MENA Fem Movement for Economical, Development and Ecological Justice

Civil Society Policy Forum 2024: Centering Wellbeing Economics: Rethinking Development in the Global South

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Civil Society Policy Forum (CSPF) session at the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings 2024: “Centering Wellbeing Economics: Rethinking Development in the Global South.”

This session will critically examine how extractive investments in the Global South perpetuate inequality and hinder sustainable development. Through a feminist and people-centered lens, the discussion will challenge the growth-driven models promoted by international financial institutions (IFIs) and propose alternatives rooted in local knowledge, justice, and environmental sustainability.

Session Overview:

Date: 24 October, 2024

Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Venue:  World Bank I 2-220, Washington, D.C.

Session Description:

The Global South faces a critical juncture in development, as extractive investments in oil, gas, renewable energy, and agriculture sectors often replicate neocolonial patterns of exploitation. These investments, championed by institutions like the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), prioritize profit over the well-being of local communities, undermining sustainable development and deepening social and economic inequalities.

This session will unpack these dynamics through the analysis of case studies from Egypt, Morocco, Argentina, Pakistan, and Suriname, drawing on research evidence to demonstrate the harmful impacts of extractivism. The discussion will center on the role that IFIs play in promoting unsustainable growth models and explore pathways for rethinking development through the lens of wellbeing economics.

Panelists:

  • Fiza QureshiGas Campaigner at Big Shift Global
  • Farah Galal – Gender and Economic Justice Officer at MENAFem Movement
  • Leandro Gomez – Investment and Human Rights Programme Coordinator at FARN
  • Daniela Berdeja – Sovereign Debt Analyst and Manager of the LAC Vulnerability Atlas at Latindadd
  • Ghiwa Nakat – Executive Director, Greenpeace MENA

Moderator:

  • Claire O’Manique – Public Finance Analyst, Oil Change International

To attend this session in person or virtually, you must already be registered and confirmed to attend the IMF-WB 2024 Annual Meetings.