Inclusive Trade for MSMEs, Women, and Youth
This report explores how Africa can unlock more inclusive and sustainable trade by empowering micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), women, and youth. It highlights the structural barriers that limit participation in regional and global markets, from restricted access to finance and complex border procedures to uneven digital connectivity, and proposes practical solutions to address them. Through data-driven analysis and case studies from Africa and beyond, the paper outlines five key areas of action, including expanding trade finance, improving export readiness, harmonising trade regimes, and integrating MSMEs into digital marketplaces.
Africa at the Core of Critical Minerals
This briefing paper examines Africa’s expanding role in the global critical minerals landscape and outlines pathways to turn its resource potential into sustainable economic transformation. It highlights the need for coordinated regional action, integrated infrastructure, harmonised standards, and a cluster-based approach to develop upstream, midstream, and downstream capabilities. Regional clusters around key resources can strengthen linkages between countries, industries, and supporting ecosystems. Bilateral collaboration and early adoption of common standards and technologies will help accelerate responsible project development. Strong governance, sustainability standards, and the use of digitalisation and AI can boost transparency and investment confidence. By shifting from strategy to coordinated implementation, Africa can progress from raw material supply to value-added processing, manufacturing, and innovation.
Implementing Funding Platforms: A Solution to Fragmentation
The global economy is at a crossroads. Fragmented and volatile, it urgently needs a new engine for growth. The G20’s recommendations emphasise collaboration, standardisation, and alignment across different areas to achieve sustainable development goals. In this context, this paper recommends to G20 Leaders to seek synergies across different domains to support financing for investments in Africa in order to generate enduring and resilient growth, with particular attention to local communities and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The 2024 G20 Leaders’ Communiqué laid the foundation for this shift, endorsing flexible, country led platforms to drive enduring economic progress.
Sanlam ESG Barometer: B20 Policy Impact Special Report
The B20 Policy Impact Report, a special edition of the Sanlam ESG Barometer developed by SanlamAllianz, a lead sponsor of B20 South Africa, presents a first of its kind analysis of how previous B20 policy proposals have translated into tangible action across G20 nations.
Through dynamic panel discussions and expert insights, the report explores the implementation of B20 recommendations, the role of business in driving sustainable impact, and the pathways toward inclusive growth.