The Y20 South Africa Summit kicked off on Aug.18 at the Birchwood Hotel & OR Tambo Conference Centre, bringing together youth ministers, political, business, and civic leaders, and international delegates from G20 member nations to chart a concrete path for youth participation in global governance.

Over the five days, delegates will negotiate and adopt the Y20 Declaration, which outlines recommendations for G20 leaders on jobs, climate, digital transformation, inclusion, and youth engagement.

“The five-day summit brings together youth representatives from G20 countries to negotiate and adopt the Y20 Declaration, outlining concrete recommendations for G20 leaders on jobs, climate, digital transformation, inclusion, and youth participation,” said Irfaan Mangera, the spokesperson for the Y20.

Mangera stated that the Y20 is the official youth engagement arm of the G20, providing a platform for young negotiators to translate lived realities into policy proposals that can influence national plans and multilateral agendas.

From ideation to action, delegates will operate across five thematic tracks: Climate and environmental Sustainability; inclusive economic growth and employment; AI, Digital Innovation, and the Future of Work; Meaningful Youth Engagement and reforming Multilateralism; and Inclusive Social Development and fighting Inequality.

Mangera said the aim is to move from technical briefings to closed negotiations and ultimately adopt the Y20 Declaration.

An off-site Learning Day will ground deliberations in South Africa's democratic history and leadership legacy, with visits to Constitution Hill, Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, and the OR Tambo Narrative Centre.

Mangera added that this component reinforces the link between institutional memory and future-making.

Furthermore, Mangera stated that the programme also focuses on post-summit uptake, with plans to carry recommendations into the G20 Social Summit, UN General Assembly, and UN@80 initiatives to monitor and measure impact.