G20 Briefing
The G20 is a group of finance ministers and central bank governors from 20 major
economies, 19 countries plus the European Union. Collectively they account for over
80% of the gross world GDP, 80 of world trade and two thirds of the world
population. The group was proposed in 1999 by former Canadian Prime Minister,
Paul Martin as a forum for cooperation on matters pertaining to the international
financial system. Although there have been annual meetings between finance
ministers since 1999, the first Summit took place in 2008 due to the financial crisis.
After the monumental meeting in 2008, the G-20 leaders announced that it would
overtake the G8 as the main economic council of wealthy nations and meet annually
to discuss matters of international financial stability.
G20 Countries and Institutions (G8 countries in bold)
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Indonesia
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
South Korea
Turkey
United Kingdom
United States
European Union
(Additional participants: World Bank, IMF, OECD, ILO, UN, WTO, Financial Stability
Board)
The G20 operates without a permanent secretariat or staff (office rotates with host
nation of next summit). The chair rotates annually among the members and is
selected from a different regional grouping of countries. The chair is part of a
revolving three-member management group of past, present and future chairs. The
incumbent chair, establishes a temporary secretariat for the duration of its term,
which coordinates the group’s work and organizes its meetings. The role of the
management team is to ensure continuity in the G-20’s work and management
across host years.
Future Summits
Anticipated focus:
food security & nutrition
corruption
Trade & Africa
M East/N Africa conflict
Accountability
2013 UK G8 Summit
2013 Russian G20
Anticipated focus:
Energy
MDGs
Food Security
Anticorruption
Taxes
Year
2013
2014
2015
2016
G8
UK
Russia
Germany
Japan
G20
Russia
Australia
Turkey
2017 Italy
2018 Canada
The agenda items of each summit are broken into working groups and expert
groups. They are both established when needed to support the work of leaders,
finance ministers, central bank governors and Sherpas* (G20 leaders’ personal
representatives). Both groups are generally co-chaired by one advanced and one
emerging economy. The themes of the working groups are not permanent and
fluctuate between G20 presidencies.
*Sherpas
The Sherpas carry out important planning, negotiation and implementation tasks
throughout the entire process. They coordinate the agenda, seek consensus at the
highest political levels and help negotiate the Leaders’ positions. In addition, the
Sherpa is also responsible for holding frequent meetings with business and civil
society. Toward the end of the process, along with the Deputy Finance Ministers, the
Sherpas prepare the final declaration statement and other supporting documents
for the Leaders.
Mexican G20’s Presidency’s Working Groups
Sherpa’s Track
Employment & Social Dimension of
Globalization
Food Security
Development
Anti-Corruption
Multilateral Trade
Finance Minister’s Track
Working Group on Framework for Growth
Strengthening of the International Financial
System
Working Group on International Financial
Architecture
Working Group on Energy and Commodity
Markets
Study group on Climate Finance
G20 civil society representation
Until recently non-state actors have had little involvement in the G20 process.
However the previous Summit hosted by Mexico, made inclusion a priority, holding
dialogues (see below for themes) with business, labor, academia and NGOs. The
papers produced at these dialogues were hosted on the official G20 website with a
corresponding calendar of CSO side events. The Mexican presidency accredited all
CSOs that wanted to attend the Summit and granted them full access to the media
centre and a separate “cultural pavilion” for exhibitions. Additionally, CSOs were
briefed daily by the presidency on the summit’s proceedings.
CSOs are unable to formally participate in the working groups but are able to submit
their recommendations to their respective nation’s Sherpas and Finance Ministers.
Similar to the Rio+20 process, brief recommendations should be submitted 6-8
months prior to the Summit. In the UK, CSOs can have group consultations with the
Sherpa from the UK cabinet office (Ivan Rogers) and the designated G20 Financial
Minister from DFID. Meetings with the Sherpa generally happen once before and
after the Summit, while meetings with the G20 representative occur quarterly. The
Bond development group coordinates these meetings and administers an online
discussion group and newsletter for CSOs involved in the G20.
For 2013, the Russian Presidency has already conducted meetings on the role of
civil society in forming the G20 agenda. The Presidency has stated that civil society
will be able to provide extensive input on the issues of sustainable development and
social welfare. The Russian Presidency has already begun dialogues with Russian
NGOs and is planning to conduct further dialogues with Global NGOs between
September and December (a calendar of Civil Society’s activities under Russian
Presidency is attached).
Mexico’s CSO Dialogue Themes
1. Economic stabilization and structural reforms for growth and employment.
2. Financial systems and promoting financial inclusion to boost economic growth.
3. International financial architecture in an interconnected global economy.
4. Food security and price volatility of raw materials.
5. Sustainable development, green growth and fight against climate change.
CSO’s that submitted position papers for the G20 in Mexico
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1000 Days (Pregnant women’s nutrition)
Anglican Alliance (Religious charity that addresses poverty and
development)
Australian Council for International Development (Aid for poverty)
Bond (UK international development)
Consumers International (consumer information on safe and sustainable
goods)
Coordination SUD (French NGO coalition that works on a wide range of
social, economic and environmental issues).
Heinrich Böll Foundation (green think tank)
InterAction (U.S. faith based alliance of ngos)
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(world's largest humanitarian organization)
Joint Religious Coordination for the G8 and G20 Summits (alliance of
religious leaders)
LATINDADD (Latin American Network on Debt Development and Rights)
Observatorio Mexicano de la Crisis (center that analyzes social, economic and
environmental crises)
Oxfam America (Poverty and injustice)
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One (fights poverty and preventable diseases in Africa)
Save the Children (Children’s poverty, education and hunger)
Task Force on Financial Integrity & Economic Development (consortium
of governments and advocacy organizations which focus on financial
transparency)
World Vision (community development, disaster relief and advocacy)
Helpful resources
http://www.g20civil.com/index.php
http://www.g20.org/
http://www.g20.utoronto.ca/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-20_major_economies
http://www.cigionline.org/project/g20