South Africa Hosts the 2025 G20 Financial Inclusion and Women Empowerment Conference at Sun City.
The G20 Conference: South Africa is at the forefront of global efforts to advance women’s financial inclusion and economic empowerment as it hosts the G20 Financial Inclusion and Women Empowerment Conference 2025 at Sun City from 6 to 9 May. The event, organised under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, draws together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for embedding women’s financial inclusion in global economic reform.
A Focus on Women’s Economic Empowerment
The G20 conference, co-hosted by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities (DWYPD), highlights the importance of women’s economic empowerment. It builds on the momentum from the 2024 Brazil summit and aims to shape future G20 policies through a newly crafted Guidelines Framework for Mainstreaming Women’s Priorities.
Aligned with G20 Priority 2: Promoting the Financial Inclusion of and for Women, the conference supports initiatives like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), African Union Agenda 2063, and South Africa’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030.
High-Level Participation and Key Themes
Prominent policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, and youth leaders from G20 member states and beyond are in attendance. The discussions address critical themes such as:
- The care economy and the value of paid and unpaid care work
- Enhancing women’s access to inclusive financial services
- Tackling gender-based violence and femicide
These topics aim to address ongoing challenges in achieving SDG 5, which focuses on eliminating discrimination and promoting equal participation for women and girls.
Tshwane University of Technology Leads the Academic Track
A key highlight is the Academic Track, led by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). The initiative aims to bridge research and policy by generating evidence-based solutions for women’s financial inclusion.
Dr. Patrick Ebewo, Co-Chairperson of the G20 Conference and Director at TUT, emphasized the importance of breaking down systemic barriers, stating that the conference is a platform for developing practical strategies for economic justice for women.
The Academic Track’s objectives include:
- Promoting evidence-based strategies for women’s financial inclusion
- Integrating research into policy frameworks
- Encouraging partnerships across disciplines
- Applying both regional and global perspectives
- Supporting G20 EWWG goals with measurable outcomes
Looking Ahead
With just five years left to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, South Africa’s G20 Presidency is pushing for bold initiatives to advance SDG 5 and ensure that women’s economic empowerment remains a global priority. The conference is a significant step towards reshaping financial ecosystems and fostering inclusive growth.
South Africa’s hosting of this pivotal event underscores the country’s dedication to gender equality, financial inclusion, and economic justice for women, aligning with the nation’s broader goals of social and economic transformation.
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