EDCTP congratulates the African Union for its membership in the G20
EDCTP extends its congratulations to the African Union on becoming a permanent member of the G20 – the Group of 20 top world economies. This historical step was announced by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 annual summit on 9 September 2023, saying that “this development will strengthen the G20 and also strengthen the voice of the Global South”. The inclusion of the African Union now brings all 55 African countries into the Group.
“The creation of G21 marks the great moment of recognition on how we work in partnership for the world's well-being. The G21 is a crucial transmission belt for science to policy and society and allows the process of mutual learning for change based on values of fairness, respect, care, and honesty.”
Professor Marcel Tanner, EDCTP High Representative
Advocating for a G21
The inclusion of the African Union in the G20 was advocated in the policy brief ‘One seat, one billion people: advocating for a G21’, published by a group of eleven thought leaders, under the umbrella of the EU-funded PREPARED project. EDCTP Executive Director Dr Michael Makanga is one of the authors of the policy brief, and is quoted in a Nature article ‘Researchers back African Union to join G20 group of largest economic powers’: “The G20 is the top multilateral forum for international economic cooperation. For ethical and moral reasons it is critical that Africa is represented at the table.”
Watch the G21 video animation developed by the PREPARED project:
