Women 20 (W20) is an official engagement group of the Group of 20 dedicated to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, annually developing consensus-based recommendations to ensure that gender is mainstreamed and included in the G20 leaders discussions and ultimately the Leaders’ Declaration. The W20SA leadership is under the head of delegation and chair Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller with the support of the Human Sciences Research Council.
Women20 (W20) was founded by the G20 with the long term aim of reducing the gender employment gap by 25 percent by 2025 as agreed in the G20 2014 Summit in Brisbane, Australia, often referred to as the Brisbane Agreement. In October 2015 the first working group meeting was held in Turkey under the G20 Turkish Presidency year. The W20 provides specific recommendations for action, consolidated advocacy and expertise to the G20 Member States. These joint recommendations are drawn up by representatives of women’s and social organizations, women entrepreneurs and female economic experts from G20 countries and international organizations from around the world. The aim is to permanently mainstream women’s economic participation and empowerment in G20 objectives and to support existing political declarations, including the UN’s Agenda 2030.
On the 1st of December 2024, South Africa assumed the Presidency of the G20 group of countries. The Group of 20 (G20) is a forum of the twenty largest economies in the world that meet regularly to discuss the most pressing issues facing the global economy. Together, the G20 accounts for more than 80% of world GDP, 75% of global trade and 60% of the population of the planet. In 2023 the African Union (AU) joined the G20. The South African presidency has adopted the following themes for its global G20 Presidency: Sustainable Development, Solidarity, Equality South Africa is uniquely positioned as an inception member of the G20, founded in 1999, and the last of the four consecutive Global South G20 presidencies in a row namely Indonesia, India, and Brazil. The Global South will only take the Presidency 20 years from now. In 2025 the Troika will consist of Brazil, South Africa and the United States of America. South Africa will therefore prioritise the needs and aspirations of Africa and the Global South during its presidency while summoning all countries to take “practical steps that will resolve global challenges” and “(strengthen) international cooperation” in the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa in his address to the UN.
UBUNTU: I am because you are, I am because we are.
The W20 theme for the South African Presidency is Women in Solidarity towards Sustainable Socio-Economic Development, which aligns with the G20 theme for the South African Presidency, Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.
Key objectives
Care Economy
Climate Justice and the Environment
Education, STEM and the Digital Divide
Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion
Gender-based Violence and Femicide
Health Equity for Women and Girls
Women, Land and Agriculture
The Women20 dialogue process is founded on the engagement of the appointed Women20 delegates from all G20 countries.
Each year, the respective Women20 Presidency or W20 Heads of Delegation (HODs) appoint any new delegates required to fill gaps in their delegation and these delegates participate on an unpaid and voluntary basis in work towards the Women20 dialogue, Communiqué writing, and advocacy to promote women's economic empowerment in the G20 and in their own countries. The process of appointment varies by Country.
The official Women20 South Africa launch event took place on 26 February 2025 in Pretoria at the National Research Foundation (NRF) Auditorium, Pretoria.
Organised by the HSRC in collaboration with the NRF and the inEquality Movement, the event featured a keynote address by Professor Bohler-Muller, as well as panel discussions and presentations by leading experts on gender and development. The co-chair and coordinator was Ms Sibulele Poswayo, founder and executive of the inEquality Movement.
Hosted by the HSRC and partners, the official W20 Inception Meeting will be held in Cape Town over 21 - 22 May 2025.
Unite with thought leaders, change-makers, and visionaries to explore solutions to pressing challenges women face today through high level interventions, impactful panels and discussions, including outreach with rural, township and business women in agriculture. Don't miss this moment to connect, learn and inspire action
View the programme and register to attend here.
W20 South Africa launch. WATCH.
W20 South Africa and HSRC at CSW69 New York, March 2025
Women’s solidarity for sustainable socio-economic development will take centre stage at W20SA launch
SA to launch W20SA to amplify women’s voices towards sustainable socio-economic development
Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller | Head of Delegation W20SA at the NRF
Dr Dorothy Ngila | Launch of W20SA at the NRF
G20 engagement group to launch Women20 South Africa. Eyewitness News
W20 South Africa official discusses women's empowerment. CGTN
