15 October 2025 – This CISL Africa paper analyses B20 South Africa recommendations and outlines priorities for African business engagement in the G20 process
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The 2025 South African G20 Presidency has operated under the theme Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, and this paper from the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership examines how the B20’s task force recommendations can be interpreted in an African context. It connects the agendas on energy mix and just transition, finance and infrastructure, and industrial transformation and innovation, and their relevance for African economies.
The paper seeks to join the dots across the three B20 task forces, identifying the shared priorities and practical linkages that could guide business engagement with the G20 process. It outlines how corporate affairs and sustainability practitioners, particularly members of CISL’s Corporate Leaders Group Africa, can shape strategic responses that advance both competitiveness and climate ambition.
Key findings
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The B20’s recommendations on finance and infrastructure stress the importance of blended finance and project preparation to build credible pipelines of investable projects in emerging markets.
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Linking energy, industrial and infrastructure planning enables more coherent national strategies that balance growth, employment and decarbonisation.
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Corporate engagement through platforms such as the B20 and G20 can align business advocacy with national policy objectives and strengthen Africa’s collective voice in global economic forums.
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A focus on skills, inclusion and governance will ensure that industrial transition delivers broad social and economic benefit.
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The G20 Presidency presents an opportunity for South Africa and African business to help shape global reforms to finance, trade and investment that support sustainable development.
The paper contributes to CISL Africa’s ongoing work to support business leadership and policy dialogue on a just and sustainable economic transformation across the continent.
Citing this report
University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. (2025). B20 recommendations: Get Real and Get Granular (Cambridge, UK: University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership).
