80
countries in or at risk of debt distress (CEPR, 2023)
Photo Credit: Debt for Climate
South America | Changemakers in Authoritarian Spaces | Established Global Changemakers
Debt For Climate: Organising to End Colonial Power Systems
Introduction
Debt for Climate is a Global South-led, grassroots movement, driving the global fight to cancel the financial debt of Global South nations.
HOST is a proud ally of their critical work—uniting workers, Indigenous people, feminists, faith groups, environmental movements and social justice campaigners behind the common goal of debt cancellation.
30
Countries With Activists Engaged by Debt for Climate
08
Global Mobilisations in 2025
+10
Countries hosted events pushing for World Bank and IMF reform
Their mission
Debt for Climate aim to cancel the financial debt of the Global South, ending colonial power dynamics and enabling nations to self-determine their futures—away from extractivism and towards a just transition.
Their work unites diverse groups and workers, building bottom-up power to advocate for unconditional debt cancellation, reparations, loss and damage payments and just climate finance.
Debt for Climate amplifies calls for debt cancellation through global mobilisations, advocacy, alliance building and workshops. Crucially, they financially support youth and Global-South representatives to engage in climate justice conversations at an international level.
Debt for Climate Quote
"As we are a grassroots movement from the Global South, we don't have the capacity to transfer resources between our long-disconnected territories.Debt for Climate
Having a partner that can support us with this enormous task is allowing us to mobilise different countries and people around the globe during coordinated days — creating international awareness of the importance of debt cancellations."
The challenges
Like many global movements, Debt for Climate operates across authoritarian spaces and changing political contexts— navigating the arising challenges of funding securely and scaling confidently.
They partnered with HOST for support with:
They partnered with HOST for support with:
- •Moving money rapidly and reliably
- •Getting financial resources to activists in hard-to-reach places
- •Navigating finances in rapidly changing geopolitical circumstances
- •Scaling internationally and broadening participation
- •Bringing the message of debt cancellation to international stages
Photo Credit: Debt for Climate
Our partnership
HOST is proud to have supported Debt for Climate since 2022. We are on hand when needed, for expert support with back-office processes, movement building, and managing unpredictable circumstances.
Managing Complex Payments
HOST's fiscal hosting service provides vital financial support, responding to urgent payments and ensuring activists across 30 countries receive critical payments securely and reliably—even in hard-to-reach areas.
Enabling Climate Action
HOST partnership has allowed Debt for Climate's activists to focus on direct action, strikes, expanding climate adaptation awareness, and promoting grassroots mobilisation—knowing finances are in safe hands.
Building Global Networks
With HOST as an ally, Debt for Climate's tireless work has generated key outcomes: building partnerships between Indigenous and grassroots groups; supporting youth advocates at Youth Africa Climate Week and LCOY youth climate conference; and bringing debt cancellation to the global stage at the G77+ China Summit and COP28.
Debt for Climate Quote 2
"[HOST's] ongoing administrative, logistical and fiscal hosting support allows us to focus on impactful actions and build a robust movement that connects debt cancellation to broader climate justice goals, ultimately driving systemic change at local, regional, and global levels"Debt for Climate
Real stories. Real impact.
Explore more stories from our hosted partners — each one a snapshot of impact in action. From local organising to global advocacy, these movements show what's possible with the right support behind them, and how HOST helps them stay focused, resilient, and thriving in challenging contexts.
