By: Dionísio Babo Soares (personal opinion)
On April 10, 2010, the g7+ group of fragile states was formally established in Dili, Timor-Leste. Born out of a shared experience of conflict and political fragility, the group set out to promote peacebuilding and state-building among its members. From its original seven members, the g7+ has grown to encompass 20 countries from Africa, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.
The g7+ aims to foster national dialogue, reconciliation, and practical development cooperation in fragile states, focusing on Governance, Economic Development, Human and Social Development, and Security.
The Fragile-to-Fragile (F2F) Cooperation is a flagship initiative focused on peer learning and knowledge sharing based on key principles of Voluntarism, Cooperation, and Solidarity. In addition, the New Deal for Engagement in the Fragile States marks a landmark framework advocating for country-led strategies for peace and development.
For the first time in its 15-year history, the g7+ is convening a Ministerial Meeting of Foreign Affairs in Dili, marking a strategic evolution. Historically rooted in ministries of Planning and Finance, the group’s shift towards foreign affairs highlights a broader geopolitical ambition—transforming the g7+ from a developmental forum into a dynamic diplomatic alliance. It is important to register that the only ministerial meeting g7+ had in the past was during the annual UNGA in New York.
This meeting comes at a time of mounting global uncertainty—rising financial instability, the potential resurgence of U.S. protectionism, and deepening inequities in the international economic order. Against this backdrop, the g7+ is a unified voice for equitable and inclusive development. Congratulations to all member states, especially to Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão of Timor-Leste, a founding figure and enduring champion of this movement. Today, the g7+ is an accredited observer of the United Nations and an emerging force in global governance.
Expectations for the Dili Meeting
This convening must transcend symbolism. It offers a real opportunity to redefine fragile-state diplomacy and assert collective agency in international affairs. Transitioning coordination from Planning and finance to foreign affairs ministries is not merely bureaucratic—it signals a pivot toward greater geopolitical alignment and strategic influence.
Critical outcomes of the meeting should include forging a unified diplomatic stance to champion various issues of common interest, including debt relief, equitable climate finance, and fair trade within global institutions like the UN, IMF, and WTO. In addition, enhancing peer-learning mechanisms for post-conflict recovery, institutional reform, and economic diversification are also important. The g7+ must develop contingency strategies to navigate reduced aid flows and increasing donor conditionalities. With protectionism and geopolitical tensions rising, the g7+ must deepen South-South economic integration to reduce dependency on volatile Western markets.
The Promise of Fragile-to-Fragile Cooperation
F2F cooperation holds untapped potential for building economic resilience and collective prosperity. It may still be too early, but considering creating a g7+ preference agreement to encourage intra-group trade and stimulate regional value chains under a South-South framework deserves serious exploration.
Moreover, establishing a Joint Investment Fund, potentially supported by donors, could finance infrastructure and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within member states. Many g7+ countries, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, DRC, and Timor-Leste, are rich in critical minerals like lithium and cobalt. Instead of exporting raw materials, they must invest in local value chains, particularly battery manufacturing and mineral processing. Bloc-based negotiations with global tech firms could secure fairer partnerships and long-term investment.
Strategic Investment in Future Industries
Co-investing in digital technologies and renewable energy infrastructure—solar, wind, and others—can reduce fossil fuel dependency and improve energy security. These sectors will also likely attract donor interest and partnerships aligned with global sustainability goals.
To achieve these ambitions, the g7+ must build institutional capacity. The Permanent Secretariat in Dili should become the group’s strategic and operational hub. Adopting a rotating leadership model, similar to ASEAN, could enhance governance inclusivity and regional representation.
Forging partnerships with other Global South coalitions can offer alternative financing and geopolitical support. At the same time, engaging with non-Western donors—whose aid is often more flexible—could broaden the group’s development options.
To strengthen advocacy, the g7+ should consider publishing an annual “Fragile States Impact Report”—a data-driven document highlighting how global policy decisions affect vulnerable economies. This would reinforce calls for structural reforms at the IMF and World Bank, such as more equitable voting rights and fragility-sensitive crisis response tools.
Looking Ahead
While bold, the Dili meeting signals a critical inflection point—from a reactive, donor-dependent platform to a proactive alliance of fragile, determined nations. By deepening F2F relations and investing in strategic cooperation, the g7+ can carve a meaningful space in the global arena.
To sustain this momentum, the g7+ must institutionalize its voice, diversify its partnerships, and advocate assertively for a global order in which fragility no longer equates to marginalization. (*)
