Binaifer Nowrojee

In this moment of uncertainty, Latin America—drawing on its history of bold, transformative ideas—can once again offer the creativity and imagination needed to help shape a new order grounded in open society values.

At Open Society, we’re working with governments, experts, activists, and communities across Latin America to create new economic models that both protect the planet and create jobs, are supporting initiatives rooted in “buen vivir,” and developing safety and security solutions.

Latin America is home to some of the most vibrant, courageous movements in the world—from feminist movements to democratic reforms, and the growing push for economic justice and climate action.

Standing up for What's Right in a World Gone Wrong Binaifer Nowrojee, president of the Open Society Foundations, speaks on human rights at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City on 1 August, 2025.

I also had the honor of delivering a special lecture at the iconic National Museum of Anthropology and participating in the Pan-American Congress. osf.to/4ov6mqD

I’m back from Mexico City where I had the pleasure meeting with a wide range of civil society partners, government officials, policymakers, grantees, and @open-society.bsky.social staff.

We are inspired by the energy, clarity, and ambition of citizens who are not waiting for change—they are building it.

At @open-society.bsky.social, our role remains clear: to listen deeply, accompany courageously, and support transformative agendas rooted in local vision and agency.

In Ghana, we reaffirmed Open Society’s longstanding partnership and expressed our support for the country’s bold reform agenda and democratic renewal.

In Senegal, we stood in solidarity with a new generation of leadership determined to deepen accountability and repair the social contract.

These two nations—each with its own unique trajectory—represent something profoundly important in this moment: the determination of African citizens to reset democracy on their own terms.

In Accra and Dakar, I heard a consistent message—dignity, inclusion, and justice are non-negotiable.

We just concluded a great visit to Ghana and Senegal, where we had the privilege of meeting with Presidents John Dramani Mahama and Bassirou Diomaye Faye, alongside civil society leaders, youth organizers and entrepreneurs, and changemakers.

Our Bold New Initiatives to Support Africa-Led Transformation in Democracy, Economics, and Peace

Democratic Futures in Africa: Reimagining Politics and Governance -Promote a new kind of politics rooted in ubuntu—dignity, justice, and solidarity -Partner with local organizers, artists, civic groups, and digital communities to push back against money’s influence in politics, build trust in institutions, and create new pathways for leadership

Resources Futures in Africa: Reclaiming Economic Sovereignty -Ensure that Africa’s critical minerals benefit its people—not just global markets -Work to align mineral extraction with sustainable development goals, strengthen environmental and social justice movements, and promote just and transparent resource governance

Today we announce three multiyear programs in Africa to advance civic engagement, economic prosperity, and peacebuilding.

Press Release | State Democracy Defenders Fund

Nonprofits do critical work across the country. Some members of Congress are attacking them simply because they disagree. It’s wrong. And an attempt to curtail their work. We stand with 600+ groups supporting those unfairly targeted. www.democracydefendersfund.org/prs/07.16.25...

Congratulations to the new Open Society Fellows!

We’re in a moment when we need new, bold ideas to address the many challenges that face us.

Based across seven major cities, the fellows will help shape crucial global conversations on questions of rights, equity, and justice.

Reimagining a more just and equitable global system Reimagining a more just and equitable global system

Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee joins Raj Kumar on stage for a podcast interview on the sidelines of the International Conference on Financing for Development in Sevilla.

We need a new, just, and equitable international order that creates possibilities for all countries to meet their potential. I was delighted André Corrêa do Lago, Shari Spiegel, and Thani Mohamed-Soilihi joined me to discuss this and more at @glblctzn.bsky.social NOW in Sevilla, Spain before #FfD4.

By Targeting NGOs, Trump and His Allies Take Aim at Civil Society | Opinion As the voice of authoritarianism grows louder, we must join one another in support of the basic promise of democracy: that we can determine our own future, together.

The U.S. government is escalating its authoritarian attacks against civil society—the living, breathing network of people and organizations working to improve our communities, writes our Laleh Ispahani and @interfaithalliance.org’s Paul Raushenbush.

“We must defend civil society against authoritarian actions, even as we press for a fuller, more resilient, and more effective democracy and society. This is not about ideology, but rather the bedrock of our democracy.”

These bold changes are:
1. Adopt a new constitution and abolish the executive presidency
2. Use the new Constitution to decentralize power
3. Heal the wounds of the past so that they don’t fester and resurface

Restoring people’s faith in a political system that works for all | Daily FT When I visited Sri Lanka recently, a decade had passed since my first visit to the island. At that time, as now, there was a sense of possibility in the air. The people of Sri Lanka had cast off the R...

In Sri Lanka recently I sensed the possibility and hope for a more just and inclusive future. The government could cement its legitimacy, foster national unity, and build trust in its institutions by enacting bold changes before the next election. www.ft.lk/columns/Rest...

YouTube video by Hari Tv Sri Lanka is full of opportunity. There has been a lot of progress | Binaifer Nowrojee | Haritv

Sri Lankans have shown a lot of progress since the civil war and other tragedies. They, especially young people, have continually pushed for change and engagement. It was a pleasure to speak with Hari TV.

‘Not just numbers, but lives’ - Sunday Observer Economic models that prioritise debt repayment and austerity over social investment deepen inequality and undermine the fabric of Sri Lankan society, said Binaifer Nowrojee, President of the Open Soci...

Sri Lanka is an example of how sovereign debt can force a developing country to carry a burden it cannot bear. The world needs to rethink the global financial architecture so that it centers people, as I spoke about in a recent lecture in Colombo.

“Syrian journalism, like Syria itself, requires the support of the international community to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the country’s rebuilding.” —Yassin Swehat, co-founder of Al-Jumhuriya A military base once run by toppled president Bashar al-Assad’s younger brother Maher now sits abandoned. © Nabiha al-Taha/Al-Jumhuriya

After years of war and repression, Syria finds itself a broken nation struggling to rebuild after the fall of dictator Bashar al-Assad. There is hope, writes Yassin Swehat, co-founder of Syrian independent journalism platform Al-Jumhuriya. #WorldPressFreedomDay

The State of the World: Defending Open Society in a Dangerous World A Special Lecture by Binaifer Nowrojee, president of the Open Society Foundations, at the University of Cape Town on March 10, 2025.

“Those who struggled against the tyranny of the apartheid regime from within South Africa were supported by a global movement for solidarity, motivated by a simple but powerful idea: whoever we are, wherever we are, we are the same people—and we have the same rights.” - @nowrojeeosf.bsky.social

We @open-society.bsky.social are pursuing reform by:
1. Working with the World Bank and IMF so countries can access low-cost public financing
2. Reigning in private creditors’ exorbitant interest rates
3. Supporting climate vulnerable countries
4. Supporting green industry in the Global South

It also means partnering with youth movements who are pushing for change, like those in Kenya, Senegal, and Bangladesh, to ensure justice, equity, and human rights.

Tackling this requires moral courage and imagination, which Pope Francis and the Vatican’s Jubilee Debt Commission have shown. This also requires rethinking the global financial system architecture, which traps many developing countries in debt and is affecting democracy there.

Justice and Jubilee: Debt Reform in a Changing Global Economy / X Justice and Jubilee: Debt Reform in a Changing Global Economy

As I discussed at the Foreign Policy panel on “Justice and Jubilee,” the debt crisis affects younger people most acutely—as they’re not assured a future better than their parents have had.

Honor the Pope’s Legacy by Resolving the Global Debt Crisis Pope Francis wanted to dedicate himself this year to forgiving the injustice of debt.

Nearly half of humanity lives in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on education or health. That’s a moral wrong. Pope Francis said resolving global debt crisis is a “matter of justice.” To honor his legacy, the world must forgive this debt.

“The ravages of inequality are inextricably linked to the ravages of climate change. The same system that allows a tiny elite to amass unimaginable wealth also fuels environmental destruction, as corporations prioritize short-term profits over the long-term health of our planet.” Binaifer Nowrojee, Open Society President

An unequal planet is an endangered planet and shows how the challenges the world faces are interlinked. These demand new ways of thinking and acting to tackle, as I outlined in a recent speech about the state of the world and how @open-society.bsky.social is helping: osf.to/43zpRGm

During the 1994 genocide, Rwandan women were subjected to sexual violence on a massive scale. Today, on International Day of Reflection of the genocide, we remember the courageous women who gave their testimonies as evidence in court.

#OpenSociety #Rwanda #Genocide #HumanRights #WomensRights

As difficult as things may look in this moment, we see people defying the odds and driving change. This isn’t the time to back down, but to stand with them, and stand by the courage of our convictions.