G20: A Forum for Developing World | 11 Sep 2023

The 18th G20 Summit, hosted by New Delhi in September 2023, witnessed a historic expansion of the group with the admission of the African Union (AU) as a permanent member. The AU, a continental body of 55 member states, now has the same status as the European Union, the only regional bloc with full membership.

• The move was proposed by India in June 2023 and welcomed by the AU and other G20 members. The inclusion of the AU in G20 is an achievement of India’s Presidency and reflects its commitment to the developmental agenda of the Global South.

What is Development Cooperation Under India’s G20 Presidency?

• India assumed the G20 Presidency in December 2022, with the theme of ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam’ i.e. ‘One Earth · One Family · One Future’. India’s vision for the G20 Presidency was to promote green development, climate finance, and LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment); accelerate inclusive and resilient growth; advance progress on Sustainable Development Goals; foster technological transformation and digital public infrastructure; reform multilateral institutions for the 21st century; and support women-led development.
• India also introduced new initiatives such as a Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group; Startup 20 Engagement Group; Launch of Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable; and a proposal for a global biofuel alliance.
• India’s G20 Presidency also showcased its development cooperation with Africa and other developing regions. India has been a longstanding partner of Africa, sharing its experience and expertise in various fields such as agriculture, health, education, energy, infrastructure, digital technology, capacity building, and peacekeeping.
• India has extended concessional lines of credit worth USD 10.5 billion for 182 projects in Africa through the Export-Import Bank of India. India has also launched several flagship programs such as the Pan-African e-Network Project, Team-9 Initiative, India-Africa Forum Summit, India-Africa Trade Council, India-Africa Health Sciences Platform, and India-Africa Institute of Agriculture and Rural Development. India has also supported Africa’s participation in multilateral platforms such as the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and Nalanda University.

What are the Advantages and Opportunities for Africa After Inclusion in G20?

• The inclusion of the AU in G20 is a significant step towards more inclusive and representative global governance. The AU represents a continent with 1.4 billion people and a collective GDP of USD 3 trillion.
• Africa is also one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, with a projected growth rate of 4.1% in 2023.
• Africa’s voice and perspective are essential for addressing global challenges such as poverty eradication, climate change, health security, digital transformation, trade facilitation, debt sustainability, and peace and security.
• The inclusion of the AU in G20 also offers benefits and opportunities for both Africa and G20 members.
  • For Africa, it provides a platform to advance its common interests and aspirations on the global stage, such as
    • the implementation of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030,
    • the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),
    • the mobilization of climate finance and technology transfer, and
    • the reform of international financial institutions.
  • For G20 members, it opens new avenues for cooperation and partnership with Africa in various sectors such as infrastructure development, renewable energy, digital economy, health care, education, agriculture, tourism, and culture.
    • It also enhances mutual understanding and trust among G20 members and African countries.

What are the Challenges Africa and the World Will Face in its Engagement with G 20?

The inclusion of the AU in G20 also poses some challenges and requires some actions to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability. Some of these challenges are:

• The AU will have to coordinate its positions and priorities with its member states and regional economic communities to ensure coherence and consistency in its engagement with the G20.
• The AU will have to strengthen its institutional capacity and human resources to participate effectively in the G20 processes and meetings across various tracks and work streams.
• The AU will have to balance its commitments and obligations with other regional and global platforms such as the African Union Commission (AUC), African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), Commonwealth, Francophonie, etc.
• The AU will have to manage its expectations and interests with those of other G20 members who may have different agendas and perspectives on various issues.
• The AU will have to ensure that its participation in the G20 leads to tangible outcomes and benefits for Africa’s development.

Way Forward:

The AU should establish a dedicated mechanism or unit within its structures to coordinate its engagement with the G20. This mechanism or unit should liaise closely with the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, regional economic communities, member states, civil society, the private sector, and other stakeholders to formulate and communicate Africa’s positions and priorities on the G20 agenda.

• The AU should seek technical and financial support from the G20 members and other partners to enhance its capacity and resources to participate effectively in the G20 processes and meetings.
• The AU should also leverage its existing partnerships and platforms such as the India-Africa Forum Summit, the Africa-EU Partnership, the Africa-China Forum, etc. to mobilize support for its G20 engagement.
• The AU should align its G20 engagement with its existing frameworks and strategies such as Agenda 2063, Agenda 2030, AfCFTA, etc.
• The AU should also ensure coherence and complementarity between its G20 engagement and its other regional and global engagements such as the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD, UN, EU, Commonwealth, Francophonie, etc.
• The AU should adopt a constructive and pragmatic approach in its G20 engagement, seeking common ground and consensus with other G20 members on various issues. The AU should also be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances and emerging challenges in the global arena.
• The AU should monitor and evaluate its G20 engagement, measuring its impact and outcomes on Africa’s development. The AU should also disseminate and communicate its G20 engagement to its member states and other stakeholders, highlighting its achievements and challenges.

Conclusion

• The inclusion of the AU in G20 is an achievement of India’s Presidency and reflects its commitment to the developmental agenda of the Global South. It is also a recognition of Africa’s importance and potential in the global economy and governance. The AU should seize this historic opportunity to advance its interests and aspirations on the global stage while contributing to the global public good.