South Africa Secures Key G20 Agreement on Social Protection and Illicit Financial Flows
South Africa has been praised for leading the adoption of the G20 Skukuza Development Ministerial Declaration, recently at the Kruger National Park. The declaration set out strong commitments to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, focusing on improving social protection systems and reducing illicit financial flows (IFFs), particularly from Africa.
The declaration, achieved under South Africa’s G20 presidency, called for minimum standards for universal and national social protection systems. These systems are expected to be financed primarily by domestic resources, supported where necessary by international partners and other funding sources. It also placed emphasis on better domestic resource mobilisation through measures such as curbing tax outflows to tax havens.
According to Norwegian Minister of International Development Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, the achievement was significant given global tensions and waning multilateralism. He commended South Africa for uniting diverse nations and reaffirming confidence in international cooperation. France’s Deputy Minister for Francophonie and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed Soilihi, also expressed strong support for South Africa’s leadership and priorities, particularly in tackling IFFs and boosting domestic development financing.
The declaration included a call for G20 members to fully honour their aid commitments and outlined 10 guiding principles for combating IFFs. It also requested the drafting of a roadmap to be presented to the 2027 G20 presidency. Although some countries added reservations, the declaration was adopted without obstruction, a major step forward for Africa’s fight against capital flight.
South Africa’s success is notable given its longstanding advocacy on IFFs, dating back to former President Thabo Mbeki’s 2015 UN panel findings that Africa was losing at least $50-billion annually through such flows. Norwegian officials confirmed the agreement builds on those findings and strengthens the G20’s resolve to protect developing countries’ revenue bases.
The Skukuza declaration further advanced key outcomes from the recent Financing for Development Conference in Spain, reinforcing South Africa’s reputation for driving positive change at global level.
South Africa’s G20 presidency has been widely credited with fostering consensus on critical development priorities, cementing its position as a champion for Africa’s economic growth and resilience.
The declaration, achieved under South Africa’s G20 presidency, called for minimum standards for universal and national social protection systems. These systems are expected to be financed primarily by domestic resources, supported where necessary by international partners and other funding sources. It also placed emphasis on better domestic resource mobilisation through measures such as curbing tax outflows to tax havens.
According to Norwegian Minister of International Development Åsmund Grøver Aukrust, the achievement was significant given global tensions and waning multilateralism. He commended South Africa for uniting diverse nations and reaffirming confidence in international cooperation. France’s Deputy Minister for Francophonie and International Partnerships, Thani Mohamed Soilihi, also expressed strong support for South Africa’s leadership and priorities, particularly in tackling IFFs and boosting domestic development financing.
The declaration included a call for G20 members to fully honour their aid commitments and outlined 10 guiding principles for combating IFFs. It also requested the drafting of a roadmap to be presented to the 2027 G20 presidency. Although some countries added reservations, the declaration was adopted without obstruction, a major step forward for Africa’s fight against capital flight.
South Africa’s success is notable given its longstanding advocacy on IFFs, dating back to former President Thabo Mbeki’s 2015 UN panel findings that Africa was losing at least $50-billion annually through such flows. Norwegian officials confirmed the agreement builds on those findings and strengthens the G20’s resolve to protect developing countries’ revenue bases.
The Skukuza declaration further advanced key outcomes from the recent Financing for Development Conference in Spain, reinforcing South Africa’s reputation for driving positive change at global level.
South Africa’s G20 presidency has been widely credited with fostering consensus on critical development priorities, cementing its position as a champion for Africa’s economic growth and resilience.
