Finance Our Future : Young Woman's Reflections from the FfD3 in Addis, Ethiopia

Women for a Change Cameroon

Published by Wfac Team, August 27, 2015

One can’t talk of development without talking about gender justice and financing,Nancy Makeoh (@MakeohMafor), Wfac Cameroon (@Wfaccmr) Community Outreach Manager shares her reflections from FfD3 in Addis, Ethiopia.

Its over a month since I returned from Ethiopia from the FfD3 summit where I was privileged to represent Wfac Cameroon (@Wfaccmr), thanks to the nomination and sponsorship of  Femnet. 

The Third Financing for Development (FfD3) took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, July 13-16, 2015. Prior to the summit, I was had the privilege to attend a couple of important side events and meetings, while also working with the Women’s Working Group on Financing for Development (WWG on FfD) to ensure that the FfD3 recognises the need to invest in women’s and girls’ human rights, health, education and leadership.

The FfD3 summit was quite timely especially now when world leaders will soon adopt a global development agenda. It is therefore of extreme importance to address responsive financing for development: for one can’t talk of development without talking about gender justice and financing.

The topics discussed at the summit were cross-cutting, though of global and local importance. Some of the key items that were discussed include though not limited to;

• Tax justice and domestic resource mobilization
• Private finance
• International public finance
• Debt, trade, systematic issues and technology
• Data, follow-up and review

Of all the discussions, I got very much interested in tax justice and domestic resource mobilization. This was a learning session for me especially to see how politicised tax discourses were been addressed at the global level and what the United Nations thinks about it and also how resources will be allocated to facilitate the achievement of the sustainable development goals to make it a success.

“We all pay tax - directly or indirectly; whether or not we have a formal and/or informal job, employed and/or unemployed. The only difference amongst tax payers is how equitable are their tax benefits”, says Zoneziwoh Mbondgulo Wondieh, WFAC Executive Director during the FfD3 campaign for Action2015

“The issue of tax justice did not start today”, says one participant at the FfD3, it has been there even before the first and second international conference on the financing for development (FfD) that were held in Monterrey and Doha 2002 and 2008 respectively.

As a young woman whose future, education and health, strongly rely on the decision world leaders will make this September 2015, it was important to watch political leaders and business tycoons playing with words about financing our future. Nonetheless, I feel empowered and more informed around development financing, tax justice and domestic resource mobilization. Just listening to great minds share their wisdom and expertise on how our future can be far more better for all if each one of us plan and invest wisely. The discussion also broadened my scope and understanding around challenges women face because of tax injustice, and the advantages of tax justices most importantly on women considering the fact that, women most often are the ones involve in doing small businesses and are been asked to pay high taxes. Another key issue which I feel is worth noting from the meeting was taxation challenges faced at regional level, how the allocation of domestic resources can improve gender equality and women economic empowerment.

The FfD3 concluded with an the adoption of an Addis Abeba Action Agenda on financing the post-2015 sustainable development agenda over the next 15 years and beyond.

The experience in Addis was very enriching and I left the summit with more stronger sense and hope that we can all do it. All that needed is just the will to make financing development agenda work for women and girls health and education.