The Fetish of FDI vs. Economic Determination
Channel: Regions Refocus
Date: 2015-04-21

Timed to coincide with the joint session of the post-2015 sustainable development negotiations and the process towards the Third Conference on Financing for Development (FfD3), this Virtual Teach-In examines the “Fetish” of Foreign Direct Investment vs. Economic Determination. Through a historical and regionally-specific presentation, drawing on its panelists' experiences in West Africa, East Africa, the Pacific, and the Arab States, this teach-in explains foreign direct investment (FDI). Further, it provides a contextual overview of the prevalence, or “fetish,” of this topic in both the discussions around the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and the parallel process around the Third Conference on Financing for Development. The teach-in participants analyze, and propose alternatives to, the current hegemony around private finance in the mainstream development discussions ongoing at the United Nations and elsewhere. 

The Fetish for FDI Virtual Teach-In includes: 
• Dereje Alemayehu of Tax Justice Network-Africa (opening remarks) 
• Ikal Ang’elei, Friends of Lake Turkana 
• Ziad Abdel Samad, Arab NGO Network for Development 
• Tetteh Hormeku, Third World Network-Africa 
• Noelene Nabulivou, Diverse Voices and Action for Equality 
• Nancy Alexander, Heinrich Boell Foundation (moderator)