Why should feminists be concerned about the promotion of private finance for development?

November 2026

What this members' meeting was about

Private finance is increasingly presented on the international stage as the answer to declining aid flows, often framed through the so-called ‘development finance gap’. As aid budgets shrink, this narrative, and the initiatives that come with it, is gaining ground in policy spaces. It is therefore urgent that gender and social justice experts have the tools and understanding to engage with policy-makers on this form of resourcing.

This GADN members’ meeting briefed members on the international development private finance agenda and on how feminist civil society is responding to it. We wanted to embolden members to take a critical look at the narrative being presented, situating it in the broader context of international development economics and encouraging a feminist decolonial lens of questioning.

We heard from expert speakers working on development finance and gender justice: María José Romero (Eurodad), Bhumika Muchhala (Third World Network and The New School) and Alex Farley (Bond), alongside the GADN Secretariat. They examined the growing role of private finance within international development, considered the narratives driving this agenda, and discussed how feminist and social justice movements are responding.

Please note only the panel session and part of the Q&A was recorded.

Please also find Maria Jose Romero’s slides shared here.