International conference in Cali: How to build economies that reduce inequalities and prioritize Colombians' well-being

Cali, Colombia, recently became a global hub for economic discourse, hosting the 34th Annual Conference of the International Association for Feminist Economics (IAFFE). The event, held at Universidad Icesi, convened approximately 600 participants from 90 countries, all focused on a singular, pressing question: how to construct economies that reduce inequalities and center human well-being.

Over three days, researchers, academics, students, international organization representatives, social activists, and policymakers engaged in a rich exchange of evidence, experiences, and proposals. The conference agenda spanned a wide array of critical issues, including the social organization of care, women's economic autonomy, financial inclusion, labor, poverty, inequality, climate justice, migration, popular and solidarity economies, and the impact of artificial intelligence and digital platforms. A key theme was exploring new paradigms of development that move beyond traditional economic growth metrics.

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This meeting demonstrates that knowledge gains true value when it dialogues with the realities of the territories. Here, experiences from around the world were gathered to share evidence, question paradigms, and build proposals that can translate into better public policies and greater opportunities for people.

Organized by the Observatory for Women's Equity (OEM) and the Bogotá Feminist Economics Roundtable, with significant support from the WWB Colombia Foundation, Universidad Icesi, Oxfam Colombia, and Open Society Foundations, the conference aimed to foster dialogue and actionable solutions. Daniela Konietzko, president of the WWB Colombia Foundation, emphasized the conference's power to transform decisions and accelerate progress toward reducing inequalities. "This meeting demonstrates that knowledge gains true value when it dialogues with the realities of the territories," she stated, highlighting the global exchange of experiences and proposals.

Natalia Escobar, director of projects at the Observatory for Women's Equity, underscored the conference's success in bringing diverse perspectives together to understand shared problems. The gathering facilitated a crucial conversation, pooling research, experiences, and voices from multiple nations to collectively address complex economic and social challenges. The event underscored the importance of interdisciplinary and international collaboration in forging more equitable and people-centered economic models.

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The richness of this conference lies in bringing together research, experiences, and voices from multiple countries that show that the answers...