Power in Perspective: LMIC voices on Justice, Solidarity and Systemic Reform

The speed and scale of recent aid cuts by the UK and other donors could accelerate major shifts in the global development landscape. These cuts are prompting urgent conversations about the role of governments and institutions in the global North – particularly regarding their policies, financing practices, and historic legacies – in shaping international development in lower- and middle-income countries.

Policy and advocacy staff within Bond member organisations and across the sector will play a crucial role in shaping how their organisations respond at this moment, as well as in influencing the UK Government’s approach.

This session offered an opportunity to hear from advocates and organisers from low and middle income countries questioning existing models, surfacing and creating alternatives rooted in justice and equity and imagining new ways to navigate today’s challenges to shift power in meaningful ways.

In the webinar we heard reactions to the nature and scale of the aid cuts, and provide an opportunity to build your knowledge and understanding of the wider set of policy asks from experts and activists in these countries towards a justice-led future.

Session Highlights:

• Economics for people and planet (Climate justice)
  Speaker: Martha Bekele, DevTransform: The current economic system is failing many and fuelling climate breakdown. Inequality is deepening, and mass consumption is breaching planetary boundaries. ‘Development’ must be redefined. In this session, LMIC activists share how they are advancing a just transition on their own terms – and what the UK can do, both at home and globally, to support them.
• International Architecture
  Speaker: Vitalice Meja, Reality of Aid Africa Network: Institutions like the OECD DAC, IMF and World Bank reflect colonial legacies and still shape global development. There are growing calls for a fairer system that gives equal voice and power to those most affected by today’s crises. You will hear more on existing demands to transform the governance of global finance, multilateral institutions and development cooperation.
  Learn more about Bond’s work on Financing for Development (FfD4) through our International Financial Architecture Working Group which any member is welcome to join.
  Bond’s latest blog on FfD4: Limited resources, greater responsibility: the UK must support global financial architecture reform at FfD4
  
• Financing (Reparations)
  Speaker: Dr Sheray Warmington, Political Scientist: There is growing momentum to move beyond charity-based aid models towards justice-based approaches such as reparations. You will hear LMIC perspectives on re-framing international public financing in this way and the types of models, policies and processes that would be required.
• Agency, solidarity and civic space
  Speaker: Gina Romero, UN Special Rapporteur: In a context of shrinking civic space, civil society remains vital as a route to voice, freedom, rights and accountability. Agency and solidarity are central to protecting this space and enabling people to organise, challenge power and shape their futures. You will hear how partnerships and movement building rooted in justice can strengthen civic space and support a more equitable development future.
  Find out more about our civic space work and how to get involved here: https://www.bond.org.uk/what-we-do/civil-society-and-civic-space/.
  For further information or to connect directly, feel free to reach out to Rowan or Bibusa through email: [email protected] and [email protected].

Chaired and moderated by Lena Bheeroo, Head, Anti-racism & Equity, Bond.
Webinar slides