with development assistance. This paper focuses on the complex implementation choices that impact the effectiveness of country platforms. Drawing on more than 50 interviews with government officials, development partners, private sector actors, and civil society, we examine the binding constraints that platforms can and cannot address, as well as the risks associated with misaligned ambition, weak coordination, and fragile political settlements. We highlight four critical issues that impact implementation and offer recommendations for how to navigate them: delivering genuine country ownership and leadership; sequencing launches to sustain momentum; calibrating scope to deliver both near-term benefits and long-term transformation; and structuring capital in ways that unlock complementary public and private finance. We hope to inspire reflection on when platforms are the best approach and to help shape emerging platforms so that they are best positioned to deliver.