The International Panel on Inequality (IPI), a landmark initiative born from South Africa’s G20 Presidency, took a major step forward yesterday with its Founding Committee convening its inaugural meeting at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Inspired by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the IPI aims to provide rigorous, evidence-based analysis of global inequality trends and policy responses, addressing what experts have termed an “inequality emergency.” The body traces its origins to the 2025 G20 Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Inequality, led by Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz, which was convened by President Cyril Ramaphosa and delivered a groundbreaking report warning of inequality’s threats to growth, democracy, and social stability.

The session brought together members of that original committee alongside senior government representatives from South Africa, Brazil, Spain, and Norway. Leading the South African delegation was Director-General and G20 Sherpa Zane Dangor of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

Discussions focused on establishing the IPI’s core design elements, including its mandate, governance structure, and reporting mechanisms. The committee seeks to create a permanent platform for tracking inequality, assessing root causes, and informing policymakers worldwide—much like the IPCC does for climate issues.

On the margins of the meeting, delegates engaged with key multilateral agencies, academic institutions, and embassies in Geneva. A public event titled “Meeting the Inequality Emergency: Building a new era of understanding and cooperation” was co-hosted with the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), featuring prominent voices in the field.

The Founding Committee will also collaborate with the German Government to co-host an expert-level meeting of the Global Alliance Against Inequality, broadening the coalition for action.

This Geneva gathering underscores growing international momentum to treat inequality as a systemic crisis requiring coordinated global responses.

Images: DIRCO