IMPACT
ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE
One day, the factory owner told us they would pay us less for overtime. So, we went on strike.
We had no idea about the consequences. Out of 2,000 workers, it was 92 men and me as the only woman. And we won.
"I was so happy that they agreed. It was during Eid month, and I had a plan with that money. I wanted to buy new clothes for my sisters and my brother, and at least a good meal for the big day. We then went for vacation for three days. When we came back, we saw that factory had put out a list of names of people who joined the strike. They were all fired."
– Kalpona
Kalpona left school at the age of 12 to start working in a garment factory. She moved on to become the founder and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Center for Workers’ Solidarity. She got fired and blacklisted throughout the garment industry. She got arrested, and spent time in jail, just for raising her voice.
But people like Kalpona are fighting an uphill battle.
Leaders are consistently undermining or ignoring international precedents and multilateral frameworks. Accountable and inclusive governance affects the lives of many. And a just world depends on safe and vibrant spaces that allow all people to hold the powerful to account.
OUR WORK
HOLDING THE POWERFUL TO ACCOUNT
Inclusive and accountable governance systems help safeguard human rights, and the need for accountable and inclusive governance has never been more pressing.
Populist and anti-rights agendas are chipping away at the hard-won gains of worldwide movements for human rights and the fight against poverty.
In FY 2022–23 we experienced a decline in democratic values and political stability, with political and security crises and reduced opportunities for citizens to assemble, organize, and express their views. Human rights defenders and activists experienced persecution and violence, and democratic debates were hindered both online and offline by polarization and intolerance. In this challenging context, we tried to maximize participation and influence policies so that governments are held more accountable.
Taking advantage of our wide network of partners and offices, we support, amplify, and connect civil society actors and citizen movements across countries for regional and global initiatives to raise awareness and push for systemic changes.
In countries where legislative changes are limiting access to information and to association, we work in coalition and in solidarity with civil society organizations, national and international allies. Alongside institutions such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, we promote democratic participation and dialogue, supporting women and young people in speaking up in and protecting civic spaces.
Elections are key moments to support the participation of women, young people and marginalized groups, and to hold political representatives accountable to demands for greater equality and social justice.
In the Philippines, Oxfam used creative approaches on popular social media channels to enable and encourage young voters to participate in the electoral process. We called on Filipinos to spend time thinking about what was best for the country, encouraging them to pick electoral candidates who have integrity and a proven track record in helping those who are in need.
The increased digitalization of our societies is presenting more opportunities for activism, but also more threats. Promoting online safe and inclusive activism has been a focus for Oxfam, including the Digital Global Justice project in Spain, El Salvador and Bolivia and work to promote digital rights in many other places .
In all our work, we make every effort to hold the powerful to account.
This includes calling on the IMF and the World Bank to give debt relief to reduce inequality. But we also used regional advocacy opportunities, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) People Summit, which aims to achieve development, peace, security and economic growth for the peoples of Southern Africa.
Our paper, The crisis of extreme inequality in SADC, advocated for Southern African governments to do what their citizens want: increase taxes on the wealthy and large corporations, boost public spending and increase workers’ rights.
The increased digitalization of our societies is presenting more opportunities for activism, but also more threats. Promoting online safe and inclusive activism has been a focus for Oxfam, including the Digital Global Justice project in Spain, El Salvador and Bolivia and work to promote digital rights in many other places.
In all our work, we make every effort to hold the powerful to account.
This includes calling on the IMF and the World Bank to give debt relief to reduce inequality. But we also used regional advocacy opportunities, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) People Summit, which aims to achieve development, peace, security and economic growth for the peoples of Southern Africa.
Our paper, The crisis of extreme inequality in SADC, advocated for Southern African governments to do what their citizens want: increase taxes on the wealthy and large corporations, boost public spending and increase workers’ rights.
OUR WORK ACROSS THE WORLD
TANZANIA, UGANDA
Holding the oil industry to account
As corporate power and vested interests hinder people from exercising their right to decide over oil, gas and mining projects, Oxfam is working with communities to strengthen their calls for justice.
In Uganda, Oxfam has been advocating for transparency in the oil sector and protections of communities impacted by the East Africa crude oil pipeline (EACOP). Construction of the 1443-km pipeline is led by French energy company Total Energies. When finished, it will transport crude oil for export from the Rift Valley to the Indian Ocean. By elevating community grievances, Oxfam and partners secured a commitment from TotalEnergies and from the Ugandan Petroleum Authority for 15% additional increase in compensation to communities that will be displaced by the pipeline. Total Energies in Uganda issued a supportive statement on human rights defenders, aligned with Oxfam’s recommendations.
In Tanzania, Oxfam and partners supported over 100 community members along the EACOP to demand their legal right to information and trained them to monitor extractive activity. Community monitors in Lindi and Mtwara successfully advocated for community’s fair share of extractive revenues as mandated by Tanzanian law, and continue to oversee community development projects, such as schools and clinics, by holding companies accountable to their social responsibility commitments.
Oxfam has also been working with communities and partners to improve accountability in public financial management. It is crucial that as major oil revenues start to flow, the revenues will be invested to benefit affected communities and the population at large.
BOLIVIA, EL SALVADOR, SPAIN
Strengthening digital rights
In 2022–23 Oxfam continued to facilitate research, sharing skills, knowledge and debate around how we can better protect our rights in a digital age.
Between January 2022 and March 2023, Oxfam worked in Spain, in El Salvador and Bolivia, and with the support of Barcelona City Council set up the Digital Global Justice project. This was an exploratory approach which, with a global perspective, drew up reports on the geopolitics of technology and the alternatives proposed by civil societies around the world, and represented its conclusions on an interactive map. The project also considered possible futures, anticipating threats and opportunities.
In Bolivia, Oxfam studied the actors who attack women’s rights and, with the Colectivo Rebeldía, trained activists in cybersecurity, data analysis and digital communication.
In El Salvador, Oxfam explored the mechanisms of disinformation, and worked with journalists to understand digital rights and data analysis tools.
In Barcelona, Oxfam connected with the vibrant ecosystem of organizations and collectives working for a fair digitalization and organized an international conference in February 2023, addressing the impact of digital technologies on people’s rights and lives.
PERU
Don’t let them fool you
#QueNoTeFloreen (‘Don´t let them fool you’) is a new podcast addressing issues such as women’s rights and inequality, the environment, the care economy and tax justice. Started in December 2022 by Oxfam, it gives voice to perspectives rarely heard in traditional mass media and channels and digital spaces in Peru. It can be accessed on Spotify, Apple Podcast and YouTube platforms.
In recent years and even more so during the recent political crisis, the space for democratic debate and protest has been shrinking in Peru, with declining freedom of expression in the media. At the same time, the country faces some of the lowest taxes in Latin America for the wealthy, some of the highest tax inequality, and gender discrimination; in 2022 alone, over 133,000 women reported violence to women’s emergency centers in Peru.
The podcast offers an alternative narrative and gives a platform to civil society and organizations partnered with Oxfam, who are not normally invited to communication spaces in the country, tackling complex issues in an accessible way.
The podcast is gaining an audience, particularly among university students, activists, women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ organizations and other content creators. In the charity rankings for Apple podcasts in Peru, #QueNoTeFloreen recently achieved second place.
UGANDA
Power to Voices
Power to Voices, a self-moderated digital platform and safe space, aims to bring together African activists to continue mobilizing, organizing, building solidarity, sharing and campaigning, amidst increasing crackdowns on the digital civic space, and the continuous curtailing of online freedoms of expression.
This platform was initiated by Oxfam with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Oxfam involved activists and partners from the start during testing and feedback sessions, but the format is determined by the activists themselves.
The organizers have sets of measures to protect the platform from potential threats or attacks, which are reviewed regularly. They also developed ‘non-negotiables’ that they expect everyone joining to abide by. These include ‘lay down your weapons’ – acknowledging others’ views, ‘Do No Harm’ – thinking whether something would be hurtful, being aware of race, gender, age or class privilege, and celebrating diversity. In the organizers’ words: ‘As we maneuver the various forms of injustice we face every day, it is comforting to know that we are not alone, even when censorship is very real and ever-present, especially in the online world.
When we find others who share our views and make our voices heard, it can empower us to fight against what we feel is wrong in our world.’
AUSTRALIA
First Peoples First
In August 2022, more than 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women made Canberra their home for an innovative week-long summit, a meeting to build the women’s skills and knowledge and connect them to the political system.
Since its inception in 2009, the Straight Talk program – part of Oxfam’s First People’s program – has brought together indigenous people and Torres Strait Islander women from across the nation. The program aims to connect First Nation women with Australia’s political system, building their capacity as change-makers and sharing ideas and tools. It fosters relationships with female political representatives, raises awareness of indigenous community issues among parliamentarians, and provides a space for the women to share and learn from each other. Following their participation in Straight Talk, many of the women have gone on to take a more active role in decision-making within their communities. In the words of one facilitator, ‘This is nation building.’
The program has successfully delivered nine national summits and regional gatherings in Alice Springs, Broome, Cairns, Melbourne, Nhulunbuy, Perth, Thursday Island and Townsville. Summits are now held every 18 months, and on alternate years the First Nation women are brought together with others from their regions.
TANZANIA, UGANDA
Holding the oil industry to account
As corporate power and vested interests hinder people from exercising their right to decide over oil, gas and mining projects, Oxfam is working with communities to strengthen their calls for justice.
In Uganda, Oxfam has been advocating for transparency in the oil sector and protections of communities impacted by the East Africa crude oil pipeline (EACOP). Construction of the 1443-km pipeline is led by French energy company Total Energies. When finished, it will transport crude oil for export from the Rift Valley to the Indian Ocean. By elevating community grievances, Oxfam and partners secured a commitment from TotalEnergies and from the Ugandan Petroleum Authority for 15% additional increase in compensation to communities that will be displaced by the pipeline. Total Energies in Uganda issued a supportive statement on human rights defenders, aligned with Oxfam’s recommendations.
In Tanzania, Oxfam and partners supported over 100 community members along the EACOP to demand their legal right to information and trained them to monitor extractive activity. Community monitors in Lindi and Mtwara successfully advocated for community’s fair share of extractive revenues as mandated by Tanzanian law, and continue to oversee community development projects, such as schools and clinics, by holding companies accountable to their social responsibility commitments.
Oxfam has also been working with communities and partners to improve accountability in public financial management. It is crucial that as major oil revenues start to flow, the revenues will be invested to benefit affected communities and the population at large.
BOLIVIA, EL SALVADOR, SPAIN
Strengthening digital rights
In 2022–23 Oxfam continued to facilitate research, sharing skills, knowledge and debate around how we can better protect our rights in a digital age.
Between January 2022 and March 2023, Oxfam worked in Spain, in El Salvador and Bolivia, and with the support of Barcelona City Council set up the Digital Global Justice project. This was an exploratory approach which, with a global perspective, drew up reports on the geopolitics of technology and the alternatives proposed by civil societies around the world, and represented its conclusions on an interactive map. The project also considered possible futures, anticipating threats and opportunities.
In Bolivia, Oxfam studied the actors who attack women’s rights and, with the Colectivo Rebeldía, trained activists in cybersecurity, data analysis and digital communication.
In El Salvador, Oxfam explored the mechanisms of disinformation, and worked with journalists to understand digital rights and data analysis tools.
In Barcelona, Oxfam connected with the vibrant ecosystem of organizations and collectives working for a fair digitalization and organized an international conference in February 2023, addressing the impact of digital technologies on people’s rights and lives.
PERU
Don’t let them fool you
#QueNoTeFloreen (‘Don´t let them fool you’) is a new podcast addressing issues such as women’s rights and inequality, the environment, the care economy and tax justice. Started in December 2022 by Oxfam, it gives voice to perspectives rarely heard in traditional mass media and channels and digital spaces in Peru. It can be accessed on Spotify, Apple Podcast and YouTube platforms.
In recent years and even more so during the recent political crisis, the space for democratic debate and protest has been shrinking in Peru, with declining freedom of expression in the media. At the same time, the country faces some of the lowest taxes in Latin America for the wealthy, some of the highest tax inequality, and gender discrimination; in 2022 alone, over 133,000 women reported violence to women’s emergency centers in Peru.
The podcast offers an alternative narrative and gives a platform to civil society and organizations partnered with Oxfam, who are not normally invited to communication spaces in the country, tackling complex issues in an accessible way.
The podcast is gaining an audience, particularly among university students, activists, women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ organizations and other content creators. In the charity rankings for Apple podcasts in Peru, #QueNoTeFloreen recently achieved second place.
UGANDA
Power to Voices
Power to Voices, a self-moderated digital platform and safe space, aims to bring together African activists to continue mobilizing, organizing, building solidarity, sharing and campaigning, amidst increasing crackdowns on the digital civic space, and the continuous curtailing of online freedoms of expression.
This platform was initiated by Oxfam with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Oxfam involved activists and partners from the start during testing and feedback sessions, but the format is determined by the activists themselves.
The organizers have sets of measures to protect the platform from potential threats or attacks, which are reviewed regularly. They also developed ‘non-negotiables’ that they expect everyone joining to abide by. These include ‘lay down your weapons’ – acknowledging others’ views, ‘Do No Harm’ – thinking whether something would be hurtful, being aware of race, gender, age or class privilege, and celebrating diversity. In the organizers’ words: ‘As we maneuver the various forms of injustice we face every day, it is comforting to know that we are not alone, even when censorship is very real and ever-present, especially in the online world.
When we find others who share our views and make our voices heard, it can empower us to fight against what we feel is wrong in our world.’
AUSTRALIA
First Peoples First
In August 2022, more than 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women made Canberra their home for an innovative week-long summit, a meeting to build the women’s skills and knowledge and connect them to the political system.
Since its inception in 2009, the Straight Talk program – part of Oxfam’s First People’s program – has brought together indigenous people and Torres Strait Islander women from across the nation. The program aims to connect First Nation women with Australia’s political system, building their capacity as change-makers and sharing ideas and tools. It fosters relationships with female political representatives, raises awareness of indigenous community issues among parliamentarians, and provides a space for the women to share and learn from each other. Following their participation in Straight Talk, many of the women have gone on to take a more active role in decision-making within their communities. In the words of one facilitator, ‘This is nation building.’
The program has successfully delivered nine national summits and regional gatherings in Alice Springs, Broome, Cairns, Melbourne, Nhulunbuy, Perth, Thursday Island and Townsville. Summits are now held every 18 months, and on alternate years the First Nation women are brought together with others from their regions.
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