Eric LeCompte Featured in Reuters Discussing US G20 Presidency and Development

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Reuters speaking on the G20 as the United States assumes its presidency, and issues like development and economic growth. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

G20 declaration in defiance of US marks rare victory for multilateralism

By: Tim Cocks and Andrea Shalal

"Despite the bitter differences, Washington's G20 agenda overlaps with South Africa's in key areas like development, economic growth and financial stability, notes Eric LeCompte, a U.N. adviser and executive director of non-profit Jubilee USA Network.

"I think there is going to be carry-over in certain areas with the U.S. taking the mantle," he said."

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Devex Spotlights Eric LeCompte After G20 Leaders' Declaration

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Devex speaking on the G20 Leaders' Declaration and global debt. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

G20 summit in South Africa adopts declaration without the US

By: Elissa Miolene

"Still, the leaders’ declaration did recognize the climbing debt burden facing countries in Africa, and the high cost of capital for nations across the continent. For Eric LeCompte, the executive director of the debt-focused Jubilee USA Network, that mattered — along with the G20’s recent launch of the Africa Engagement Framework, which aims to lock in the G20’s cooperation with Africa, and keep the continent’s most pressing financial issues on the agenda over the next five years. South Africa has committed to supporting the framework until 2030.

“There’s a plan for implementation, the goals are solid, and it actually translates some of the other issues that we really are concerned about in terms of economic growth, finance, debt and development,” said LeCompte. “We’ve never had an initiative like this since the G20 began.”"

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Eric LeCompte Speaks on G20 Leaders' Declaration as South Africa G20 Comes to a Close

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in IOL speaking on the G20 Leaders' Declaration and G20 Common Framework. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

G20 Summit in SA trumps detractors, puts poor countries’ issues at center of global discourse

By: Siphelele Dludla

"Eric LeCompte, executive director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network, said the statement called for improving the Common Framework, the G20 process for countries seeking debt reductions.

“The fact that the Common Framework, in five years, provided debt treatment to only four countries that requested it, is a diplomatic way of stating its limitations, since we know 26 countries have been in debt crises since at least 2018,” LeCompte said.

“The declaration seems to indicate that the G20 would like the Common Framework to become a more bankruptcy-like process or comprehensive debt restructuring process. It's unprecedented for G20 leaders to call for inclusion of borrower countries to improve international debt policies.” 

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Jubilee USA Statement on G20 South Africa Leaders' Declaration

Johannesburg, South Africa – The G20 Leaders' Summit began on Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa, where the Group of 20 leaders adopted a declaration addressing global challenges.

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development group Jubilee USA Network who monitored G20 meetings since 2010, releases the following statement on the G20 South Africa Leaders' Declaration:

"The G20 acknowledged the severe challenges we face with development and hundreds of millions of people experiencing hunger.

“G20 leaders recognized high debt levels in developing countries hurt growth, development, and the ability to address poverty and disasters.

“The statement called for improving the Common Framework, the G20 process for countries seeking debt reductions.

“The fact that the Common Framework, in five years, provided debt treatment to four countries that requested it, is a diplomatic way of stating its limitations, since we know 26 countries have been in debt crises since at least 2018.

"The G20 leaders called for the Common Framework to improve and offer speedy, predictable, comprehensive and efficient debt relief.

"The declaration seems to indicate that the G20 would like the Common Framework to become a more bankruptcy-like process or comprehensive debt restructuring process.

“The declaration calls for improving common understanding by all creditors and debtors on how to address debt crises and restructuring.

“It's unprecedented for G20 leaders to call for inclusion of borrower countries to improve international debt policies.

“The G20 is part of a global consensus that debt transparency is a key priority.

“There is a stark focus on the challenges Africa faces, including energy, growth and inequality.

“A significant innovation the Leaders endorsed is the Africa Engagement Framework to support economic, financial and growth objectives.

“The Africa Engagement Framework is designed to ensure that G20 cooperation with Africa becomes more permanent beyond this year.

“South Africa’s offer to support the new framework and organize regional cooperation with African institutions can give this new initiative real staying power."

Read the full G20 Leaders' declaration here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on two reports released during the South Africa G20 Summit here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the South Africa G20 Summit here.

View Jubilee's events this week at the G20 meetings here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the G20 debt declaration here.

Read the full G20 ministerial declaration on debt sustainability here.

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G20 Presidents and Prime Ministers Focus on Debt, Development and the Economy

Two New G20 Reports Note Concerning Debt Statistics 

Religious Leaders Call for Debt Relief to Address Poverty during Summit

Johannesburg, South Africa – World leaders arrive for the first G20 Summit hosted in Africa, led by the South African government. 

"We head into this summit with terrible reports on the economy and debt levels in developing countries," stated Eric LeCompte, the Executive Director of the religious development organization Jubilee USA Network. LeCompte, who serves on UN debt expert groups, is in Johannesburg for the meetings. "If we don't deal with the global debt problem, all countries will continue to suffer from too high food and fuel prices."

Two new reports released ahead of the Summit focus on challenges with global debt to inform the attending presidents and prime ministers this weekend. One report comes from an expert panel commissioned by the South African government and the other prepared by the International Monetary Fund.

"The new G20 reports on debt share startling statistics," said LeCompte. "Before the new reports were released, we already had data that 26 countries faced debt crises since 2018 and only four applied for the debt relief process the G20 created during the pandemic."

The G20 debt process, the Common Framework, works poorly according to a G20 debt report commissioned by the South African government. The report from the Africa Expert Panel, comprising 36 members and chaired by former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel, was released two days ahead of the G20 Summit.

"Countries don't have a viable process to get debt relief," explained LeCompte. "In Africa, countries are spending half to two-thirds of their revenue on debt. In order to meet debt payments, too many African countries are cutting spending on health, education and social programs."

In October G20 finance ministers released a joint declaration stating high debt levels undermine investment in infrastructure, disaster preparedness, healthcare and education in developing countries.

"We've reached consensus that debt levels are too high and hurting developing countries and the global economy," shared LeCompte. "We haven't reached consensus on implementing effective solutions to tackle the debt problem."

The Johannesburg Summit coincides with a Jubilee Year celebrated by global faith communities as a sacred year. Last Christmas, Pope Francis, South Africa International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola, interfaith groups and Jubilee USA Network launched the social focus of Jubilee 2025 to win debt relief, economic aid and international financial policies that reduce poverty. Hundreds of faith leaders are present in South Africa to advocate for better debt policies and deliver a petition that already gathered 200,000 signatures worldwide.

"During this Jubilee Year, we launched 5 years of debt relief efforts in 160 countries," expressed LeCompte. "The longer we wait to act means more people suffer and more kids will go to bed hungry."

Read the G20 Africa Expert Panel's report here.

Read the full IMF report on the G20 here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the South Africa G20 Summit here.

View and join Jubilee's events this week at the G20 meetings here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the G20 debt declaration here.

Read the full G20 ministerial declaration on debt sustainability here.

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America Magazine Spotlights Eric LeCompte on G20 and Poverty

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in America Magazine speaking on poverty reduction, the G20 and global debt. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

We know how to fight global poverty. But do we have the energy to actually do it?

By: Kevin Clarke

“Despite the uncertainty at this year’s summit, Mr. LeCompte remains confident that the church and other humanitarian and anti-poverty advocates “are building a consensus on ending poverty.”

Those campaigners have won incremental successes, he said. But most wanted now are large-scale efforts that can only be initiated and maintained by the wealthiest states. “We need to move the G20, G7, [International Monetary Fund] and World Bank on more robust policies and implementation.”

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G20 Interfaith Features Eric LeCompte in 2025 Documentary

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in G20 Interfaith’s 2025 documentary speaking on the themes of the Interfaith Forum taking place during the G20. Watch the documentary linked below.

Documentary - 2025 G20 Interfaith Forum Cape Town, South Africa

Watch here.

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Devex Highlights Eric LeCompte on Efforts to Ease Africa’s Debt Crisis

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Devex speaking on the G20’s new plan to ease Africa’s growing debt crisis. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

Devex Newswire: G20 handed bold plan to ease Africa’s crushing debt load

By: Helen Murphy 

Experts at the Boston University Global Development Policy Center found in their recent analysis that selling just 10% of the International Monetary Fund’s gold reserves would generate enough funds to offset this year’s cuts to foreign aid. “The selling of IMF gold reserves has precedence, it is impactful, it can make a huge difference, and it can be done again,” said Eric LeCompte of the Jubilee USA Network.

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Devex Quotes Eric LeCompte on G20’s New Debt Refinancing Plan

Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of Jubilee USA was recently featured in Devex speaking on the G20’s new debt refinancing plan. Read the excerpt below and follow the link to full article.

G20 panel calls for a new debt refinancing plan for low-income nations

By: Elissa Miolene

“All the ideas are possible,” said Eric LeCompte, the executive director of the Jubilee USA Network, which focuses on debt reform. “The challenge is whether they will continue to be implemented in an incremental way, or whether we can start to implement them more robustly.”

“The selling of IMF gold reserves has precedence, it is impactful, it can make a huge difference, and it can be done again,” said LeCompte.

Still, LeCompte continued, the proposal could have gone further. The new initiative, he said, is closer to the Bridge Proposal — a stopgap approach that’s meant to give developing countries short-term breathing room when they can’t refinance their debt. It tackles liquidity issues instead of persistent debt challenges, and while that’s helpful, he added, the most indebted nations need more.

“Some countries, especially poor countries, are actually going to need debt relief and a total debt restructuring,” he said. 

“They’re calling to turn the common framework into more of an international bankruptcy process to make it more timely, efficient and quicker,” said LeCompte “I think that idea has potential, but at the same time, there are many governments in the developing world that are dissatisfied with the progress of the Common Framework.”

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South Africa Hosts First G20 Africa Summit

Debt High on G20 Agenda as Faith Leaders Call for Debt Relief and Aid for Developing Countries

Johannesburg, South Africa – This weekend, G20 presidents and prime ministers meet on debt, development and the global economy, chaired by South Africa. The meetings take place for the first time in Africa.

“South Africa made debt a key focus of this year's G20,” said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the religious development organization Jubilee USA Network. LeCompte is in Johannesburg for the meetings. “Debt is the only issue that the G20 reached some consensus on this year."

In October, G20 finance ministers met in Washington during the IMF meetings and adopted a consensus declaration on debt. Not since 2020 had the group of wealthy countries achieved a single separate statement on debt. 

South Africa’s G20 Presidency unveils a report on debt and global economic challenges that impact development. Former South African Finance Minister Trevor Manuel led an expert group to create the report for the G20.

“The Manuel report raises concerns about how debt and a lack of fairness in the global economy hurt Africa," noted LeCompte. "Faith leaders from around the world and across Africa are descending on Johannesburg to press the G20 for greater action on debt and development."

The Johannesburg summit coincides with the holy Jubilee 2025 Year. Last December 23rd and 24th at the Vatican, Pope Francis, interfaith leaders, Jubilee USA, Caritas and South Africa's Foreign Minister launched five years of campaigns to address current debt crises and prevent future crises.

Last month the IMF characterized global economic prospects as “dim,” with global debt continuing to rise. 

View and join Jubilee's events this week at the G20 meetings here.

Read Jubilee USA's press release on the G20 debt declaration here.

Read the full G20 ministerial declaration on debt sustainability here.

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G20 2025 Jubilee Events

A Jubilee for Solidarity: Towards a People and Planet Driven Financial Architecture for Africa

November 19, 2025 | 9:00 - 11:00 am SAST, 2:00 - 4:00 am Washington DC, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Addis Ababa, 1:00 - 3:00 am St. Paul, 11:00 pm - 1:00 am San Diego, 2:00 - 4:00 am Bogotá, 4:00 - 6:00 am Buenos Aires, 8:00 - 10:00 am Cologne, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Abu Dhabi, 3:00 - 5:00 pm Manila, 2:00 - 4:00 pm Jakarta

This G20 event brings together global faith leaders to explore and reimagine debt relief and sustainable development driven by the G20 commitments. 

Sponsors: Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Africa, The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)

Location: Varna Room, Birchwood Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa

Livestream available online: https://www.youtube.com/live/Wkz0YIRNvdU


G20 Interfaith Forum: Pathways for Partnership with Religious Communities and the G20

November 19, 2025 | 2:00 - 4:00 pm SAST, 7:00 - 9:00 am Washington DC, 3:00 - 5:00 pm Addis Ababa, 6:00 - 8:00 am St. Paul, 4:00 - 6:00 am San Diego, 7:00 - 9:00 am Bogotá, 9:00 - 11:00 am Buenos Aires, 1:00 - 3:00 pm Cologne, 4:00 - 6:00 pm Abu Dhabi, 8:00 - 10:00 pm Manila, 7:00 - 9:00 pm Jakarta

Moderator: Professor Cole Durham
President G20 Interfaith Forum


Moderator: Professor David Mosoma
G20 Interfaith Local Organising Committee Chair


Pastor Bert Pretorius
Founder of the South African Community of Faith-Based

Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF), South Africa

Eric LeCompte
Executive Director, Jubilee USA Network

Dr Sylvia Pheto
Commissioner CRL Rights Commission, G20 Interfaith Local Organising Committee

Kevin Hyland OBE
CEO Prevent Global

This G20 event is a panel of global, African Union and South African experts highlighting ways that diverse religious communities can build effective partnerships with the public sector to contribute to achievement of our G20 objectives. The panel draws on what was learned through G20 Interfaith Forum dialogue and experience.

Location: Cedarwood Room, Atrium Center, Birchwood Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa. Prior registration required.

RSVP to join virtually if link is available or receive a video copy contact Maria Kolb at [email protected] 


Jubilee Prayers for People and Planet

November 21, 2025 | 2:00 - 3:30 pm SAST, 7:00 - 8:30 am Washington DC, 3:00 - 4:30 pm Addis Ababa, 6:00 - 7:30 am St. Paul, 4:00 - 5:30 am San Diego, 7:00 - 8:30 am Bogotá, 9:00 - 10:30 am Buenos Aires, 1:00 - 2:30 pm Cologne, 4:00 - 5:30 pm Abu Dhabi, 8:00 - 9:30 pm Manila, 7:00 - 8:30 pm Jakarta

Global, regional and South African inter-religious leaders and organizations herald 5 years of Jubilee campaigns and encourage the G20 to move policies on debt relief, economic aid for developing countries and improving the financial system to end poverty and heal our planet.

Location: Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, South Africa

Sponsors: Jubilee USA Network, All Africa Conference of Churches, Laudato Si' Movement, Christian Aid, Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Africa, The Methodist Church of Southern Africa, World Council of Churches

In-person registration required. You can register here: https://wetheninetynine.com/register/

Livestream available online: https://wetheninetynine.com/livestream/

Read Jubilee USA's Executive Director Eric LeCompte's thoughts ahead of the G20 in Devex: https://www.jubileeusa.org/feature_devex_nov_18_25

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