The website of C20, the civil society engagement group in the G20, is now live.

The website, at www.c20brasil.org, is the way for civil society to register in working groups, and to disseminate updates on meetings, gatherings and other activities. Registration to participate in the 10 working groups is open until January 25th.

The GTs that make up the C20 are: 1) Fair, inclusive and anti-racist economies; 2) Food systems, hunger and poverty; 3) Environment, climate justice and fair energy transition; 4) Sustainable and resilient communities and disaster risk reduction; 5) Integrated health for all; 6) Education and culture; 7) Digitalization and technology; 8) Women’s rights and gender equality; 9) Philanthropy and sustainable development; and 10) SDG 16: Democratic governance, civic space, anti- corruption and access to justice

For Alessandra Nilo, coordinator of the NGO Gestos, Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero, sherpa and vice-president of C20 Brasil, the website is an important space not only to disseminate information about the engagement group, but also to form the working groups, for registration and inclusion in the G20 process itself, “thus continuing our work as Presidency [Abong] and Sherpa [Gestos] to ensure broad participation from civil society from around the world in the process of influencing the G20”.

In the C20 Brazil program, three events are already scheduled: the initial meeting with all working groups and the International Committee, at the end of March, in Recife; intermediate meeting with all working groups and International Committee, with the Third Meeting of Sherpas, in July, in Rio de Janeiro; and the C20 Summit, in November, also in Rio de Janeiro, together with the G20 Summit.

The G20 has 13 engagement groups made up of non-governmental actors who present the demands and proposals of societies from the G20 member countries to influence government resolutions, including the C20. Under Brazil’s presidency in 2024, engagement groups are part of the so-called G20 Social alongside other non-governmental initiatives. In the structure of each engagement group there is a Presidency and Vice-Presidency, and a Sherpa.

Sherpas are an ethnic group that lives in the mountainous region of Nepal and guides climbers to Mount Everest. Within the scope of the G20, therefore, Sherpas are responsible for articulating political dialogue between civil society organizations and government representations.