South Africa is taking a leading role at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, currently underway in Seville, Spain from 30 June to 3 July 2025.
The South African delegation is led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola, who was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to represent the country in light of recent political developments at home that require his close attention.
The high-level summit, co-hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, is focused on addressing urgent global issues, including the reform of the international financial system and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, South Africa’s presence at the summit aligns with the nation’s G20 Presidency priorities, which are centred on solidarity, equality, and sustainability. These values are seen as critical to reshaping global financial frameworks in ways that are more inclusive and development-focused.
As part of its contribution, South Africa is hosting a dedicated side event titled “Forging a Common Agenda to Achieve Debt Sustainability in Developing Economies.” This session will focus on building global consensus around long-term solutions to the debt burdens faced by many developing nations, particularly in Africa.
“South Africa seeks to advance sustainable solutions through cooperation and collaboration. We aim to address the severe liquidity challenges and structural deficits that disproportionately impact African economies,” said Magwenya.
The side event will bring together key figures from international debt reform initiatives, with the goal of amplifying the voices of the Global South in global financial reform conversations and identifying common ground for impactful change.
Joining Minister Lamola at the summit are Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa, Deputy Minister of Finance David Masondo, and other senior government officials.