{"id":33914,"date":"2025-11-13T12:00:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T10:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=33914"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:42:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:42:20","slug":"g20_wits-university-hosts-prof-jeffrey-sachs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/g20_wits-university-hosts-prof-jeffrey-sachs\/","title":{"rendered":"Wits University Hosts Prof Jeffrey Sachs for Public Lecture on Africa and the G20"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>As global power dynamics evolve and Africa\u2019s influence grows, <strong>Wits University<\/strong> will welcome world-renowned economist <strong>Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs<\/strong> for a landmark public lecture examining the continent\u2019s leadership role in international cooperation. The lecture is titled <strong>\u201cAfrica in the G20: Multilateralism in a Shifting Global Order<\/strong>&#8220;.  It will take place on Friday, 21 November 2025, at the Wits Great Hall from 15:00 to 17:30 SAST.<br>It forms part of the university\u2019s wider conference series, \u201cAmplifying African Voices for Strategic Action,\u201d. The series takes place from\u00a0November 25 to 27, 2025,\u00a0under the auspices of\u00a0the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wits.ac.za\/acsus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">African Centre for the Study of the United States (ACSUS)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/g20-leaders-summit-comes-to-johannesburg\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">G20 Leaders\u2019 Summit Comes to Johannesburg: What Gauteng Needs to Know (22\u201323 Nov 2025)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-timely-conversation-in-the-heart-of-gauteng\">A Timely Conversation in the Heart of Gauteng<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The lecture arrives at a defining moment for both Africa and the broader world.<br>With South Africa representing the continent in the G20, questions around how Africa can influence global economic governance have taken on new urgency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The global economy is being re-shaped by new alliances, trade tensions, and the rise of developing-country leadership within the Global South.<br>Sachs will explore how Africa can position itself not merely as a participant but as a driver of this new era of multilateralism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3266865732\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-johannesburg-a-natural-platform-for-global-dialogue\">Johannesburg: A Natural Platform for Global Dialogue<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Johannesburg provides an ideal stage for a discussion of this scale.<br>As Gauteng\u2019s economic hub and South Africa\u2019s diplomatic gateway, it is home to a powerful mix of academia, policy institutions, and private-sector leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>The city continues to shape the country\u2019s intellectual and developmental agenda, connecting local research to global debates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By hosting the event, Wits University reinforces its reputation as a leader in African scholarship and civic engagement. The university\u2019s collaboration with ACSUS demonstrates how institutions in Gauteng are driving conversations that link Africa\u2019s priorities with international policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-global-voice-with-local-relevance\">A Global Voice with Local Relevance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jeffrey-d-sachs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs<\/a> is the Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University and President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.<br>He has spent decades advising governments, UN agencies, and global organisations on inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, and technological transformation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His work connects directly to Africa\u2019s development priorities, from expanding renewable energy to strengthening innovation and sustainable urban growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br>These themes echo the African Union\u2019s Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, both of which aim to position the continent as a leader in sustainable growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p> The lecture presents a valuable opportunity to engage with ideas that influence economic and policy thinking across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-2104373451\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-understanding-the-shifting-global-order\">Understanding the Shifting Global Order<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Africa\u2019s inclusion in the<a href=\"https:\/\/g20.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> G20<\/a>, both through South Africa\u2019s representation and the African Union\u2019s permanent membership, marks a milestone for the continent.<br>It signals growing recognition that African perspectives are essential to solving global problems such as poverty, inequality, and climate adaptation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u2019s development goals, from infrastructure expansion and trade fairness to investment in science and skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-education-as-a-driver-of-change\">Education as a Driver of Change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>By hosting this lecture, Wits University underlines the importance of education as a bridge between knowledge and implementation.<br>As Gauteng\u2019s leading academic institution, it offers a space where global questions meet local realities, equipping young Africans to analyse, innovate, and lead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Amplifying African Voices for Strategic Action series continues Wits\u2019s tradition of connecting academic insight with public engagement.<br>Previous forums have explored issues such as digital inclusion, climate resilience, and equitable economic growth.<br>This year\u2019s programme will gather academics, diplomats, and civil society leaders from across Africa to build new networks of collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Events like these help turn discussion into tangible action, transforming ideas into frameworks that influence real-world policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"449\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-21.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33918\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-21.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-21-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-21-150x96.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-21-450x289.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-20.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33917\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-20.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-20-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-20-150x79.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-20-450x237.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1957558043\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-it-matters-for-gauteng-and-for-africa\">Why It Matters for Gauteng \u2014 and for Africa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For Gauteng, the economic engine of South Africa, this event highlights the province\u2019s role as a centre of ideas, innovation, and international cooperation.<br>Johannesburg\u2019s concentration of universities, research institutes, and multinational companies makes it a key player in the conversation about Africa\u2019s place in the global economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, the lecture reinforces the idea that Africa\u2019s agency begins within its own institutions.<br>By creating spaces where thought leaders and citizens interact, Gauteng continues to position itself as a province where knowledge drives progress and policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-road-ahead-from-discussion-to-strategy\">The Road Ahead: From Discussion to Strategy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<br>Through these conversations, Africa can move beyond reacting to change; it can design it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3457331880\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-event-details\">Event Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Topic:<\/strong> <em>Africa in the G20: Multilateralism in a Shifting Global Order<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> <strong>Speaker:<\/strong> Prof Jeffrey D. Sachs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li> <strong>Date:<\/strong> Friday, 21 November 2025<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Time:<\/strong> 15:00 \u2013 17:30 SAST<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Venue:<\/strong> Great Hall, University of the Witwatersrand<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Attendance is <strong>free<\/strong> and open to the public. Seating is limited, so early arrival is recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"671\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-19.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-19.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-19-300x288.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-19-150x144.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/unnamed-19-450x431.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-a-call-to-future-leaders\">A Call to Future Leaders<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Conversations about Africa\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join the discussion. Be part of the dialogue. Help keep Gauteng the province where ideas move Africa forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The next chapter of Africa\u2019s global story begins with informed voices, and those voices are rising in Johannesburg.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As global power dynamics evolve and Africa\u2019s influence grows, Wits University will welcome world-renowned economist Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs for a landmark public lecture examining the continent\u2019s leadership role in international cooperation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":33919,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"As global power dynamics evolve and Africa\u2019s influence grows, Wits University will welcome world-renowned economist Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs for a landmark public lecture examining the continent\u2019s leadership role in international cooperation.","footnotes":""},"categories":[521],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-33914","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-g20"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33914"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33920,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33914\/revisions\/33920"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33919"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}