The last six months have been a turbulent time. Recent geopolitical shifts, including the scaling back of USAID funding and operations, consistent cuts to aid spending in Europe, and tightening restrictions on civil society, have had a considerable impact on the feminist ecosystem. With over 40% of Official Development Assistance (ODA) disappearing in just four months and an increasingly challenging policy and political landscape, the context for our conference has completely changed.

After careful consideration, the Walking the Talk consortium has decided to reschedule the conference to October 8-10, 2025, allowing us to reframe the content and program to better address the current realities of communities and feminist organizations. This decision, informed by strategic conversations at CSW69 and supported by our partners in the global feminist community, will enable us to create the most impactful and effective convening.

In times of uncertainty and sudden shifts, we must remain bold, flexible, and agile. While we understand this change is disappointing, especially for the participants, we are confident it will help us organize an even more impactful conference. In the meantime, Walking the Talk will continue to advocate for more and better funding for gender equality.

Next Steps

While the rescheduling gives us more time to reframe the convening, the work continues. Over the next months, we will sustain our advocacy in the Financing for Development process and beyond FfD4. Our partners and registered participants have been informed of the change. The venue remains the same and we will provide all necessary logistical support to ensure a smooth transition.

We greatly appreciate the interest in the conference. Given the limited capacity of 200 in-person participants—including civil society, grassroots organizations, donors, academia, and policymakers—we will prioritize approved session speakers and invited guests.

For specific questions regarding the Financing for Feminist Futures conference, please refer to the FAQ or contact: info-f4ff@hivos.org.