As the G20 Social Summit is ongoing in Gauteng, and the G20 Leaders’ Summit approaching (22–23 November), a simple truth is becoming louder across our communities: real transformation starts from below. This is not just a global moment, it is a reminder that the struggles, dreams, and solutions rising from rural areas, informal settlements, and youth movements must guide global decision-making.
Development is not a technocratic exercise, it is about dignity, voice, and justice. Civil society, youth networks, faith communities, labour unions, gender activists, and grassroots movements have come together to shape a Social Summit Declaration that will be handed to President Ramaphosa today.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit this weekend will negotiate a “Leaders’ Declaration.” Within it lies the potential to reshape global climate finance, energy transitions, debt systems, and social protections. But the real test is simple: will these decisions transform the lives of the people most affected by climate change, poverty, and exclusion? Transformative Action believes the answer must be yes, and that this requires a fundamental shift in how solutions are designed and financed.
We are calling for:
Community-owned renewable energy systems that expand energy access while creating local jobs,
Transparent and inclusive financing models that prioritise women and young people,
Strengthened adaptation and resilience investments, because climate impacts are already here,
Loss and Damage financing that reaches affected communities directly,
MDB reforms that unlock affordable finance for community-driven initiatives,
Public participation that is meaningful, not symbolic.
Transformative Action was founded on a simple conviction: those closest to the problems are closest to the solutions. Our current work, on community mini-grids, participatory environmental justice workshops, and youth-led policy advocacy, shows that people know what they need, but what they lack is support. This is why global spaces like the G20 matter. Not because they hold all the answers, but because they must finally learn to listen.
Whether or not the G20 Leaders’ Declaration delivers bold commitments, Transformative Action will continue advocating for a world where communities lead, youth shape policy, and justice is non-negotiable. This week is historic. But what matters most is what happens after the cameras leave.