The Africa Institute is pleased to share that Grieve Chelwa, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Political Economy, is featured in the third episode of the United Nations podcast series Economies That Work for All.
In this episode, Chelwa offers a critical analysis of the global financial system, challenging the widely held belief that countries in the Global South are primarily responsible for their debt crises. He argues that austerity is a false solution and that long-standing structural inequities continue to trap nations in cycles of debt, undermining their economic sovereignty and hindering progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chelwa presents the concept of a human rights economy—a framework that prioritizes people’s well-being and enables governments to meet their obligations in areas such as healthcare, education, and social protection. He underscores that human rights are not a burden but a powerful tool for advancing sustainable and equitable development.
Chelwa serves on the Vatican’s Papal Commission on the Debt and Development Crisis and sits on the advisory board of Economists For Future. He was named one of The Africa Report’s “10 African Scholars to Watch in 2025.”
Organized by UN Human Rights and the UN System Staff College – Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development, Economies That Work for All explores how economic policy and human rights can work together to advance the 2030 Agenda.
Learn more about the podcast and the Human Rights Economy: Economies That Work for All – Podcast Trello Board
For more about Professor Chelwa and his work, visit his faculty profile.
The Africa Institute is pleased to share that Grieve Chelwa, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Political Economy, is featured in the third episode of the United Nations podcast series Economies That Work for All.
The Africa Institute is pleased to share that Grieve Chelwa, Chair of the Department of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Political Economy, is featured in the third episode of the United Nations podcast series Economies That Work for All.
In this episode, Chelwa offers a critical analysis of the global financial system, challenging the widely held belief that countries in the Global South are primarily responsible for their debt crises. He argues that austerity is a false solution and that long-standing structural inequities continue to trap nations in cycles of debt, undermining their economic sovereignty and hindering progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Chelwa presents the concept of a human rights economy—a framework that prioritizes people’s well-being and enables governments to meet their obligations in areas such as healthcare, education, and social protection. He underscores that human rights are not a burden but a powerful tool for advancing sustainable and equitable development.
Chelwa serves on the Vatican’s Papal Commission on the Debt and Development Crisis and sits on the advisory board of Economists For Future. He was named one of The Africa Report’s “10 African Scholars to Watch in 2025.”
Organized by UN Human Rights and the UN System Staff College – Knowledge Centre for Sustainable Development, Economies That Work for All explores how economic policy and human rights can work together to advance the 2030 Agenda.
Learn more about the podcast and the Human Rights Economy: Economies That Work for All – Podcast Trello Board
For more about Professor Chelwa and his work, visit his faculty profile.
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