South Africa, 11 November 2025: The issues facing everyday South Africans – rising food prices, education gaps, youth unemployment, climate-related shocks, mounting debt and the impact of artificial intelligence – are some of the issues that have been central to the discussions under South Africa’s G20 Presidency this year.
While the official G20 Leaders’ Summit will take place in a few days’ time in Johannesburg, the G20 Presidency runs for a full year, from December 2024 to November 2025, and sees more than 130 official meetings hosted across all nine provinces.
The G20 is, arguably, the world’s most influential economic forum. Far more than a diplomatic milestone, it is a real chance to ensure African priorities shape global solutions. It may not pass laws, but it sets the tone. It influences how institutions lend, how businesses invest, and how partnerships are formed. It’s where influence becomes impact.
As a proud sponsor of the G20 and B20, Sanlam is helping bring the significance of this moment closer to home*. The Group’s support reflects a firm belief that financial confidence begins with global representation. Shadi Chauke, Group Executive: Corporate Affairs & Sustainability at Sanlam, says, “This is Africa’s ‘World Cup’ of global influence. Now is the time to lead, to shape, and to show the world what’s possible when Africa speaks and the world listens. Together, we can move the needle on our shared challenges to build a future we can all have confidence in.”
From Conversation to Transformation: 5 Issues That Matter to All Africans
Tackling the Debt Crisis More than 20 African countries are currently at high risk of debt distress. South Africa’s G20 agenda prioritises debt relief, fairer credit ratings and innovative long-term financing strategies that support African countries’ financial resilience.
Securing Our Food Systems Nearly 282 million people across 59 countries face food insecurity. Globally, almost half of all deaths in children under five years old are due to malnutrition. In South Africa, close to 29% of all children under five suffer from stunting, which indicates chronic undernutrition. The G20 presents a platform to push for investment in climate-resilient agriculture, regional food value chains, and smart farming technology, reframing food security – and food equity – as a global economic imperative, not just a humanitarian one.
Creating Jobs for Africa’s Youth Africa needs to create 12 million jobs annually to meet the needs of its fast-growing youth population. Through its participation in the B20, Sanlam is championing investment in vocational training, digital upskilling, and entrepreneurship. “It’s not just about jobs; it’s about dignity and opportunity,” says Chauke. “Our demographic dividend is our greatest asset. We must ensure our youth are employable, with opportunities to be employed. This is the only way to empower all Africans to be financially secure and prosperous.”
Funding Climate Adaptation Africa contributes less than 4% of global emissions, yet it’s among the hardest hit by climate change. South Africa is calling for fairer flows of climate finance to the continent – particularly for adaptation. A recent UN report estimates Africa needs up to $50 billion annually to adapt over the next decade, and the G20 can help to hold developed nations accountable for delivering on this call-to-action.
Driving Digital Inclusion Africa cannot be left behind in the next economic revolution. South Africa is placing digital innovation and AI access at the centre of the G20’s development discussions, with the goal of ensuring the continent isn’t just a consumer – but a contributor – to the global digital economy. “We want Africa to help shape the rules of tomorrow’s digital economy,” Chauke adds, “Our continent is known for ingenuity out of necessity. If we marry creative problem-solving with digital prowess, we can move mountains.”
A Defining Moment for the Continent
The G20 won’t solve everything overnight. But it can shift global momentum toward policies and investments that better serve Africa’s needs – from unlocking capital to enhancing food systems and preparing youth for the future of work.
“For Sanlam, the G20 and B20 summits are about showing up for Africa – at the tables where the future is being negotiated. Because when Africa leads, the world benefits,” Chauke says. “If we throw our shared might at our shared problems, we can make change happen. On a global scale. On an individual scale. If we can change each child’s story for the better, we can create a legacy we’re proud of. This forum creates a platform for that.”
* Footnote: The G20, or Group of Twenty, is an international forum for governments and policymakers from 19 countries and two economic regions: the European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU). It was established in 1999 to bring together the world’s major economies to discuss and coordinate policies on global economic challenges that affect everyday people – such as unemployment, education gaps, health, food security and how we respond to climate change and digital disruption. The B20, or Business 20, is the official forum for the global business community within the G20, providing a platform for business leaders to create policy recommendations for the G20 leaders on global economic issues. Throughout 2025, under South Africa’s presidency, Sanlam has played a leading role in shaping global economic discussions, contributing as a major sponsor and through meaningful participation across multiple B20 task forces.