Debt justice in Southern Africa

ZimCODD / CAFOD / sapsn

This project will strengthen citizen-led action to address the sovereign debt crisis in the Southern African region, with particular focus on Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. The initiative will strengthen a vibrant and diverse regional debt movement. Project partners will conduct citizen-led campaigns to pressure governments and creditors to adopt measures for debt relief and restructuring; increase public oversight over new borrowing operations; improve capacity to prevent irresponsible lending; and amplify the voices of an expanded base of allied movements to foster debt accountability.

Why it matters

Africa is the continent most heavily impacted by sovereign debt. Debt relief from international lenders must be linked to domestic monitoring and transparency mechanisms. National governments must be held to account for their debt decision-making processes and must be transparent about how funds are spent to realize domestic priorities for a just, green, feminist transition and care economy. The project also focuses on the United Kingdom and the Southern Africa Development Community as entry point jurisdictions to leverage change for countries under debt stress.