African Debt Conference Opens with Focus on Feminist Economics
This year's conference in Maputo holds special significance due to its feminist focus and the city's historical connection to gender equality initiatives.
MAPUTO, Mozambique — The 4th African Conference on Debt and Development (AfCoDD IV) opened Wednesday in Maputo, Mozambique, with a focus on examining Africa's debt crisis through a feminist perspective, writes Winston Mwale.
Jason Rosario Braganza, Executive Director of the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD), emphasized the importance of the conference during a press briefing.
"We try to bring a Pan-African perspective on the issues of debt that are affecting our country, our continent and our people," Braganza said.
"We believe it's something that's very important, that we need to understand how issues of public debt affect citizens."
Braganza highlighted the critical nature of the debt crisis, stating, "Over 27 African countries are paying more in debt servicing than they are in investments in health and education."
The conference aims to address the growing concern over public debt's impact on essential services.
"When we have a lot of debt, many countries are having to pay the debt back to their creditors, instead of paying money and investing money in public services like health, education and other public services," Braganza explained.
This year's conference in Maputo holds special significance due to its feminist focus and the city's historical connection to gender equality initiatives.
"We're very excited to be here in Maputo having this conversation to understand how far the Maputo Protocol has gone in advancing the status of women on our continent," Braganza added.
The three-day event will explore public debt, public finance, and strategies for African nations to become "rule-makers and not rule-takers" in the global economic system.