As global power dynamics evolve and Africa’s influence grows, Wits University will welcome world-renowned economist Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs for a landmark public lecture examining the continent’s leadership role in international cooperation. The lecture is titled “Africa in the G20: Multilateralism in a Shifting Global Order“. It will take place on Friday, 21 November 2025, at the Wits Great Hall from 15:00 to 17:30 SAST.
It forms part of the university’s wider conference series, “Amplifying African Voices for Strategic Action,”. The series takes place from November 25 to 27, 2025, under the auspices of the African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS).
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A Timely Conversation in the Heart of Gauteng
The lecture arrives at a defining moment for both Africa and the broader world.
With South Africa representing the continent in the G20, questions around how Africa can influence global economic governance have taken on new urgency.
The global economy is being re-shaped by new alliances, trade tensions, and the rise of developing-country leadership within the Global South.
Sachs will explore how Africa can position itself not merely as a participant but as a driver of this new era of multilateralism.
The discussion will also highlight how equal representation in international institutions can strengthen collaboration on shared challenges such as growth, technology transfer, and climate change.
Johannesburg: A Natural Platform for Global Dialogue
Johannesburg provides an ideal stage for a discussion of this scale.
As Gauteng’s economic hub and South Africa’s diplomatic gateway, it is home to a powerful mix of academia, policy institutions, and private-sector leadership.
The city continues to shape the country’s intellectual and developmental agenda, connecting local research to global debates.
By hosting the event, Wits University reinforces its reputation as a leader in African scholarship and civic engagement. The university’s collaboration with ACSUS demonstrates how institutions in Gauteng are driving conversations that link Africa’s priorities with international policy.
A Global Voice with Local Relevance
Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
He has spent decades advising governments, UN agencies, and global organisations on inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and technological transformation.
His work connects directly to Africa’s development priorities, from expanding renewable energy to strengthening innovation and sustainable urban growth.
These themes echo the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, both of which aim to position the continent as a leader in sustainable growth.
The lecture presents a valuable opportunity to engage with ideas that influence economic and policy thinking across the world.
Understanding the Shifting Global Order
The global order is changing rapidly. Since the early 2020s, realignments in trade, energy, and technology have disrupted traditional systems of power. Emerging economies, including those in Africa, are asserting stronger influence in diplomacy, finance, and innovation.
Africa’s inclusion in the G20, both through South Africa’s representation and the African Union’s permanent membership, marks a milestone for the continent.
It signals growing recognition that African perspectives are essential to solving global problems such as poverty, inequality, and climate adaptation.
However, representation alone is not enough. The challenge now is for African governments to convert political visibility into policy impact, ensuring that decisions made in global forums align with the continent’s development goals, from infrastructure expansion and trade fairness to investment in science and skills.
Education as a Driver of Change
By hosting this lecture, Wits University underlines the importance of education as a bridge between knowledge and implementation.
As Gauteng’s leading academic institution, it offers a space where global questions meet local realities, equipping young Africans to analyse, innovate, and lead.
The Amplifying African Voices for Strategic Action series continues Wits’s tradition of connecting academic insight with public engagement.
Previous forums have explored issues such as digital inclusion, climate resilience, and equitable economic growth.
This year’s programme will gather academics, diplomats, and civil society leaders from across Africa to build new networks of collaboration.
Events like these help turn discussion into tangible action, transforming ideas into frameworks that influence real-world policy.
Why It Matters for Gauteng – and for Africa
For Gauteng, the economic engine of South Africa, this event highlights the province’s role as a centre of ideas, innovation, and international cooperation.
Johannesburg’s concentration of universities, research institutes, and multinational companies makes it a key player in the conversation about Africa’s place in the global economy.
At the same time, the lecture reinforces the idea that Africa’s agency begins within its own institutions.
By creating spaces where thought leaders and citizens interact, Gauteng continues to position itself as a province where knowledge drives progress and policy.
The Road Ahead: From Discussion to Strategy
The lecture opens a three-day symposium that will examine how African nations can strengthen their collective voice, assert leadership, and pursue sustainable growth in the evolving world order.
Through these conversations, Africa can move beyond reacting to change; it can design it.
Event Details
- Topic: Africa in the G20: Multilateralism in a Shifting Global Order
- Speaker: Prof Jeffrey D. Sachs
- Date: Friday, 21 November 2025
- Time: 15:00 – 17:30 SAST
- Venue: Great Hall, University of the Witwatersrand
Attendance is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so early arrival is recommended.
A Call to Future Leaders
Conversations about Africa’s future are no longer confined to international capitals; they are taking place right here in Gauteng. This lecture is an opportunity for students, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and citizens to participate in shaping that future.
Join the discussion. Be part of the dialogue. Help keep Gauteng the province where ideas move Africa forward.
The next chapter of Africa’s global story begins with informed voices, and those voices are rising in Johannesburg.
