Nomzamo Mbatha Hosts Global Citizen NOW in Spain
Global Leaders Push Urgent Reforms Ahead of the UN’s Financing for Development Conference in 2025
Johannesburg, South Africa (June 19, 2025) – Global Citizen, the leading advocacy organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty, is proud to announce that the Global Citizen NOW action summit will take place at CaixaForum Sevilla on June 29, 2025. This pivotal event precedes the United Nations’ Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) and will spotlight urgent calls for international financing reform, sustainable debt relief, increased investment in Africa and Latin America, and accelerated action on renewable energy.
Hosted by actress, humanitarian, and Global Citizen Ambassador Nomzamo Mbatha, Global Citizen NOW: Sevilla will bring together a remarkable roster of global leaders, including:
- Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain
- Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission
- Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados
- Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda
- Mark Suzman, CEO of the Gates Foundation
- Alexander De Croo, Former Prime Minister of Belgium
- Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former UN General Assembly President
- And many more influential figures.
The significance of Global Citizen NOW: Sevilla lies in its aim to catalyse transformative outcomes in development and climate finance. The summit reflects the urgency of today’s geopolitical challenges, as leaders across sectors convene to address global poverty and the climate crisis.
In partnership with the Spanish Government, this summit will serve as a crucial global platform to shape policies coming out of FfD4. Through dynamic high-level panels, the event will emphasise the necessity for investments in renewable energy across Africa and transformational development finance initiatives.
Global Citizen NOW: Sevilla also serves as a key moment in Global Citizen’s year-long Scaling Up Renewables in Africa campaign, supported by Ursula von der Leyen and President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, in collaboration with the International Energy Agency. The campaign seeks to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, create 500,000 new energy jobs, and ensure access to electricity for the 600 million people still without it on the continent. A pledging conference will follow in November during the G20 summit.
“As we approach the UN’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, it’s imperative that global leaders unite to reshuffle the global financial architecture,” said Pedro Sánchez. “Spain is honoured to co-host Global Citizen NOW: Sevilla to tackle pressing global challenges and promote sustainable development.”
“Our global financial system was not designed to meet today’s challenges. It must evolve to reflect the realities of a world in crisis,” said H.E. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. “From unsustainable debt burdens to the escalating climate emergency, too many nations are being asked to do more with less. The Global Citizen NOW: Sevilla summit is a vital platform to champion equitable financing, accelerate renewable energy transitions across Africa and SIDS, and advance the systemic reforms our world urgently needs. Now is the time for cooperation and decisive action for people and planet.”
“Global Citizen NOW: Sevilla will showcase international cooperation at a time when the world so urgently needs it,” said Hugh Evans, Co-Founder & CEO, Global Citizen. “The future of financing global development demands radical efficiency, as we need to do more with less to deliver the impact that is needed to end extreme poverty around the world.”
Following successful editions in New York City, Melbourne, and Rio de Janeiro, the summit series will extend its reach with upcoming events in Detroit, Michigan; Belém, Brazil; and Johannesburg, South Africa.
Programme details and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information, please visit Global Citizen NOW
