Feedback from Katlego Dikobe on the U20 Summit

“This past weekend (12–14 September 2025), I had the privilege of attending the U20 Summit 2025 at the NH Hotel in Sandton. The summit was exceptionally well attended, with mayors and representatives from subnational governments across the globe coming together to share lessons, challenges, and solutions.

A special thank you to the City of Johannesburg and City of Tshwane as the co-host cities, as well as C40 Cities and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) for convening this important platform.

The core objective of the summit was to craft a submission to the G20 on behalf of subnational governments – highlighting the critical role cities and regions play in addressing challenges on the ground, while also raising the persistent barriers around access to funding.

Key themes included:
– Climate action – advancing climate-smart and resilient urban strategies.
– SDGs & Agenda 2030 – showcasing how cities are tracking progress and innovating to meet global goals.
– Urbanisation & governance – exploring how decentralised decision-making and institutional reforms are essential to managing rapid urbanisation.
– Data systems – emphasising the need for strong mechanisms for tracking, oversight, and accountability to ensure sustainable impact.

My biggest takeaway: there is a strong call for a global “think-and-do tank” where cities can continuously engage, partner, and lobby collectively for reforms that empower subnational governments to deliver better for their citizens.

Inspired and encouraged by the level of collaboration, and I look forward to contributing further to these critical conversations through the GPMA network.”