As an official resource partner to the G20 and a co-convenor of the Think20 engagement group, SAIIA’s involvement highlighted its significant contribution to shaping development agendas on the global stage.
A side event on 25 May, moderated by SAIIA’s Chief Executive Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, brought together various working groups from both the Sherpa and the Finance tracks of the G20. This crucial session highlighted the unique focus of the DWG on three critical priority areas: establishing universal social protection floors, fostering global public goods and combatting illicit financial flows. The event reinforced the DWG’s role in advancing development within the G20 framework, particularly as no other working group is dedicated to these specific themes. The side events were officially opened with an address by South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa. Welcoming delegates to KwaZulu- Natal, Minister Ramokgopa’s speech also marked a celebration of Africa Day.
Throughout the subsequent two days of intensive negotiations, Jordan Mc Lean, Climate Change Researcher at SAIIA, provided technical support to the G20 DWG Secretariat through live textual tracking, based on the delegations’ comments. Looking ahead, the G20 DWG will now undertake revisions of its outcome documents, incorporating valuable input from G20 member states. This preparatory work will be crucial for the upcoming fourth DWG meeting and the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting, both scheduled to take place in July.
(Images: GCIS)
