Centering Justice, Peace, and Local Realities: My FfD4 Journey from Nigeria to Sevilla
As I reflect on my participation at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla, Spain, I am deeply encouraged by the power of collective advocacy and equally reminded of the urgent gaps we still need to bridge. Traveling from Nigeria as a delegate and proudly representing WOPEGEE and the TAP Network Steering Committee, I came into FfD4 with a clear purpose: to ensure grassroots civil society voices, particularly from conflict-affected and underfunded contexts, were present and heard. My goal was to spotlight the everyday realities of peacebuilders and justice advocates who work tirelessly with limited or no resources.
Events that framed My Journey
My FfD4 experience began with the powerful Feminist Forum (June 27–28), co-hosted by the Women’s Major Group and supported by UN Women. This was more than a pre-conference event, it was a moment of solidarity and strategic thinking with women across the globe who are challenging the global financing status quo. We called for care-centered economies, intersectional justice, and financing mechanisms that move beyond profit and power toward people and planet.
On June 29, I joined the Civil Society Forum, where global advocates came together to shape our unified positions and push for the recognition of civil society as not just implementers, but equal partners in global development conversations.
One of the most meaningful moments was speaking on the panel at the side event on “Financing for Development in the HDP Nexus: Locally-led Approaches Towards Peaceful, Just, and Inclusive Societies” (June 30). There, I shared insights from WOPEGEE’s work in rural Nigeria; especially on gender responsive peacebuilding, justice systems for GBV survivors, and how local women and youth are shaping reconciliation through trust-based efforts. I emphasized the disconnect between donor frameworks and grassroots needs, and how restrictive funding systems often sideline the very actors delivering real impact.
Working Toward My Goals at FfD4
Before arriving in Sevilla, I set a personal goal to:
- Amplify local civil society realities in global financing debates
- Advance the case for direct, flexible funding for grassroots peacebuilders
- Build alliances with donors and development actors willing to challenge outdated financing models.
I’m proud to say these goals were not only spoken into rooms, they were acted upon through side event contributions, networking, and direct advocacy alongside other TAP and WOPEGEE members.
Main Takeaways from FfD4
As FfD4 concludes, several key reflections stay with me:
📌 The outcome document, though politically significant, is cautious. While it recognizes debt, tax, and climate realities, it falls short in implementation frameworks, especially for SDG16+.
📌 Grassroots peacebuilders are still underfunded. There is growing consensus about the importance of locally-led development, but funding pathways remain centralized, shortterm, and highly technical.
📌 Civil society must keep pushing for transformative change. This means pushing beyond inclusion toward resourcing, co-creation, and accountability.
At WOPEGEE, this means returning home with renewed energy to:
- Expand our work in community-led justice, health access, and peacebuilding
- Strengthen our internal capacity to respond to future global funding opportunities
- Continue advocating within national and regional policy spaces for SDG16+ financing that reaches the last mile.
Gratitude & Solidarity
Dr. Mojisola Akinsanya