The Civil 20 (C20) is an official engagement group of the G20, providing a structured space for civil society to engage with G20 leaders on critical global issues. As South Africa takes on the G20 presidency in 2025, this is a crucial moment for African voices to be at the forefront of global policy discussions.

Community and civil society organisations (CSOs) across Africa and around the world are essential in creating the inclusive and equitable policy dialogues we need at the global level.

WACI Health is honoured to join advocates for the C20 process and is co-leading the Equitable Health for All Working Group within the C20. Our leadership role reinforces our commitment to advocating for inclusive, people-centered health policies and ensuring that civil society voices remain at the heart of global health governance.

The G20, originally formed in 1999 to address global financial crises, has evolved into a strategic platform for addressing cross-cutting global challenges, including health equity. South Africa and the African Union are the permanent members of the G20 from the region. 

The C20, established in 2013, brings together civil society to engage with G20 processes and influence policy discussions. Other engagement groups for non-governmental stakeholders at the G20 include Labour 20 (L20), Women 20 (W20), and Youth 20 (Y20), among others. 

This year, the C20 engagement is coordinated through 14 Working Groups that are aligned in their roles and priorities with the G20 South Africa’s thematic areas. These C20 Working Groups will play a critical role in developing recommendations for G20 leaders in each thematic area, ensuring that people’s needs and priorities drive decisions made through the G20 process.

About the Equitable Health for All Working Group

The C20 Equitable Health for All Working Group will focus on ensuring that universal health coverage (UHC), pandemic preparedness, financing for global health, and equitable access to health care remain central to the G20 agenda.

Sizwe Nombasa Gxuluwe (Programs Manager, WACI Health) is the C20 Equitable Health for All Working Group Chairperson and also a focal point for C20 for G20 HWG. WACI Health co-leads the working group along with the National Association of People living with HIV and AIDS (NAPWA) South Africa and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF).

Our role includes:

• Ensuring diverse perspectives from civil society across the world inform G20 health discussions
• Engaging with the G20 Health Working Group by actively contributing to discussions and advocating for health policies that prioritise equity, access, and sustainability
• Hosting monthly working group meetings and leading the development of the policy brief
• Co-developing the C20 Policy Pack, which will outline civil society’s policy recommendations for G20 leaders, alongside contributions from 13 other working groups

Through our leadership, WACI Health is committed to bringing civil society voices, particularly from the Global South, to the forefront of G20 health discussions. Our participation ensures that the perspectives of communities affected by inequitable health systems shape global health policies, funding mechanisms, and governance structures.

WACI Health has been helping establish and coordinate the C20 structure and working groups, developing the C20 Concept Note, supporting group leads, and facilitating participation. We are also contributing to implementing the communications strategy, ensuring widespread engagement and visibility of civil society recommendations.

The C20 governance is structured to promote coordinated, inclusive, and strategic civil society action for the G20 process. The governance framework includes the C20 Chair (Thulani Tshefuta) and Co-Chairs, who are responsible for steering the overall process; a C20 Sherpa (Mabalane Mfundisi), who serves as the main point of contact with G20 representatives and other stakeholders; and a Secretariat (led by Nhlanhla Ndlovu), which provides logistical support and coordination.

A C20 Steering Committee ensures the C20 remains an open and diverse space for civil society engagement. At its core is the C20 Troika, which brings together civil society representatives from the previous host country (Brazil, 2024), the current host (South Africa, 2025), and the next host (United States, 2026). This structure facilitates sustained dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and institutional memory across C20 cycles. Additionally, an International Advisory Committee (IAC), composed of international CSOs with experience with the G20, provides strategic guidance. 

How to Engage

The success of the C20 depends on our participation and collective action. We invite community advocates and civil society organisations to join the C20 working groups as early as possible. Please contact us for questions about the Equitable Health For All Working Group.

Follow C20 South Africa updates on X and WhatsApp. 

Listen to the C20 Connection podcast to learn more!