We’re thrilled to announce that Global Citizen NOW, our landmark action summit, is coming to South Africa. On November 21, we’ll convene at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, as world leaders gather on the eve of the G20 Leaders’ Summit. This event marks a historic milestone — Global Citizen NOW will be hosted on the African continent for the first time.
A Defining Moment for Africa’s Clean Energy Future
Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg will serve as the catalytic moment of our year-long Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign. Together with government leaders, private sector investors, philanthropies, and local advocates, we aim to accelerate renewable energy investments and deliver measurable progress ahead of the G20 Summit.
It will feature distinguished speakers, including: Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa; Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission; Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia; Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway; Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former UN Under-Secretary-General and Deputy President of South Africa; Sipho Makhubela, Chief Executive Officer, Harith General Partners.
“Africa’s moment is now,” said H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa. “Our continent holds the key to a more sustainable, equitable and prosperous world. Through decisive action and global solidarity, we can accelerate Africa’s clean energy future through a just transition, creating enduring opportunities for our people and strengthening the foundations of shared progress.”
“Africa holds immense potential for renewable energy and the world is taking notice. Through our Global Gateway investment strategy, Europe is partnering with Africa to build a clean, sustainable, and prosperous future,” said Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. “This campaign was launched to unite global efforts and mobilise both public and private investment, expanding access to energy and driving lasting growth. My message is clear: now is the time to invest in powering Africa’s future. I look forward to many milestone announcements ahead of the pledging event in Johannesburg later this month.”
An Unmissable Lineup of Global Leaders and Innovators
Hosted by Nomzamo Mbatha, actress, humanitarian, and Global Citizen Ambassador, additional speakers include: Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Singer-Songwriter, Entrepreneur, and Humanitarian; Sherwin Charles, CEO and Co-Founder of Goodbye Malaria; Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Global Citizen Europe Board Chair; Jito Kayumba, Special Advisor to Zambian President on Finance and Investment; Nandi Madida, Apple Music Host, Philanthropist, and Podcast Founder; Matsi Modise, Founder and CEO of Furaha; Lady Roslyn Morauta Board Chair, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Alexio Musindo, ILO Director for South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini and Lesotho; Mzansi Youth Choir;Siv Ngesi, Actor, Comedian, and Producer; Dr. Sibulele Sibaca-Nomnganga, Global Health Advocate and Social Change Engineer; Zoisa North-Bond, CEO, Octopus Energy Generation; Akinwole Omoboriowo II, Chairman and CEO of Genesis Energy Group; Gqi Raoleka, CEO and Co-Founder of Pele Energy Group; Pearl Thusi, Actress, DJ, and Entrepreneur; Duncan Ward, Co-founder and Managing Director, TransEnergy Global, and more.
“Africa’s growth and resilience depend on building a diverse, sustainable energy mix that can withstand climate shocks,” said H.E. President Hakainde Hichilema, Republic of Zambia. “By investing in solar, hydro, and wind power, we can drive our continent’s industrial growth and create a cleaner, more prosperous future for all."
Host of Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg — Nomzamo Mbatha, acclaimed actress, humanitarian, and proud Global Citizen Ambassador.
Guiding the conversation — Siv Ngesi, actor, comedian, and producer, joins as moderator for Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg.
Nandi Madida, Apple Music Host, philanthropist, and podcast founder, brings her passion and purpose to the stage as moderator at Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg.
Legendary singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and humanitarian Yvonne Chaka Chaka joins the lineup of inspiring speakers at Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg.
Actress, DJ, and entrepreneur Pearl Thusi steps in as moderator for Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg.
Driving Action Through Collaboration
At the heart of the summit is partnership and innovation. Harith General Partners, our presenting partner, underscores the importance of private sector engagement in scaling Africa’s clean energy potential.
“Partnering with Global Citizen for their first-ever Global Citizen NOW summit in Africa reinforces our shared commitment to advancing our clean energy future and powering the continent as a global leader in sustainable and inclusive growth,” said Sipho Makhubela, Chief Executive Officer,of Harith General Partners. “At Harith, we view investment in renewable energy as both a strategic and economic imperative, driving jobs, innovation and transformative opportunities across our continent.”
The campaign, hosted by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, in partnership with Global Citizen and support from the International Energy Agency (IEA), is calling for financial commitments from governments, the private sector, and multilateral development banks to quadruple Africa’s renewable energy capacity by 2030, and addressing the unmet energy needs of the 600 million people across the continent who still lack access to electricity. The campaign will also contribute to the World Bank and the African Development Bank’s Mission 300.
Leadership in Action
“Access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy is essential to Africa’s economic transformation,” said Nomzamo Mbatha, actress, humanitarian, and Global Citizen Ambassador. “I am honoured to host Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg, a critical platform to turn ambition into action, aligning governments, investors, and citizens behind a shared vision for a more sustainable future for our continent. This is about more than powering homes; it’s about empowering communities, driving inclusive growth, and ensuring a greener future for generations to come."
“As world leaders gather in South Africa for the first G20 meetings ever held on African soil, Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg will be a defining moment for the continent’s future,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO of Global Citizen. “We’re calling on governments to scale up public investment in energy access and on the private sector to move capital, technology, and innovation to the frontlines of Africa’s clean-energy transition. Together, we can mobilize the investments needed to power homes and businesses, and deliver electricity to the 600 million people still living without it. Africa has the ideas, talent, and resources to power a sustainable future. Now the world must match that ambition with action.”
Empowering Africa’s Next Generation: The Reverse Power Panel
On November 17, ahead of the main summit, we’ll host the Reverse Power Panel in Johannesburg — a youth-led event highlighting Africa’s young innovators who are shaping the continent’s clean energy future.
Our Scaling Up Renewables in Africa Fellows will share their ideas alongside government leaders including Hon. Deputy Minister of Electricity & Energy, Ms. Samantha Graham-Maré, and Mr. Bhekumuzi Dean Bhebhe, Director at Africa Change Lab. This interactive session will turn youth-led ideas into actionable commitments, amplifying the role of young Africans in advancing the continent’s clean energy transition.
Presented by Our Partners
Global Citizen NOW: Johannesburg is hosted by Global Citizen, with presenting partner Harith General Partners, major partners Octopus Energy, Pele Energy Group, TransEnergy Global, and supported by Genesis Energy and PayPal.
We’re grateful for the support of leading media companies including EIB Network, TimesLIVE, and Vanguard Media.
A Global Movement Expanding Across Continents
This marks the first-ever Global Citizen NOW summit in Africa, continuing the series’ global expansion following impactful events in New York City, Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Detroit, Belém, and Seville.
As we bring Global Citizen NOW to Johannesburg, we look forward to driving collaboration, leadership, and tangible progress toward a sustainable and equitable energy future — for Africa, and for the world.
For more information please visit globalcitizen.org/en/now/johannesburg. Additional details will be announced in the coming weeks.