This paper presents a conceptual and strategic framework for integrating credit guarantee schemes into national development finance systems through multi-tier risk-sharing models. As development finance seeks to address persistent credit market failures—particularly in financing micro, small, and medium enterprises and other priority sectors—credit guarantees have emerged as pivotal tools for mitigating risk and catalyzing private sector lending. The study begins by establishing the role of risk mitigation instruments in enhancing financial access, then offers a comprehensive definition and taxonomy of guarantee schemes, emphasizing their potential in bridging funding gaps for underserved market segments. Theoretical foundations are explored through the lens of financial risk-sharing, public sector guarantees, and the institutional architecture necessary for effective guarantee deployment. The paper then advances a structural model for multi-tier risk-sharing that distributes credit risk across public institutions, commercial lenders, and international re-guarantors, thereby aligning stakeholder incentives and improving systemic resilience. It also elaborates on operational considerations, such as policy harmonization, stakeholder capacity, and adaptive monitoring that are vital to ensure effective implementation. The concluding sections synthesize strategic insights and propose policy actions to enhance guarantee scheme scalability, transparency, and developmental impact. The paper further outlines future research directions focused on digital innovations, ESG-aligned guarantees, and regional harmonization. Overall, this framework serves as a roadmap for transforming credit guarantees from isolated interventions into integral components of national financial and economic development strategies.