Financialisation & Human Rights Project

About this programme

The Financialisation and Human Rights Project examines how the growing dominance of private finance in development – often promoted by the IMF, World Bank and other international financial institutions – affects human rights, social justice and public accountability. In an era of shrinking aid budgets, austerity and global economic instability, this initiative seeks to challenge the harmful consequences of financialisation and build alternative approaches that center people and planet over profit.

Key focus areas of this Project include:

Criticising financialisation in development: the project analyses how IMF and World Bank policies promote financialisation – such as encouraging private capital flows and market-based reforms – that often lead to reduced public investment and increased vulnerability to financial crises.

Highlighting human rights impacts: by documenting cases where financialisation has led to austerity measures, cuts in social spending and privatisation of essential services, the project underscores the adverse effects on economic and social rights, particularly for marginalised communities.

Advocating for rights-based alternatives: the initiative collaborates with civil society organisations to promote economic policies that uphold human rights, including equitable public financing, robust social protection systems and democratic accountability in economic decision-making.

Through research, advocacy and partnerships, the Financialisation and Human Rights Project seeks to shift the narrative towards an economic framework that centers human dignity and social justice.