Overview
MENA Fem Movement for Economic, Development, and Ecological Justice (MENAFem) is a regional civil society movement established in 2023. It brings together organisations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to advance economic, social and ecological justice.
Its mission is to challenge poverty, inequality and exclusion through intersectional feminist principles, human rights and community participation. The movement advocates economic systems that prioritise equitable development and environmental sustainability.
menafem movement
Mission and focus areas
MENAFem focuses on debt justice, economic inequality, austerity, climate finance, gender equality and reform of international financial institutions. Its research examines how fiscal policies, debt arrangements and development financing affect women, marginalised communities and ecological sustainability.
Its activities relate to sustainable finance through advocacy for equitable climate funding, accountable development finance and a just energy transition. The movement promotes feminist economic approaches to assessing financial policies and their social and environmental consequences.
Structure and governance
MENAFem operates as a collaborative network of local and regional civil society organisations rather than a conventional commercial institution. It was founded by Shereen Talaat, who serves as Director and coordinates its economic, developmental and ecological justice activities.
The movement works with feminist economists, researchers, campaigners and partner organisations through regional coalitions and international advocacy platforms. Its governance approach emphasises collective participation, collaboration and representation of communities affected by economic and environmental policies.
Programs and offerings
MENAFem produces policy research, advocacy statements, analytical articles and educational resources examining debt, austerity, climate justice and economic governance. Its campaigns include debt justice initiatives and participation in international discussions concerning the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
Its programmes include the annual Feminist Economics School, the Circle of Arab Feminist Economists and Austerity Radio, a podcast examining feminist economic alternatives. These activities combine research, training, public engagement and knowledge exchange.
For finance and sustainability practitioners, MENAFem’s publications provide perspectives on sovereign debt, development finance, gender-responsive economic policy and climate finance. Its work is particularly relevant to assessing the distributional consequences of financial decisions and sustainability policies in developing economies.
Our Mission
Our mission is to address poverty, deprivation, inequality and lack of fundamental democratic rights by empowering vulnerable communities and groups to resist all forms of injustice and inequality by providing jointly developed tools, supports, and strategies. This includes enabling them to participate in the development of equitable alternative policies focused on human rights, strengthening links and cooperation with African and global movements, as well as influencing decision-making processes related to debt management, development finance and climate justice.
