This webinar will explore debt justice and reparations as solidarity-based alternatives to traditional forms of development “aid,” especially in light of the current crises of the "aid" system.  

Three experts, bringing diverse regional perspectives from Africa and Latin America as well as global insights, will examine the current state of the debt crisis in their regions and globally. They will share common advocacy goals, ongoing reform efforts, and concrete recommendations for achieving development without reliance on external debt or the traditional “aid” paradigm.

We will discuss:

• Reparations and reparative justice from a pan–African perspective;

• Responsible lending and borrowing, and cancellation of illegitimate debt;

• Africa- and Latin America-led proposals for structural reform of the global financial architecture to address systemic inequalities rooted in colonialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and neocolonialism;

• Advocacy strategies ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), and in support of the establishment of a UN Framework Convention on Sovereign Debt.

This session is open to a broad, non–specialist international cooperation audience—including professionals, graduate students, and staff from small and large organizations—regardless of prior familiarity with the international neoliberal financial system, debt, or reparations. Participants are encouraged to submit questions for the speakers in advance (in English, Spanish, or French) to mara.luna@kuja.org.

Speakers

Priya Lukka is an economist in international development working globally to understand alternative realities and perspectives to neoliberalism through raising awareness of communities working for repair and reparations, which is also the focus of her PhD enquiry. Priya has most recently worked as Macroeconomist, covering the region of Asia, at the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the United Nations, and as Chief Development Economist for Christian Aid.  

Catherine Mithia is the Policy Research & Advocacy Officer for Sovereign Debt Management at the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development – AFRODAD. As a published author, she has contributed insightful work on governance, the impact of illicit financial flows, and the role of credit rating agencies, offering a nuanced African perspective. Her work focuses on delivering research–backed policy alternatives that promote innovative and sustainable solutions to development challenges across Africa.

Daniela Berdeja Ruiz is the Sovereign Debt Analyst and Coordinator of the LAC Vulnerability Atlas at the Latin American Network for Economic, Social and Climate Justice (LATINDADD). In this role, she leads regional coordination efforts to map and systematize key economic, financial, social, and climate indicators across Latin America. Daniela is a Bolivian economist and engineer with expertise in quantitative methods for economic analysis, sustainable and economic development research, and policy work related to financing and sovereign debt. Her work also explores the intersections between gender and austerity policies.

Mara Tissera Luna (moderator), KujaLearn Content Advisor.

Date and time: June 5, 2025

• PST, USA – 09:00
• Mexico City, Mexico – 10:00
• EST, USA – 12:00
• Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro – 13:00
• London, UK – 16:00
• Geneva, Madrid –  17:00
• Cape Town, South Africa – 18:00
• Nairobi, Kenya – 19:00
• Delhi, India – 22:00

Duration: 1.15 hour – Language: English with live interpretation into Spanish and French.