08 Conclusions and Recommendations Findings from this research indicate a large difference between the imagination and aspirations of development of the women interviewed, as compared with the model of development imposed by the government of Uganda and the IFIs. As noted in this paper, both government and IFI’s measure development in terms of economic growth levels indicated by GDP, the size of domestic revenue collections, and the amount of foreign direct investment among others. From this viewpoint, increased investments in oil, mining and other infrastructure such as dams remain essential. IFIs are also of the view that reduced spending by government (fiscal consolidation) and leaving the economy in the hands of the market and a few private actors is key to driving further growth and development. What this viewpoint ignores is that growth does not guarantee a fair distribution of the growing resources, and that a neoliberal market based economy in fact creates and deepens poverty and inequality. In contrast, women interviewed viewed development from both the social and economic dimensions. They defined development as better livelihoods at both the individual, family and community levels. This implies among others better housing, more health centers and hospitals within their localities, adequately staffed with nurses and doctors, with adequate provisions of medicines and medical equipment, and 28 which are also affordable and accessible. It also means greater education access for their children and the ability to earn decent incomes from employment. Women further underscored that a community can only be said to be developed when there is equality between men and women in accessing essential services such as education, health and justice and where both genders have equal rights before the law, and can own, control and access land and other productive resources equitably. In order to benefit people and the environment, and in order to address poverty, inequality and destruction to the earth and environment, government, the IMF and World Bank need to reconsider the development model they are currently promoting. What is needed is a bottomup approach to development that supports women-led communities to imagine their development aspirations which are then translated into actionable policy. Government needs to move away from its current extractivist development model hinged on oil extraction as a driver for future growth and rather pivot to a more sustainable development path that respects the environment and is in line with global climate goals. The IMF and World Bank should support efforts to wean the Ugandan economy off its reliance on oil extraction as a revenue source, and cease to participate in financing oil and gas projects including the East African Crude Oil pipeline. Research on the Influence of International Financial Institutions on Uganda’s COVID – 19 Recovery Agenda