T20 U.S. Workstreams
The T20 U.S.’ Workstreams (formerly taskforces) are led by experts, policy researchers, and academic scholars, who produce Policy Notes (coming soon!) for G20 policymakers on current challenges during this tumultuous shift in geopolitics across five thematic areas:
1
Fostering Trade and People-Centered Economic Growth
Senior Fellow, Center for Sustainable Development, Brookings
Dean and CEO, Asian Development Bank Institute
Executive Director, CSIS Indonesia
This thematic area will consider ways to further facilitate and innovate both global multilateral (World Trade Organization) and plurilateral trade arrangements, to better leverage the potential “win-win” benefits while mitigating against any risks or “public bads” associated with international trade. It will further focus on assessing regulatory challenges, such as duplicative regulations or high compliance costs, that may hamper international economic growth initiatives and cooperation.
2
Safeguarding Energy Security and Resilience
Director, Global South Program, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Executive Director and Co-Founder, Plataforma CIPÓ
Vice Rector, HSE University, Moscow
President, Centre for International Governance Innovation
This thematic area will identify the means and mechanisms for building resilient energy sources and reliable access to affordable energy. It will also aim to advance concrete policy and institutional reform proposals on a just green energy transition and the scaling-up of affordable energy infrastructure.
3
Governing AI and other Innovative Technologies
Director, Global Governance, Justice & Security Program, Stimson Center
Founder, Lawyers Hub Africa
Director, Centre for Digital Societies, Observer Research Foundation
Senior Research Associate, Digital Societies, Politics and Governance Team, ODI Global
Research Fellow, Digital Societies, Politics and Governance Team, ODI Global
Policy and Research Manager, Project Liberty
Director, Observatory of Social and Economic Trends – Insight 21, Universidad Siglo 21
This thematic priority will focus on advancing the responsible development and diffusion of new technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence, biotech, quantum computing, etc.), including by securing trade access and the infrastructure needed to participate in a digitized global economy. It will also focus on the fair trade of minerals so central to technological process and the future of compute. Finally, it will engage on regulatory questions around global and regional governance of artificial intelligence and digital public infrastructure, as well as concerns and opportunities about global cooperation across the "AI Stack."
4
Mobilizing Finance and Tackling Debt Constraints, including through International Financial Architecture Reform
Senior Fellow, Center for Sustainable Development, Brookings
Professor of Global Development Policy and Director, Global Development Policy Center, Boston University
Founder and CEO, AfriCatalyst
Member of the International Advisory Board, CEBRI
This thematic area will focus on strengthening G20 action commitments on global economic governance and international financial architecture reform, including debt relief and climate resilience, by assessing existing global and regional governance gaps and proposing common action and new innovations on policies and institutions.
5
Sustaining and Strengthening Global Coordination on Socioeconomic Development and Peacebuilding
Senior Advisor, T20 U.S. Project and Nonresident Fellow, Protection of Civilians and Human Security Program, Stimson Center
Deputy Director, Better Order Project, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Associate Director for International Policy, Institute for Public Policy Research
President and CEO, Global Solutions Initiative
Director, Global Outreach & Policy, Global Solutions Initiative
Chief Executive, South African Institute of International Affairs
Building on action plans developed for the recent September 2024 Summit of the Future, July 2025 Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, and November 2025 World Social Summit, this thematic priority will focus on innovations for strengthening global cooperation in the social development and peacebuilding domains. It will give special attention to issues ranging from fighting inequality, gender empowerment, and pandemic response to Security Council reform, norms surrounding the use of force, and enhancing the UN's peacebuilding toolkit.
