admin | July 17, 2025
Farm Radio International’s Just Communication Network department recently wrapped up an impactful four-week online discussion on Debt and Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), bringing together approximately 210 English-speaking participants from across Africa. Media professionals from countries like Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe actively engaged, with 59 participants earning certificates for their consistent participation.
The primary goals of this discussion were clear: to raise awareness about how debt and IFFs impact individuals, communities, and nations; to foster learning and knowledge-sharing among media professionals to enhance their programming; and to encourage community-based reporting and action for greater financial transparency.
Participants delved into the fundamental definitions of debt and IFFs, sharing perspectives rooted in their local and national contexts. Debt was commonly understood as borrowed money or resources with a promise of future repayment, usually with interest. As Fletcher from Malawi powerfully put it, “Debt is when you borrow today and repay tomorrow—with your sweat.”
A key distinction emerged between household-level debt and national debt. Household-level debt is often driven by survival needs or societal pressure. It was noted that women are disproportionately affected by household debt, frequently resorting to high-interest informal lenders due to limited access to formal banking loans. National debt on the other hand is the total amount of money that a government owes to its creditors. This debt accumulates over time when a government spends more money than it collects in revenue in a given period, resulting in a budget deficit. To cover these deficits, governments borrow money. A significant portion of a country’s budget goes towards servicing the national debt, meaning paying interest on the money borrowed, leaving less money available for essential public services. A staggering 93% of participants confirmed that their country’s national debt directly affects them.
Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) were defined as money acquired, moved, or used illegally or secretively. Causes ranged from corruption and bribes to tax evasion, smuggling, and unrecorded money transfers. Interestingly, many participants revealed they had not previously connected local corruption or remittances to the broader issue of IFFs before this discussion.
The discussion brought to light the significant role of social and cultural factors in contributing to debt and IFFs, particularly gender inequality and the normalization of debt. Women, with often limited financial access, are more vulnerable to exploitative lending schemes, especially when seeking funds for essential needs like children’s education or medical emergencies. In some communities, borrowing for social events like weddings is encouraged without proper financial education, leading to unsustainable debt.
Through compelling case studies, participants explored the tangible consequences of debt and IFFs. These included lost educational opportunities, the perpetuation of poverty cycles, exacerbated gender inequality and abuse, corruption in health budgets, over-invoicing, and the use of ghost suppliers. Such issues directly translate into a lack of vital public services, from inadequate roads and healthcare access to increased school dropouts. It became clear that debt isn’t just a national concern; it directly impacts households and communities. Furthermore, IFFs, though often hidden in plain sight through everyday transactions and systemic loopholes, disproportionately affect women. When public services like water, healthcare, or childcare are not catered for or non-existent due to insufficient funding as a result of IFFs, the burden of providing these services often falls on women. Women spend more time fetching water, caring for the sick, or looking after children and the elderly, which limits their opportunities for education and paid employment. This reinforces traditional gender roles and deepens gender inequality.
Participants proposed a range of practical solutions to tackle debt and IFFs:
- Transparent Budgeting: Governments must publicly disclose budgets, including debt obligations and donor fund utilization.
- Strengthening Institutions: Empowering audit offices, anti-corruption bodies, and revenue authorities to operate independently.
- Debt Management Reforms: Implementing borrowing limits and laws to ensure accountability in loan usage.
- Asset Recovery Frameworks: Collaborating with international financial institutions to trace and repatriate stolen assets.
- Debt Cancellation or Relief: Advocating for this for heavily indebted poor countries, especially when loans were misused or unfairly structured.
- Technology Integration: Utilizing Blockchain and AI tools to track financial flows and enhance transparency in public procurement.
- Information Dissemination and Awareness: Leveraging radio to simplify complex debt and IFF issues for broader public understanding.
- Civic engagement: Citizens should question how public funds are used and participate in budgeting processes.
- Whistleblower protection: Support people who report corruption or misuse of funds.
- Youth involvement: Empower youth to understand financial literacy and advocate for reforms.
The discussion concluded with a strong call to humanize the conversation around debt and IFFs, emphasizing the urgent need for media partnerships with civil society groups. By documenting and exposing real-life consequences, particularly through community radio and storytelling, grassroots experiences can be brought to the forefront. Participants universally stressed the importance of financial literacy at household and youth levels, stronger government accountability frameworks, and the media’s vital role in informing and engaging communities to halt the “bleeding” of public resources.
The valuable insights shared during the discussion were greatly enhanced by expert guests, Prince Hasevi (Ghana) and Christian Maduka (Nigeria).