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This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) outlines systemic failures in South Africa's tax management and proposes a series of progressive tax reforms to generate revenue for job creation and economic transformation.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that South Africa's unemployment crisis is a macroeconomic phenomenon that cannot be solved through microeconomic interventions alone. The document criticizes the 'orthodox' macroeconomic framework adopted since 1996, characterizing both fiscal and monetary policies as contractionary and detrimental to job creation. It proposes a shift toward a developmental macroeconomic approach, featuring a significant fiscal stimulus and a restructured monetary policy mandate to prioritize employment and productive investment over strict inflation targeting.

This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) argues that South Africa's monetary policy is 'anti-developmental' because it prioritizes price stability and inflation targeting over growth and employment. The author contends that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) relies on inappropriate tools, specifically interest rate manipulation, which discourages investment and contributes to de-industrialization and financialization. The brief proposes a fundamental shift toward a developmental monetary framework involving direct credit provision to productive sectors, the monetisation of fiscal operations, and closer coordination between the SARB and the National Treasury.

This policy brief argues that while small businesses are critical for formal employment in South Africa, the sector is stagnant and severely under-supported by the government compared to large businesses. It proposes a shift toward an "economic deal" (Quadrant IV) involving economy-wide reforms, including tax incentives for startups, tenure reform in Traditional Authority Areas, telecommunications liberalization, and the use of competition policy to open market access for SMMEs.

The Institute for Economic Justice proposes two alternatives to address South Africa's structural unemployment crisis: an Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) providing 100 days of work per year, or a Workseekers Grant of R1000 per month for six months. Estimated to cost R30-36 billion annually, these schemes would be funded by a proposed R15 billion annual contribution from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) surplus and additional solidarity taxes, such as a wealth tax.

This report analyzes the financing challenges and models for soil remediation in China, where 16.1% of soil is contaminated. It highlights a critical funding gap, noting that while the government has allocated billions, the total need may reach trillions of yuan. The report discusses the failure of the 'polluter pays' principle due to historical land ownership ambiguities and suggests diversifying investment through green bonds, PPPs, and international loans to attract social capital.

This report explores how fintech technologies—IoT, big data, AI, and blockchain—can be applied to ecosystem management to address complex environmental issues like toxic algal blooms. It argues that while these tools are mature in the financial sector, their adoption in environmental science is slowed by cultural barriers to data sharing. The author suggests that integrating these technologies can lead to 'authoritative open data' and more predictive, real-time environmental management.

This report analyzes the conditions necessary for African states to achieve a demographic dividend, noting that most are currently several decades away due to high youth dependency and slow fertility declines. It argues that while global growth is slowing due to aging populations, Africa's expanding working-age population offers a comparative advantage if coupled with investments in contraception, female education, and basic infrastructure. The report warns that without these interventions and significant job creation, Africa will continue to diverge from global averages in income and health.

The August 2018 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines several African Union (AU) challenges, including the shift in the AU's approach to Western Sahara, tensions over LGBTI rights and the independence of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, institutional friction between the AU and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the need for non-military stabilisation strategies in the Lake Chad basin to combat Boko Haram.

This guide, published by the Public Affairs Research Institute in August 2018, provides a framework for public service employees and departments in South Africa to report unethical conduct, corruption, and non-compliance. It outlines the legal obligations under the Public Service Regulations (PSR), 2016 and the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA), 2000, while offering practical guidance on establishing departmental reporting policies, protecting reporters from occupational detriment, and utilizing various disclosure channels.

This briefing by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) synthesizes four years of research on the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI), trade liberalisation, and regional integration (RI) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It examines the FDI regimes of several member states and specific sectors, such as energy and transport, to identify barriers to broad-based economic development and the creation of regional value chains.

This policy brief analyzes how gender roles and cultural norms in Burkina Faso's Nouaho sub-basin create differentiated water security risks, particularly as climate change intensifies hazards like droughts and floods. Findings show that while women bear the primary burden of water collection and face higher health risks from poor sanitation, they are largely excluded from community decision-making and leadership roles in water associations. The document recommends that WASH interventions move beyond infrastructure to address gender disempowerment and use inclusive indicators to track progress toward universal water access.

The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) submitted a statement to the Task Force on Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities advocating for the accelerated phase-out of coal-fired power plants. CAPE argues that while closing these plants provides critical climate and public health benefits, it must be accompanied by a just transition plan to protect the social determinants of health for displaced workers and communities.

This amicus curiae brief, submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and other organizations, argues that the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA) should be interpreted under a "restrictive theory" of immunity. The brief contends that international organizations, such as the International Finance Corporation (IFC), should be immune from suits relating to governmental acts but not from those relating to commercial activities, aligning the IOIA with the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA).

This storybook introduces Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs), artificial platforms that enable aquatic emergent plants to grow in deep water to improve the quality of freshwater lakes by capturing nutrients and transforming pollutants.

This statement from the South African Institute of International Affairs advocates for the integration of gender perspectives into the BRICS bloc's development strategies, specifically regarding the Fourth Industrial Revolution, peace and security, and healthcare.

A memorial statement from Natural Justice honoring the life and legacy of Taghi Farvar, emphasizing his passion for nature, culture, and justice.

This research paper examines the diplomatic process and motivations behind South Africa's 1996 decision to switch official recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People's Republic of China (PRC). It details President Nelson Mandela's initial attempt at a 'dual recognition' strategy and the internal and external pressures that eventually led to the establishment of formal relations with the PRC in 1998.

This report documents a Civil Society Working Group Meeting held on 25 July 2018 in Windhoek, Namibia, as part of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Sensitisation Project in Namibia (ASPIN). Organised by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the meeting aimed to help civil society identify key governance issues for a written submission to the APRM following Namibia's accession to the mechanism in January 2017.

This briefing from the World Resources Institute's Electricity Initiative outlines the need for large corporate energy buyers and utilities to move beyond individual renewable energy projects toward integrated, system-wide low-carbon strategies to achieve cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions.