GCAP Latin America and the Caribbean (GCAP LAC) pushed forward the global call for economic justice, debt cancellation and people-centered development at the United Nations Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville conducted on 30 June – 3 July 2025. Six members of GCAP LAC took part in official sessions, civil society forums and side events, amplifying the voices of the region and demanding structural reforms in the global financial system.

GCAP LAC in collaboration with Latindadd helped consolidate alliances across civil society networks and ensured that the perspectives of excluded communities were heard in debates on international cooperation, financing and human rights.

Civil Society Spaces: Feminist and Civil Society Forums

GCAP LAC members engaged in two major civil society gatherings. At the Feminist Forum, activists pushed for gender-transformative solutions, calling for feminist fiscal policies that put human rights and inequality reduction at the center of development financing.

At the Civil Society Forum, GCAP leaders emphasized structural reforms.

• Mauro Pereira (GCAP Brazil – Defensores Do Planeta) highlighted the urgent need to address climate finance in both FfD4 and the upcoming COP30 in Brazil, warning against false solutions.
• Carlos De León (GCAP Dominican Republic – CIPAF) reaffirmed the commitment to feminist struggles and economic justice.

Civil society criticised the draft outcome—the “Seville Commitment”—as falling short of addressing inequalities, ecological crises and human rights violations.

GCAP Interventions at the UN Forum

Representing the Civil Society Mechanism, Henry from Guatemala challenged governments to view cooperation as reparative justice, not charity. He stressed the need for democratic economic governance and rights-based reforms.

GCAP also engaged with governments directly, sharing its vision on cooperation, fiscal and social justice and critiquing the final document. This helped foster dialogue and visibility for civil society’s demands.

Key Demands and Proposals

Throughout FfD4, GCAP LAC and its allies pressed for:

• Cancellation of illegitimate debts
• New global tax rules to curb evasion and tax havens
• Taxation of transnational corporations and wealthy individuals
• Accessible and adequate climate finance
• Issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to support SDG implementation

Civil society also underscored the urgent need to redirect resources from military spending to health, education, climate and poverty eradication.

Mobilisation for Economic Justice

GCAP also launched its Mobilization for Economic Justice march, which brought together hundreds of activists in a show of unity and resistance against the current economic model. The campaign aims to sustain global advocacy, strengthen alliances and keep economic justice demands alive in international debates.

Reflections on FfD4

• Civil society felt largely excluded from central negotiations, despite the presence of over 1,000 representatives.
• The “Seville Commitment” acknowledges challenges but avoids confronting root causes, particularly Global North dominance over financial institutions.
• The document’s treatment of gender and climate is weak, overlooking feminist contributions and the urgency of climate action.
• Nonetheless, civil society coordination reached new heights, with effective organisation and visible mobilisation. 

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