Where we work
Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking
Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking
The Finance Against Slavery and Trafficking Initiative (FAST) leverages finance to combat modern slavery and human trafficking, driving impactful changes through strategic engagements and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
FAST mobilizes public and private financial actors to address the systemic issues causing and (unintentionally) reinforcing modern slavery and human trafficking, which affects over 50 million people worldwide and generates more than US$236 billion in illicit profits annually. By adopting an evidence-based approach, FAST equips financial institutions with essential tools and the capacity to - empower survivors and foster a financial system committed to integrity and transparency.
As part of the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Sustainable Finance Hub (SFH), and in collaboration with the UNDP’s Business and Human Rights Program, FAST leverages UNDP’s extensive country presence and expertise to advance systemic change, uniting finance and human rights. The initiative is committed to fostering a sustainable financial system that promotes a more equitable and just world.
Areas of Work
- Prevention through Sustainable Finance: FAST fosters innovative financial mechanisms to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. These efforts include developing debt instruments like thematic bonds and performance loans for critical industries, using digital finance to quickly mobilize resources for vulnerable populations, and expanding access to microinsurance for displaced communities in crisis contexts. It also supports impact investing in social enterprises and fintech using blockchain and AI for responsible sourcing and value chain transparency. Additionally, it identifies social finance mechanisms to promote financial inclusion for survivors, informal entrepreneurs, and SMEs in fragile and crisis-affected countries.
- Capacity Building for Financial Actors: FAST enhances the capacity of financial institutions to identify risks, conduct human rights due diligence, and integrate anti-slavery principles into their operations.
- Survivor Inclusion and Remediation: FAST facilitates financial inclusion for survivors, enabling access to basic banking services and financial recovery and fostering dialogue between survivors and financial actors to improve risk management and decision-making.
- Data, Transparency, and Advocacy: FAST advances research, monitoring systems, and policy frameworks to strengthen accountability and transparency in the financial sector.
Join FAST in mobilizing the financial sector to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking. Together, we can achieve a future free from exploitation.
Links
Our team
Luciana Trindade de Aguiar, Sustainable Finance Program Manager
Jill Huinder, Finance and Human Rights Project Coordinator
Livio Sarandrea, Global Advisor Business and Human Rights
Olga Nilova, Business and Human Rights Specialist