South Africa has made history by launching Women20 South Africa (W20SA). The launch was on 26 February 2025 at the NRF Auditorium in Pretoria. As an official G20 engagement group, W20 plays a pivotal role in shaping global policy discussions on gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
This launch aligns with South Africa’s presidency of the G20 in 2025. It offers the country a unique platform to ensure that the voices of women, especially from Africa and the Global South, are integrated into G20 priorities and ultimately influence global decision-making.
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What Is W20 and Why It Matters to the G20?
W20 (Women20) is one of the official engagement groups of the G20. This is a powerful global forum for the world’s major economies. The role of W20 is to develop consensus-based policy recommendations. These policies ensure that gender equality and women’s empowerment are core components of G20 discussions and commitments.
As South Africa leads the G20 in 2025, W20SA ensures that women’s concerns are not sidelined. They are central to global strategies around economic growth, digital transformation, climate change, healthcare, and education.
W20’s work feeds directly into the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, influencing high-level policies adopted by the world’s most powerful nations.
Theme for 2025: Women in Solidarity Towards Sustainable Socio-Economic Development
Under the leadership of South Africa, the 2025 W20 theme is:
“Women in Solidarity Towards Sustainable Socio-Economic Development.”
This reflects South Africa’s broader G20 priorities, which include inclusivity, development, and multilateralism. The W20SA’s work is deeply rooted in the spirit of Ubuntu. “I am because we are”-emphasizing unity and shared humanity as a basis for transformative global change.
Meet the W20SA Chair: Professor Narnia Bohler-Muller
The W20SA initiative is led by Professor Narnia Bohler-Muller. She is a respected social justice advocate and executive at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). As Head of Delegation and Chair, she plays a crucial role in ensuring South Africa’s G20 presidency addresses gender disparities.
“We are proud to launch W20SA and look forward to making sure that women’s voices across Africa and the G20 are heard and acted upon,” said Prof. Bohler-Muller.
W20 Inception Meeting: A Milestone Event
The W20SA Inception Meeting, themed “Women in Solidarity”, was hosted on 21 May 2025 at Lagoon Beach Hotel in Cape Town. The event gathered experts, government officials, and civil society leaders, with Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga delivering the keynote address.
This meeting kickstarted South Africa’s W20 efforts by identifying challenges, sharing best practices, and building networks across the G20, African Union (AU), and European Union (EU).
W20SA’s Seven Key Themes – Anchored in G20 Goals
W20SA focuses on seven thematic areas that align with G20 objectives. These include inclusive growth, human capital development, digital innovation, and sustainable development:
- Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion.
Promotes access to funding, markets, and business opportunities for women-supporting the G20’s digital economy and SME growth targets. - The Care Economy.
Advocates for recognition and support of unpaid care work, contributing to G20 goals of workforce participation and social protection. - Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
Pushes for international cooperation to combat GBV, enhancing G20 commitments to social justice and human rights. - Climate Justice and the Environment.
Elevates women’s roles in climate action and resilience, key to G20 environmental sustainability objectives. - Education, STEM, and the Digital Divide.
Champions girls’ access to education and digital skills, supporting the G20’s tech-focused and future-ready workforce agenda. - Health Equity for Women and Girls.
Calls for better healthcare systems and equitable services-an area of concern post-pandemic across the G20. - Women, Land, and Agriculture.
Addresses structural barriers in land rights and food security, tying into G20 strategies on agricultural innovation and food systems.
Why W20SA Matters on the Global Stage
South Africa’s leadership of W20 in 2025 brings African and Global South perspectives to the heart of G20 policymaking. It reinforces the importance of inclusive economic recovery, especially as the world grapples with post-COVID challenges, digital transformation, and the climate crisis.
W20SA ensures that gender equality is not an afterthought but a foundation for the global economy.
A Gender-Responsive G20
With W20SA, South Africa is redefining how gender equality is prioritized within G20 structures. By amplifying women’s voices and building cross-border coalitions, the initiative creates actionable pathways for women’s empowerment, not just in South Africa but across all G20 nations.
As the G20 evolves to meet 21st-century challenges, W20SA ensures that no woman is left behind.
