T20: Digital transformation and financing for sustainable development
The first conference of the T20 engagement group (Think Tanks) during the Brazilian presidency of the G20 discussed social justice and digital leadership in Brasilia. Improved access to services, the creation of job opportunities and improved public governance are expected through innovations in finance and technology
Promoted by the Institute for Applied Economic Research (Ipea) and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF America), the "Brasilia Conference on Social Justice: Preparing the Scenario for the Brazilian G20 Presidency" took place on December 14 and 15.
The event, which had the collaboration of Think Tanks from India and South Africa, is the first of the T20 Engagement Group, made up of specialists and Think Tanks, during Brasil's management in the G20. Think Tanks are factories or laboratories of ideas. They are places for disseminating knowledge and creating public policies.
T20 Brasil, part of the Social G20, will propose public policies for discussion during the G20 in Brazil, based on important themes for global development. The organizing committee is composed of Ipea, the Alexandre de Gusmão Foundation (Funag) and the Brazilian Center of International Relations (Cebri).
The highlight was the debate on digital transformation and financing as drivers of sustainable development. The opening panel was attended by the president of Ipea, Luciana Mendes Santos Servo, and the executive director of ORF America, Dhruva Jaishankar, who emphasized the importance of directing the Brazilian presidency of the G20 towards the pursuit of social justice. For Luciana, it is necessary to rethink the concept of development in order to face current challenges.
The event also reinforced the importance of social and climate justice on the global agenda. The idea is to reshape the discourse on development, putting these themes at the center of discussions. Innovations in finance and technology are expected to improve access to services, create job opportunities and improve public governance.
Experiences from Brazil and India
The seminar also presented the experiences of Brazil and India as guides for inclusive digitalization in the countries of the Global South. Both countries have advanced in the field of technology, developing solutions such as digital identification and payments and public services platforms. The leadership of these countries, both in the G20 and globally, can boost progress towards the Sustainable Development Objectives (SDOs) proposed by the Organization of the United Nations (ONU).
With the transition of the G20 presidency from India to Brasil, the conference served as a basis to continue addressing digital transformation, social protection and climate action. The objective is to create a diverse community of policies and practices, providing input and orientations for the G20 discussion process.
By addressing issues of inequality, climate change and outdated multilateral institutions, Brazil and South Africa, the future host of the G20, have the opportunity to shape the global finance for development agenda, promoting greater climate and social equity.