2025 has been an important year for development, especially for Africa. South Africa’s G20 presidency, culminating soon, has presented an opportunity to shape global discussions and advance a Global South development agenda, building on the efforts of the previous three G20 presidencies from the Global South. It has strategically placed African development priorities squarely on the global agenda. With the African Union now a permanent member of the G20, Africa’s collective voice is stronger than ever. This presents a critical opportunity for the continent to influence global decisions in support of Africa’s development priorities. To achieve meaningful and impactful engagement that goes beyond South Africa’s presidency, stronger coordination, strategic agenda-setting, and enhanced capacity among African stakeholders are essential for effective participation in G20 process. With the South Africa G20 deliberations nearing completion, it is crucial to keep African stakeholders informed, integrate their perspectives into discussions, and ensure their priorities are reflected in global policy outcomes. 

South Africa’s G20 presidency has also unfolded alongside other critical global processes, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, which has recently concluded, and ongoing preparations for COP30 in Belém, both of which have reinforced the urgent need for innovative and equitable financing solutions. This convergence of high-level engagements marks a pivotal moment in which Africa’s collective voice is more powerfully positioned than ever to shape global economic decisions that will influence the continent’s development path for years to come.

Against this background, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), AfriCatalyst, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), and the United Nations Development Programme organized a two-day conference for key stakeholders in West Africa to engage and discuss Africa’s priorities at the G20 and assess their resonance and integration with the broader global development agenda. The targeted stakeholders for this conference include think tanks, policymakers (government and the diplomatic community), multilateral banks, and the media

DAY 1

DAY 2