G20 Summit 2025: A Historic Gathering on African Soil, Championing Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability

For the first time in its history, the G20 Summit will take place on the African continent, marking a milestone moment for global cooperation and inclusive development. South Africa, as the 2025 G20 President, is set to host world leaders on 22 November for the main summit. But before the highly anticipated “main event,” an equally significant platform will unfold: the G20 Social Summit, running from 18 to 20 November 2025.

Image: International Federation of Social Workers

Held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, the Social Summit is designed as an inclusive forum that places ordinary people, civil society, and grassroots organisations at the centre of global dialogue.

An Inclusive Platform for the World’s Grassroots Voices

Unlike the main G20 Summit which focuses on high-level economic, political, and multilateral decision-making, the G20 Social Summit prioritises community-driven perspectives. It provides a space where advocacy groups, civil society organisations, community forums, and vulnerable groups can contribute directly to global conversations that impact their daily lives.

In line with the 2025 G20 Presidency theme “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability,” the Social Summit brings together a diverse network of participants, including:

• Youth groups and student movements

• Women’s organisations and gender-equality advocates

• Persons with disabilities and disability rights networks

• Faith-based organisations

• Community forums and informal grassroots structures

• Social justice, human rights and environmental justice groups

  
  

This year’s theme reflects a collective commitment to addressing global challenges, such as inequality, climate change, poverty, access to technology, and economic inclusion, through cooperation and shared responsibility.

A Spotlight on African Leadership and Community Empowerment

Hosting the G20 for the first time signals Africa’s growing influence in global affairs. For South Africa, the Social Summit is an opportunity to showcase the continent’s innovation, resilience, and community-driven solutions to global challenges.

By dedicating three days to discussions led by civil society, before world leaders even walk into the main summit, the G20 Presidency underscores the principle that sustainable global policy must be shaped with the people, not just for them.

Key objectives of the Social Summit include:

• Amplifying community voices on issues such as healthcare, education, social protection, and gender equality.

• Promoting inclusive development models that reflect the lived realities of people in both developed and developing nations.

• Strengthening partnerships between government, civil society, and international stakeholders.

• Influencing the agenda of the main G20 Summit through recommendations grounded in human-centred priorities.

Shaping a Sustainable and Inclusive Future

Against a backdrop of global uncertainty (from climate shifts and economic instability to widening inequality) the 2025 G20 Social Summit aims to reaffirm the values of solidarity and shared humanity. It emphasises that global development cannot succeed without inclusion, and that meaningful change must involve those working at community level.

As South Africa prepares to welcome the world, the Social Summit sets the tone: championing collaboration, equality of voice, and sustainable solutions rooted in real-world needs. The world now looks to Ekurhuleni, where from 18 to 20 November, civil society will take centre stage and help shape the future outcomes of one of the globe’s most influential gatherings.

The G20 on African soil is more than symbolic, it is a call for unity, fairness, and sustainable progress for all.