Democracy Works Foundation Climate Governance Lead Raisa Cole’s appointed as Foundations20 Co-Chair during SA’s G20 Presidency.
DWF is deepening its impact on democracy development and climate governance by participating in South Africa’s G20 Presidency under the theme of Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.
As part of our commitment to strengthen democratic governance and sustainable development, DWF’s Climate Governance Lead, Raisa Cole, has been appointed Co-Chair of Foundations20 (F20) alongside Maria Netto of ICS Brazil, marking a critical moment for the Global South.
Foundations20 aims to align G20 politics with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the UN’s 2030 Agenda, focusing on advocacy activities, research, and the convening of philanthropic organisations. It serves as a collective that mobilises philanthropic organisations to enhance their influence on climate policy, with a particular focus on amplifying voices from the Global South within G20.
This co-chairmanship, alongside DWF’s work in climate governance, is crucial to advance climate solutions within the G20 framework. It will also continue to call for comprehensive, inclusive, and impactful policy changes during G20 negotiations this year, anchored by F20 recommendations to the G20 under the South African presidency.
“As DWF we advocate for the impactful implementation of F20’s Africa-focused G20 recommendations, which aim to secure long-term climate justice. These recommendations call on G20 countries to establish robust policy frameworks, ensure regulatory certainty, and create financial incentives that facilitate sustainable investments across the continent. Crucially, they champion a shift towards regenerative practices—approaches that not only preserve but actively restore and heal the socio-ecological systems that have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation, ” states Raisa Cole.
Moving beyond the principle of “doing no harm,” DWF supports democratic processes, policies, and institutions that underpin regenerative practices that focus on restoring biodiversity, sequestering carbon, and rebuilding ecological resilience while promoting economic development. This approach is essential for supporting communities—particularly those least responsible for climate change—in adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions and safeguarding their livelihoods.
DWF’s strategic engagement within F20 will involve working throughout the year to mainstream these critical climate recommendations across our programmes and through our network of political actors, civil society organisations (CSOs), governance actors, and the private sector. We are working with the premise that increasing awareness and engagement around G20 processes will empower these stakeholders to actively shape the policy landscape and support transformative climate action within the G20 process.
As one of its key engagements, together with F20, DWF will convene the 2025 F20 (#F20CSF2025 ) at Cape Town’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens from 27 to 28 May 2025. This unique opportunity to shape an agenda that accelerates the implementation of the SDGs and advances Africa’s priorities in the G20 dialogue will be provided by showcasing solutions and connecting actors across sectors by providing a stage for philanthropy and foundations.
By establishing cross-sector collaboration, DWF aims to integrate climate democracy principles into broader G20 discussions, emphasising democratic decision-making that prioritises inclusive, people-centred policies.
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