As I stepped into the Third Preparatory Committee Session for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), I felt both hope and trepidation. The world stands at a critical juncture, facing climate crises, mounting debt, and widening inequalities. Yet, as a young African feminist, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the same challenges we’ve grappled with for years continue to haunt us. The conference promised solutions, but would it finally deliver meaningful change? With this question burning in my mind, I prepared to navigate a space where voices like mine are often sidelined, determined to push for a financial system that truly serves all—especially people of the majority world.

The FfD Conference: A Platform for Change

The FfD conference is a platform for reimagining financial systems to support the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key discussions focused on debt sustainability, climate financing, and the urgent need for innovative financial solutions. But beyond the policy jargon and negotiations, I saw a fundamental struggle: the tension between global financial institutions clinging to outdated systems and the growing movement demanding real, equitable change.

Developing countries, particularly the G77 and China, called for fairer trade policies and the elimination of exploitative mechanisms like Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). Civil society organizations, including young activists and feminist advocates, emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and meaningful inclusion in decision-making processes, challenging the patriarchal and neocolonial structures that perpetuate inequality. Although ideas like green bonds and debt swaps were discussed, frustration grew over the slow pace of progress and the absence of decisive action on debt relief and climate justice.

The Disconnect Between Policy and Reality

While I sat in these high-level meetings, I couldn’t help but feel an undeniable disconnect between what was being discussed and the reality I know firsthand. Conversations on financing education, healthcare, and economic justice felt hollow when framed by financial constraints imposed by unjust global economic structures.

• Who decides what development means?
• Who benefits?
• Who is left behind?

Despite annual discussions, progress feels agonizingly slow. Why do we keep revisiting the same issues? The lack of transparency and accountability in these negotiations is a manufactured obstacle. Civil society groups, including the FfD CSO Mechanism, have repeatedly raised concerns about closed-door decision-making and the tokenistic engagement of grassroots organizations. I witnessed firsthand how these barriers stifle meaningful change.

Urgent Issues at the FfD4 Conference

1. Debt Sustainability

The Global South is trapped in a cycle of debt repayment at the expense of essential services like education and healthcare. This system is unsustainable and must be reformed. Debts should be canceled.

As Thomas Sankara once said:

“Debt cannot be repaid. If we don’t repay, lenders will not die—that is certain. But if we repay, we will die—that is also certain… They played, they lost—that’s the rule of the game, and life goes on. We cannot repay because we lack the means to do so. We cannot pay because we are not responsible for this debt.”

2. Climate Financing

While innovative solutions like green bonds and debt swaps were discussed, these solutions must be seen for the profit-driven deception they are and rejected. Climate finance must be new and additional—and must be debt-free. We need a far greater commitment from high-income countries to ensure climate justice.

3. Private Sector Engagement

The role of private actors in development financing is growing, but stronger regulatory frameworks are needed to prevent exploitative practices.

4. Youth Engagement

With 1.8 billion young people worldwide, their involvement is not optional—it is essential. However, without concrete financial commitments, youth participation remains performative.

A Feminist Approach to Finance

A feminist approach to financing is not just about including women; it’s about rethinking the entire system to center equity and justice. It means dismantling economic structures that:

• Prioritize profit over people
• Reinforce gender disparities
• Exclude the very voices that should be leading the way

The UN remains a critical player in fostering global cooperation, but it must do better. New frameworks under negotiation should focus on democratizing existing mechanisms to genuinely serve the interests of Global South countries. The right to development must be at the core of these efforts.

The Time to Act is Now

The FfD conference reaffirmed my belief that we must demand more—more transparency, inclusion, and accountability. I refuse to accept a world where financial policies are shaped in ways that exclude those most affected. As young African women, Global South feminist advocates, and individuals committed to justice, we must push harder, speak louder, and demand better.

Walking away from this conference, I carry a mix of emotions. I have witnessed the resilience of African civil society organizations fighting for a just financial system, but I have also seen how deeply entrenched the barriers are. The disappointment of seeing slow progress weighs heavily, but it does not weaken my resolve.

I entered this space with questions, and I left with even more. But I also leave with a renewed sense of purpose. This is not just about policies—it’s about lives. And I will continue to stand, advocate, and fight for a world where financial justice is not just an aspiration but a reality.

We cannot afford to wait. The time to act is now.