The Civil 20 (C20) South Africa’s working group on food and poverty has emphasised the need to prioritise rural livelihoods in frameworks addressing food security and job access. 

This was highlighted during a media briefing in Pretoria, where the C20 leadership presented an initial policy draft brief.

Greer Schoeman, policy and content technical leader in the office of the C20 South Africa Sherpa, said: “Rural livelihoods must be placed at the centre of food and job access frameworks.” 

She stressed the importance of investing in agricultural infrastructure, technology, and resilience in food systems against climate shocks.

She noted that civil society-led initiatives, such as cooperative farming and early childhood care and education, demonstrate that solutions already exist within communities, but are waiting to be scaled. 

She talked about the need to acknowledge the informal economy’s role in discussions about just transitions, highlighting that it is impossible to have a fair and equitable transition without recognising the significance of this sector.

The C20 is calling for a new commitment to strengthening community-based education and health delivery models. 

Schoeman said that inequality remains deeply entrenched in South Africa, whether spatial, racial, or intersectional, and that equity in education, health, and opportunities must be the cornerstone of national and global policies.

The C20 also stressed that the transition to greener economies and digital futures must not leave communities behind. 

Schoeman said: “We are advocating for sovereign digital public infrastructure, for reforms in climate financing, and for recognition of how technological development and the climate crisis are interlinked.”

The C20 is pushing for gender-responsive climate solutions and inclusive financing mechanisms, ensuring women and marginalized groups are not spectators but leaders in shaping the future. 

A cluster on global governance called for community data ownership and protection, to ensure that technology and knowledge systems serve the people and not only external interests.

Schoeman said that South-South cooperation and knowledge exchange must be elevated within the G20 process, and frameworks imposed from outside without meaningful representation or participation must be challenged. 

“True legitimacy can only be built on equity and inclusion,” she said.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za

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