For the first time in history, one of the world’s most influential events is taking place on African soil: the Group of 20 Leaders’ Summit.
For decades, heads of the world’s largest economies have met to discuss international economic, financial, and development issues. It’s a year-long process that culminates in a two-day summit, where leaders are expected to deliver a formal statement of consensus — the G20 Leaders’ Declaration — by the time they part ways.
This year, the G20’s agenda was set by South Africa. From day one, the country has emphasized three themes — solidarity, equality, and sustainability — which have meant focusing on debt burdens across the global south, addressing inequality gaps, and financing for a just energy transition, among other priorities tied to global economic cooperation.
About the author
Elissa Miolene
Elissa Miolene reports on USAID and the U.S. government at Devex. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for outlets like The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washingtonian magazine, among others. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for humanitarian agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.
