Initiated by the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), the Managing Global Governance (MGG)-Partner SAIIA, and the IfW Kiel, a new Africa Standing Group (T20 Africa) was launched in May 2017. The T20 Africa Standing Group is engaging in cross-regional joint knowledge production and provide evidence-based policy advice related to cooperation between MGG countries, other G20 members and Africa. The network encompasses more than 30 leading think tanks from MGG countries, other G20 countries and Africa. The group works on a broad range of issues relevant to economic, social and political change in Africa and the world economy, including infrastructure, trade, agriculture, climate, and the political and social environment in which socio-economic reforms take place. Governance mechanisms for Africa-G20 cooperation will be a key focus. The starting points for the group's joint research and advisory work are the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as the G20 work streams. The T20 ASG is an outcome of the first T20 Africa Conference that took place in February 2017 in Johannesburg, which was one of three main conference during the T20 process during the German G20 presidency.

Objective for this meeting: The objective of the Group’s annual meeting is to discuss policy briefs that the group is currently preparing and that shall provide recommendations for the Argentinean G20 presidency. In addition, recommendations shall be discussed with African policy makers during a specific policy dialogue.