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This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the insecurity of rural land property rights in Brazil, detailing the social, economic, and environmental costs of this instability and the institutional obstacles preventing its resolution.

This executive summary describes a study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and PUC-Rio's Núcleo de Avaliação de Políticas Climáticas, under the INPUT project, regarding the economic impacts of agricultural expansion in the MATOPIBA region of Brazil. The research focuses on the growth of grain production, specifically soy and corn, and its effects on local municipalities within the Cerrado biome compared to those outside it.

This case study examines the ten-year experience of FSD Kenya (2005-2015), an independent trust that applied a 'Making Markets Work for the Poor' (M4P) systems approach to deepen the Kenyan financial sector. The document analyzes the organization's impact on financial inclusion, its role in facilitating digital finance and public infrastructure, and the lessons learned from its successes and failures in capacity building and innovation.

This report assesses the financial sustainability of the electricity sector in Rajasthan, India, using the Financial Sustainability Electricity Sector (FSES) framework. It finds that while generation capacity and reliability have improved, distribution companies (discoms) face severe financial distress due to an inability to recover operating costs through tariffs, leading to high debt and a heavy reliance on state government fiscal transfers.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes coal phase-out experiences in California, Denmark, France, and Beijing to derive lessons for China's national energy transition. Using a "window of opportunity" framework, it examines how context, champions, concerns, and complementary policies drive the shift from coal to cleaner energy sources.

This report analyzes the East African Community's (EAC) attempts to resolve the political crisis in Burundi triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in 2016. It details the internal divisions among EAC member states, the failure of various diplomatic facilitation efforts, and the resulting political deadlock.

The August 2016 Peace & Security Council Report details the outcomes of the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, focusing on the deadlock in electing a new AU Commission chairperson, a historic agreement on AU self-financing, and the AU's strained relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC). It also analyzes the security crises in South Sudan, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the maritime security landscape in Togo as of August 2016. It details the country's progress in reducing piracy since 2012, the challenges facing its fisheries sector and port infrastructure, and the structural reforms implemented to coordinate state action at sea. The document also discusses the significance of the African Union's Extraordinary Summit on Maritime Security, Safety and Development scheduled to be hosted in Lomé.

This research paper by Thatshisiwe Ndlovu for the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the long-term fiscal history of Botswana, tracing its evolution from pre-colonial tribal tributes to a modern tax state. The author argues that Botswana's current fiscal capacity was shaped by a 'skeletal' colonial tax state characterized by indirect rule and negotiation with traditional leaders, which prevented the violent tax rebellions seen in other British colonies. The paper details the transition from colonial hut and poll taxes to a post-independence system heavily reliant on diamond revenues, and subsequent reforms to diversify the tax base following the 2008 global economic crisis.

This briefing by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) proposes an integrative business model for developing net zero energy (NZE) or ultralow energy districts. The model aims to make NZE developments life-cycle cost neutral or better compared to business-as-usual (BAU) scenarios by utilizing an Integrated Energy Services Provider (IESP) to manage energy systems, financing, and performance requirements, thereby reducing upfront costs for parcel developers and lowering energy bills for tenants.

This policy briefing describes the 2016 World Conservation Congress (WCC) convened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Honolulu, Hawai’i. It outlines the congress's role in shaping the global conservation agenda through a motions process, its alignment with 2015 global sustainability frameworks, and the specific strategic interests and challenges facing African and South African member organisations.

A statement from Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica urging the organization's 750,000 members and allies to vote in the November 8 election to secure an environmental majority in government to protect laws and end fossil fuel subsidies.

The Centre for Environmental Rights submitted a formal request to the City of Johannesburg on 28 July 2016 seeking detailed records regarding the ownership, water supply, and electricity agreements associated with the Kelvin Power Station.

This statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) criticizes the World Bank's Safeguard policy for failing to guarantee that local communities have timely access to information and a voice in development projects. The author argues that prioritizing economic interests and national actors over community needs leads to negative environmental and human rights impacts, such as forced evictions and ecosystem destruction.

The research paper argues that Southern Africa remains largely excluded from global value chains due to poor infrastructure, weak manufacturing, and a lack of data. It highlights that while South Africa has a strong services component in its exports, the broader region should leverage agro-processing and services liberalisation to drive economic growth and regional integration.

CIEL criticizes the European Commission's June 15th draft criteria for identifying endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in Plant Protection Products and Biocidal Products Regulations, arguing the proposals fail to provide mandated protections for human health and the environment.

This research paper examines the role and challenges of informal cross-border trade in Zimbabwe, specifically in the context of government-imposed import bans on basic commodities. It argues that while governments view informal trade as a source of revenue loss and unfair competition, it provides critical employment and essential goods in an economy with high formal unemployment.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute argues that the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement represent a single project of systemic societal change. It contends that while climate and development agendas are conceptually fusing, national implementation remains fragmented by bureaucratic silos. The document outlines six key challenges—vision, integrated planning, institutional coherence, inclusive governance, finance, and monitoring—that countries must address to translate international commitments into integrated national action.

A statement by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) advocating for the right of communities to have timely access to information regarding development projects, specifically criticizing new World Bank policies that allow project approval before the disclosure of environmental and social documents.

This policy brief evaluates the capacity development component of the Water, Climate and Development Programme for Africa (WACDEP). Launched in 2011, the programme trained 170 people across eight countries to integrate water security and climate resilience into development planning. Key findings indicate that national ownership and localized programme management are critical for translating training into tangible outcomes, and that national trainers are preferable to international experts.