Solidarity is the key
Solidarity is the key
Rethinking Economy, Power, and Justice
from the Grassroots
Umbaja Economic Forum (UEF) is a visionary platform initiated by Umbaja Organization to explore the intersections of economy, democracy, and social justice—particularly as they affect Sudanese communities in the diaspora and at home. Since its inception in 2017, the forum has evolved into a bold, interdisciplinary space that brings together activists, scholars, practitioners, and everyday citizens to reimagine economic systems that serve people—not power.
Grounded in critical reflection, participatory dialogue, and transnational collaboration, the Umbaja Economic Forum fosters a community-led approach to economic discourse. It seeks to challenge structural inequality, amplify marginalized voices, and cultivate new economic thinking rooted in justice, sustainability, and democratic values.
Why the Umbaja Economic Forum Matters?
Umbaja Economic Forum is more than a conference—it is a long-term educational, political, and cultural project. It offers a platform for collective questioning, critical knowledge exchange, and strategic mobilization. In a world where economic narratives are often shaped by elite interests, UEF insists on hearing and honoring the voices of those historically pushed to the margins.
By connecting thinkers, practitioners, and change-makers from Sudan and the global diaspora, the forum helps reweave a narrative of possibility: one in which economic transformation is driven by community agency, not state control.
Umbaja believes that when communities come together to ask bold questions, share lived truths, and build new visions—another economy becomes possible.
The Umbaja Economic Forum is where that belief takes root, year after year.
A Look Back: From Foundational Questions to Global Conversations
UEF 2017 – "Why Are We Poor?"
The first Umbaja Economic Forum, held in August 2017 at the Pavillon Cultural Center in Hannover, Germany, posed a courageous and urgent question: Why are we poor?
This gathering brought together around 50 participants from Germany and the Netherlands, including migrants, refugees, and civil society actors. It focused on poverty as a man-made phenomenon, urging marginalized communities to examine the structural roots of their economic exclusion.
Key moments included:
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An academic keynote by Florian G. Rawan (University of Hannover) on the concept of poverty in wealthy societies.
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Groundbreaking contributions from Sudanese women activists, such as Taqwa Ahmed and Adwaa Elhussain, who illuminated the link between gender-based discrimination and economic disenfranchisement.
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Workshops and debates on transforming poverty narratives into action.
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A film premiere documenting refugee resistance, followed by collective reflection and strategic planning for action.
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UEF 2017 established a lasting ethos: that economic justice begins with critical questioning, grassroots empowerment, and cross-border solidarity.
UEF 2022 – "Democracy, Economy, and Sustainability"
In 2022, the forum expanded in scope and reach, convening diverse participants from Germany, Sudan, Ghana, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. Hosted again in Hannover, the event focused on the economic dimensions of democratic governance and ecological sustainability.
Highlights included:
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Keynote addresses by Dr. Bashir Omer Fadlalla (former Sudanese Minister of Finance) and Mr. Mofarih (former Minister of Religious Affairs), who offered insights on global South perspectives and the role of economic justice in Sudan’s democratic revolution.
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Thematic sessions on oil politics, economic violence against women, identity and peacebuilding, and grassroots innovation.
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Three in-depth working groups exploring democracy, economy, and sustainability, culminating in powerful recommendations.
UEF 2022 deepened the forum’s reputation as a unique space for diasporic dialogue, civic learning, and policy imagination across borders and generations.
Looking Ahead: UEF 2025
"Bridging State and Citizen Economies"
Set to take place online on October 18th, 2025, the upcoming Umbaja Economic Forum will confront the critical disconnect between state-managed economies and the real-life economic struggles of ordinary citizens—especially within the Sudanese context.
Under the theme:
“Bridging State and Citizen Economies: Shifting Mindsets and the Imperative for Transformation,”
the forum will explore:
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The legacy of centralized economic systems and their alienation from public needs.
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How grassroots innovation, digital tools, and diaspora networks can drive inclusive growth.
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New frameworks for justice-centered economic reform that promote dignity, sustainability, and equity.
Through keynotes, panel discussions, collaborative workshops, and global participation, UEF 2025 aims to inspire a new economic imagination—one that disrupts entrenched systems and prioritizes people over profits.