ANDE’s South Africa G20 Learning Series convened diverse ecosystem actors to amplify African entrepreneurship perspectives for the 2025 G20 Presidency. The series produced actionable insights, policy recommendations, and a shared vision for inclusive and sustainable growth.
African Voices, Global Impact: Shaping the G20’s Entrepreneurship Agenda
As South Africa hosts the G20 in 2025, the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) Southern Africa Chapter launched the G20 Entrepreneurship Learning Series — a policy engagement platform to ensure African entrepreneurship priorities inform the global agenda.
Through four in-person capsule sessions, the series fostered dialogue among entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem builders, generating African-led policy insights and practical recommendations for the G20 Engagement Groups.
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Elevate Africa’s entrepreneurship priorities—especially from township and underserved economies—on the G20 stage.
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Convene structured dialogues that explore inclusive entrepreneurial policy solutions through scenario planning.
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Produce actionable policy briefs and a consolidated G20 Entrepreneurship Policy Memo for G20 stakeholders.
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Engage a curated set of local and global ecosystem actors, including entrepreneurs, support organizations, funders, corporates, and policymakers.
Youth-Led Economic Transformation
Focus: Empowering township youth entrepreneurs through digital tools, startup support, and peer learning communities.
Key Takeaways
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- Youth-led innovation is driving digital inclusion and local job creation.
- Access to startup networks and community-based support models accelerates early-stage growth.
- Policymakers can unlock youth potential through targeted funding and training programs.
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Gender-Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Focus: Increasing capital access, tackling systemic bias, and advancing innovation in the care economy.
Key Takeaways
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- Women entrepreneurs face persistent funding and market access barriers.
- Inclusive finance mechanisms and mentorship networks are essential to scaling women-led enterprises.
- Gender-smart policies can catalyze innovation across emerging sectors.
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Enabling Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Focus: Strengthening local startup ecosystems through infrastructure, mentorship, and targeted support for underserved communities.
Key Takeaways
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Collaboration between public and private sectors drives long-term ecosystem resilience.
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Local infrastructure investment and ecosystem coordination are key to equitable growth.
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Inclusive policy frameworks amplify the reach of business development services.
Business20: Scaling African Startups for Global Markets
Focus: Enhancing access to finance, global markets, and corporate partnerships to support township-based entrepreneurs.
Key Takeaways
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Partnerships between corporates and SMEs unlock growth potential.
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Market linkages and export readiness are critical for scaling African innovation globally.
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G20 cooperation can foster inclusive trade and investment pathways for small businesses.
