SOUTH AFRICA HOSTS A HISTORIC G20 PRESIDENCY: A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY FOR AFRICA

South Africa’s assumption of the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025 marks a pivotal moment in the history of the global economic forum. As the first African nation to lead the G20, South Africa has the opportunity to champion policies that align with Africa’s developmental priorities, including climate resilience, economic inclusion, and digital transformation. The presidency comes at a time when African nations are seeking greater representation in global decision-making and advocating for sustainable financial mechanisms to drive development.

A key highlight of this journey has been the active involvement of the Africa International Policy Research Centre (AIPRC) leadership, led by Advisory Council Chair Prof. Vinod Menon and CEO Tobias Nauruki, in shaping global policy discussions. Their engagement in India and Brazil played a critical role in influencing key policies on climate change and disaster risk reduction (DRR), many of which were later adopted by heads of state during the G20 summit. Their expertise and advocacy efforts ensured that African perspectives were not only heard but actively integrated into the global agenda, reinforcing Africa’s stake in shaping a sustainable future.

The Successes of Previous G20 Presidencies and Lessons for South Africa

Each G20 presidency has left a significant impact on global governance, providing lessons and opportunities for South Africa’s leadership.

1. The Indian G20 Presidency (2023): Strengthening Africa’s Global Representation

India’s presidency in 2023 was historic for Africa, as it successfully pushed for the African Union’s permanent membership in the G20. AIPRC leadership played a key advisory role in discussions that highlighted the need for inclusive development, disaster preparedness, and financing for climate resilience. India also focused on digital public infrastructure and climate finance, setting a precedent for South Africa to further champion Africa’s interests in these areas (G20 India, 2023).

2. The Brazilian G20 Presidency (2024): Climate Action and Economic Transformation

Brazil’s G20 leadership in 2024 focused heavily on climate justice, environmental sustainability, women empowerment and economic equity, aligning closely with Africa’s urgent priorities. Prof. Vinod Menon and Tobias Nauruki, through AIPRC, were actively engaged in Brazil’s climate policy deliberations, ensuring that Africa’s unique challenges—such as climate-induced migration, food security, and green financing—were central to the discussions. The outcomes of these engagements directly influenced commitments made by world leaders during the summit, securing pathways for increased climate funding and sustainable development projects across Africa (G20 Brazil, 2024).

3. The Italian G20 Presidency (2021): Climate Resilience and Multilateralism

Italy’s G20 presidency in 2021 focused on climate action and global cooperation. The G20 under Italy endorsed stronger commitments to carbon neutrality, culminating in agreements that supported the Paris Agreement’s goals. The Italian presidency also played a crucial role in global vaccine distribution and pandemic preparedness, showcasing the G20’s ability to coordinate responses to global crises (G20 Italy, 2021). Inspired by this, South Africa can advocate for increased climate resilience funding and stronger multilateral approaches to African development.

AIPRC’s Role in Shaping the G20 Climate and DRR Agenda

The Africa International Policy Research Centre’s leadership, under Prof. Vinod Menon, Dr. Francis Mwongela Mikwa and Tobias Nauruki, has been instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies gain global recognition. Through high-level engagement in India and Brazil, they contributed to:

●???? Advancing Climate Finance for Africa: Advocating for new financing models to support vulnerable African nations in adapting to climate change.

●???? Strengthening Disaster Preparedness: Promoting policies that integrate indigenous knowledge and modern scientific approaches for effective DRR.

●???? Enhancing Africa’s Representation in Global Decision-Making: Lobbying for stronger African participation in G20 discussions on economic equity and sustainability.

The Way Forward: South Africa’s G20 Presidency

As South Africa assumes the G20 presidency, it has a unique opportunity to build on these successes and ensure that African nations benefit from fairer trade policies, increased climate funding, and stronger disaster preparedness mechanisms. The leadership of AIPRC is interested in joining South Africa’s diplomacy in the efforts to securing lasting policies that drive Africa’s sustainable development.

References

1. Sustainable and Resilient Communities Conclave 2023 in Sikkim, India: This two-day conclave, held from May 12 to 14, 2023, was instrumental in shaping policy recommendations for the Civil 20 (C20) India 2023 summit. Prof. Vinod Menon, serving as the Working Group Coordinator, and Tobias Nauruki as one of the key speakers, played a pivotal role in the event. The conclave featured over 70 eminent speakers from 22 countries and engaged more than 2,000 participants from over 30 nations. Discussions centered on climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and net-zero emission management. ?c20.amma.org
2. World Congress on Disaster Management: Prof. Vinod Menon has been an active participant in various sessions of the World Congress on Disaster Management, contributing his expertise on disaster risk reduction and climate resilience. His insights have been valuable in shaping global strategies for disaster preparedness and response 6th WCDM 2023 | World Congress on Disaster Management
3. Our Team - Power Of Women
4. G20 South Africa – Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability

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