Event

FAST: Convening Africa 2022

This event discussed the critical role the financial sector in Sub-Saharan Africa could play to address modern slavery and human trafficking.

Time
- Africa/Johannesburg

FAST: Convening Africa brought together participants from around the world, including survivors, the financial sector, worker representatives, and civil society organizations, in collaboration with partner organization, the South African Anti-Money Laundering Integrated Task Force (SAMLIT).

Key takeaways from the conference included:

  • Data: Data runs through the entire process of addressing modern slavery and human trafficking – from identification to remedy. What you can’t measure, you can’t manage or improve. The “S” in ESG is not impossible to measure; using qualitative data helps reflect survivors’ lived experiences.
  • Financial inclusion: while access is crucial, we must move to meaningful usage of tailored financial products that can enable vulnerable populations and survivors to access essential services.
  • Remedy: Remedy does not stop at criminal justice: Survivors need and deserve an independent, dignified life with socio-economic opportunities.
  • Prevention: Vulnerability doesn’t start when one is trafficked, it results from pre-existing structural inequalities which prevention work needs to address
  • Collaboration: Efforts are needed to build cross-sectoral coalitions. Global knowledge exchange is critical: If you share information with different stakeholders, you can tackle a problem holistically.

About the FAST initiative

Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking (FAST) is a multi-stakeholder initiative based at UNU-CPR that aims to mobilize the financial sector against modern slavery and human trafficking (MS/HT). FAST is a knowledge partner for governments, multilateral organizations, and financial sector actors. Through its alliance-building and survivor-informed approach, FAST works with its partners worldwide to end modern slavery and human trafficking in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on SDG target 8.7.

FAST advises on implementing its publication, Blueprint for Mobilizing Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking, across the financial sector to promote uptake of the Blueprint’s recommendations.

Related content

News

Tsukanan Journal Highlights Best Practices for Just Transition

The publication featured an article by UNU-IAS experts on ensuring a just transition to carbon neutrality in developing countries in Asia-Pacific.

21 Mar 2024

Brief

Exploring Migrant Survivors' Remittance Needs in the United States

Presenting the findings of a FAST survivor inclusion pilot programme.

02 Mar 2024

Project

FISPER: Guidelines for UNCCD Parties to make ecological restoration attractive in terms of financial inclusion and social protection

This project will develop guidelines to improve perceptions of ecological restoration and rehabilitation in terms of finance and social protection

18 Mar 2024

Brief

Developing a Public Private Partnership Approach to Increase Financial Inclusion for Modern Slavery Survivors in Mexico

An overview of a pilot intervention in Mexico to widen access to basic banking services for modern slavery survivors.

14 Mar 2024