On 15th October 2025, on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, Development Reimagined, in partnership with the African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), and the Institute for Economic Justice, convened a high-level panel discussion titled “Borrower’s Coordination: Post-Financing for Development (FFD4) – Where Do We Go from Here?”.
The event brought together policymakers and experts within the international development community to reflect on the recent launch of the UN-Backed Borrowers’ Forum at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville.
The speakers underscored the persistent imbalance in the international financial system, which continues to prioritize creditor interests through mechanisms like the Paris Club, often sidelining borrower countries from critical decision-making processes, leading to limited access to affordable, high-quality financing and inadequate debt relief for many African nations.
Ms Hannah Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined, provided opening remarks, emphasizing the importance of borrowers in working together as a unified front towards securing better terms and address underutilized opportunities for regional integration and cross-border projects.
The event was moderated by Dr. Louis Kasekende, Executive Director of the Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern & Southern Africa (MEFMI), with a great lineup of panelists including Honorable Dr. Chola Milambo, Zambia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr. Yasser Sobhi, Vice Minister of Finance for Fiscal Policy in Egypt, Dr Hodan Osman, Governor of the Somali Development Bank, Mr. Michael Sachs, Representative for the Africa Experts Secretariat, G20 South Africa Secretariat, and Ms Hannah Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined.
Drawing on historical coordination efforts, the panelists emphasized the importance of building permanent borrower-led structures that go beyond crisis response. Below are the top key takeaways:
- Shifting Narratives Through Ownership and Resilience: The need to transform the global story around debt distress with countries implementing the right reforms and maintain ownership of the process.
- Addressing Power Imbalances in Global Finance: Proposal on tilting the playing field towards borrowers by strengthening their collective voices such as forming a ‘debtors club’ without needing creditor approval to drive borrower-led reforms.
- Collaborative Financing for Cross-Border Projects: As a major gap in current financing is the piecemeal approach to cross-border initiatives in Africa, call for borrowers to unite in raising funds collectively as one entity.
- Strengthening Advocacy for Specific Outcomes: Call for finance ministers to prioritize concrete, measurable shifts, such as minimum creditor requests tied to post-COVID spending and the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, to ensure pan-African cooperation delivery on tangible results.
- Tailored Negotiations with Diverse Creditors: The need for African countries in leveraging pan-African solidarity to negotiate effectively but recognize the need on unique terms of different lenders.
The event concluded with closing remarks from Mr Rob Floyd, Director, Innovation and Digital Policy, ACET who stressed that, as the Borrowers’ Forum gains momentum, Development Reimagined, ACET and partners remain committed to supporting African countries in driving reforms that prioritize development and access to long-term, concessional financing.
Watch full event here:
Date published: November 8 ,2025.
