G20 Social Summit: Unveiling an Afrocentric Agenda for Global Solidarity and Systemic Equity

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The City of Ekurhuleni hosted the second G20 Social Summit, officially opened by Deputy President Paul Mashatile, who extended a warm welcome to local and international delegations. The address, delivered on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, anchored South Africa's G20 Presidency firmly in the Ubuntu philosophy, a profound African principle of interconnectedness encapsulated by the saying, "Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, I am because we are."

The Deputy President established that this traditional African philosophy directly informs the objectives of the Social Summit, emphasizing shared values of collective responsibility, solidarity, and the urgent pursuit of social justice and equality for all. This foundation supports an Afrocentric Leadership Model that seeks to create a vibrant representation of the shared aspirations of a unified Africa, aligning with the African Union's strategic framework, Agenda 2063.

Amplifying the Voice of Africa

The 2025 G20 Social Summit is positioned as a pivotal platform to highlight the African Agenda and the crucial concerns of the Global South within the world's foremost forum for international economic cooperation. The recent inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the G20 is seen as a key mechanism for integrating African voices into global governance, striving for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Acknowledging that Africa remains underdeveloped, grappling with poverty and displacement due to political, economic, and security challenges, the Deputy President issued a strong call for lasting peace and stability. He stressed that achieving political stability is the prerequisite for securing sustainable financing, debt relief, fairer trade, and stronger African representation in global economic governance.

A Focus on Systemic Reform and Social Equity

Central to South Africa's G20 Presidency is a commitment to strengthening and reforming the international financial architecture. This initiative forms a core effort to bridge the persistent North-South divide, address poverty, inequality, and underdevelopment, particularly in the developing world.

The Social Summit, however, serves as a critical strategic opportunity to drive two immediate social policy discussions:

1. Youth-Driven Development: The summit focuses on framing global policy discussions around the capacities of young people to drive inclusive economic development. Commending the Y20 Communiqués, the Deputy President noted that African youth are already influencing policy and decision-making, positioning them as vital contributors to a sustainable global future.

2. Combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV): Stressing the severity of GBV as one of Africa’s most pressing social issues, the speech urged the international community to leverage the summit to raise awareness, enhance accountability, and coordinate effective, urgent action to address enduring obstacles to gender equality.

   
   

Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability: The Action Agenda

The G20 Presidency is guided by the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” underscoring social justice and multilateral fairness as fundamental principles. The Deputy President detailed the key priorities and the new operational structure designed to achieve these goals:

• Overarching Priorities: Strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilizing finance for a Just Energy Transition, and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth.

• Cross-Cutting Task Forces: Three new Task Forces have been introduced to bridge the Sherpa and Finance Tracks, focusing on: 1) Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment and Reduced Inequality; 2) Food Security; and 3) Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance and Innovation for Sustainable Development.

• Broadened Compact with Africa 2.0: A strategic initiative is underway to enhance the continent's development priorities by fostering private investment and policy reform to drive economic transformation.

  
  

In his closing remarks, the Deputy President emphasized the global shift toward a multipolar world, where the Global South is asserting its voice. The Social Summit remains crucial as a direct channel for non-state actors and civil society to inform the G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration. He urged all actors to maintain engagement beyond the formal adoption of declarations to actively track implementation and ensure that G20 decisions lead to tangible, measurable progress in people’s lives.