The Debt and Development Academy (DaDA) is one of AFRODAD’s flagship initiatives that aims to strengthen the skills and leadership of CSOs, parliamentarians, advocates, and activists to advance the vision of “Africa the Rule Maker” in debt, socio-economic justice and climate finance. Grounded in Pan-African values and the spirit of Ubuntu, DaDA promotes collective action and feminist macroeconomic alternatives to challenge market-driven, private sector-led, and neoliberal approaches that have contributed to poverty, inequality, and dependency across the continent. Named after the Swahili word for “sister,” DaDA reflects the resilience, care, support, and dedication that sisters embody, symbolising the programme’s commitment to nurturing transformative leadership and social change in Africa.

The fourth edition of DaDA is under the theme: Asserting African Agency in an Unravelling Global Order: Mobilising Collective Action for Debt, Economic and Digital Justice. This seeks to centre discussions on the trajectory of Africa’s development amidst the currently unravelling global order.