SAIIA has supported the South Africa delegation to the G20’s Development Working Group (DWG) for several years. With the South Africa presidency of the G20 taking place this year, SAIIA was invited to the secretariat of the DWG to work with the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in advancing critical development issues in the G20 environment.
Ms Elizabeth Sidiropoulos and Ms Jordan Mc Lean made inputs into the DWG’s issue note and provided evidence-based research to strengthen South Africa’s case for its three priorities in the DWG. The three priorities include global public goods, combatting illicit financial flows to improve finance for development and universal social protection.
On 21-23 January 2025, SAIIA took part in the first meeting of the DWG for the year. The first day of events included three side events to provide member states with more information about South Africa’s priorities. SAIIA hosted two panel sessions on 1) global public goods and 2) illicit financial flows and development finance, both moderated by Ms Sidiropoulos. The remainder of the meeting focused on member countries’ responses to South Africa’s priorities, kicking off the process of negotiating the outcome documents for the ministerial meeting in July 2025.
On 14-16 April, SAIIA participated in the second DWG Meeting which took place in Stellenbosch, South Africa. The meeting saw G20 member states, invited guest countries and international organisations respond to the group’s priorities and begin making inputs to the proposed outcome documents. SAIIA, through Ms Sidiropoulos, moderated a side event on 14 April, focused on addressing illicit financial flows. The side event sessions were opened by Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa, and included insightful presentations from experts and dialogue with G20 representatives.
Throughout the year, SAIIA will continue to support the DWG and attend DWG engagements, contributing evidence-based research in support of South Africa’s G20 agenda.
