25 July 2025 Speech by Federal Minister Reem Alabali Radovan at the G20 Development Ministers’ Meeting, Session Illicit Financing Flows/Social Protection, in Skukuza, South Africa

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Minister Ramokgopa,
Excellencies,
Colleagues and partners,

It was a victory of multilateralism when the international community managed to agree on the 2030 Agenda in 2015. However, it is true that there has been far too little progress.

More people around the world are living in extreme poverty or suffering from hunger today than five years ago. Social inequalities remain very high and are growing in many countries. And there is a massive financing gap to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

I consider this as a mission: we have to stay tuned. The G20 as a group represents nearly 80 per cent of the world's people. It must show leadership and pursue ambitious goals.

That is what you are doing, Minister Ramokgopa, with your G20 Presidency. So I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality and your agenda. You have set solidarity, equality and sustainability at the centre. For the international community to get on track.

In order to get on track, we need to jointly tackle the challenges that do not stop at borders: a healthy climate; peace and security; pandemic prevention – no country can provide these things by itself. That is why the G20 took on responsibility – for example – when we established the COVAX vaccination mechanism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

And it is why Germany and our partners successfully launched a fundamental reform of the World Bank Group. It can now create incentives for investing in global public goods. I am grateful, Minister Ramokgopa, that you have put this important debate on global public goods on the agenda again, in order to build on these achievements. And I am proud that Germany will continue its support.

To get on track, we also have to make sure that governments have sufficient fiscal space to fight poverty, reduce inequalities and invest in global public goods. Domestic revenue mobilisation is key here. This reduces inequalities and helps to finance sustainable development. Drying up illicit financial flows has huge potential in this respect. According to UN estimates, 90 billion US dollars flows illegally from Africa alone every year. Imagine this being spent on sustainable development: we'd be way better on track than we are today. It is an important step that we, as G20 members, agreed on joint principles for fighting illicit financial flows in line with the Compromiso de Sevilla. In Germany, we continue to support African countries and the African Union in their fight against illicit financial flows and and in the mobilization of domestic revenue. Because their goal is also our goal: a strong and financially independent Africa.

Last but not least, to get on track, we need to make sure that social protection is accessible for everyone. Germany very much appreciates that South Africa has made this a focus of its Presidency.

Social protection is a human right, and it is one of the most successful means of fighting poverty and hunger. Even small but reliable benefits make a difference for people living near the poverty line. They determine, for example, whether parents can send their children to school instead of sending them out to work. Yet more than half of the world's population – around four billion people – have no access to social protection at all. The G20 Call to Action is an important signal: social protection helps people to adapt to climatic and economic shocks and crises, and it is key for achieving the SDGs.

Germany is the biggest supporter in the field of social protection. To improve international cooperation in this area, we have developed strong partnerships. One of them is an international Climate Task Force. It supports countries in their efforts to better protect people against climate risks. By integrating social protection in their national climate strategies. And by leveraging their climate finance through multilateral climate funds.

We call on each one of you here today to become part of our social protection partnerships and help to make them even stronger.

Minister Ramokgopa, distinguished colleagues,
We must not forget what an extraordinary achievement it was to reach international agreement on the 2030 Agenda. It was a milestone because the Agenda made a promise to leave no one behind. We all recognised that everyone has the right to a life of dignity on a healthy planet. The G20 is a group that has the power to bring global development on track. Let's keep working together in solidarity with this clear goal in mind.

Thank you.