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This briefing provides a legal analysis of the April 10, 2008, constitutional revision in Cameroon, arguing that it reinforces presidential hegemony and undermines the principle of constitutional supremacy. The authors place this event within a broader African trend of 'authoritarian recuperation,' where leaders modify constitutions to remove term limits and perpetuate their hold on power.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the progress of Zimbabwe's Inclusive Government (IG) following the September 2008 Global Political Agreement (GPA). It examines the political violence and economic collapse that led to the power-sharing deal, the structural weaknesses of the GPA, and the ongoing tensions between ZANU-PF and the MDC factions.

This research paper analyzes farmer adaptation to climate change in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It finds that access to credit, extension services, and climate awareness are key determinants of adaptation. The study recommends that governments improve access to markets and information, and invest in R&D for technologies such as irrigation and crop development to support farmers.

This research paper examines the economic relationship between Indonesia and the European Union following the July 2009 signing of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), highlighting the challenges Indonesia faces in pursuing a Free Trade Agreement (IEUFTA) due to economic imbalances and differing views on trade liberalization.

This report by Friends of the Earth Netherlands and WALHI KalBar examines how European biofuel policies and the resulting demand for palm oil have driven unsustainable plantation expansion in the Ketapang District of West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It details systemic failures in governance, including the issuance of 'fast track' permits that bypass environmental and social safeguards, leading to illegal deforestation, carbon emissions, and severe land conflicts with indigenous communities.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an overview of the status of international climate change negotiations as of September 2009, focusing on the outcomes of the Bonn II and Bonn III talks. It details the progress and divergences across the four pillars of the Bali Action Plan—mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing—as member countries of the UNFCCC worked toward a post-2012 emission reduction regime to be adopted at COP 15 in Copenhagen.

This policy brief examines the crisis in the prison systems of Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia, highlighting how colonial-era infrastructure, chronic underfunding, and retributive sentencing policies lead to severe overcrowding and systemic human rights violations.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the integration of governance education within African universities. Based on a 2008 scoping study and a 2009 workshop, the paper argues that while higher education is critical for national development, governance education has been historically neglected. It identifies systemic challenges—including resource scarcity, 'brain drain', and political interference—and proposes regional cooperation and ICT integration as pathways to improve the quality and relevance of governance training to support initiatives like the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the multifaceted role of Chinese construction firms and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Botswana's infrastructure sector. It analyzes the shift from government-funded aid projects to competitive public tenders, the low-cost strategies employed by Chinese firms, and the emergence of new commercial financing models for large-scale energy projects.

This research paper examines the role of co-operatives in governing the artisanal fisheries sector in Angola. It argues that co-operatives can serve as a mechanism for co-management and a tool for formalising a largely informal subsector, provided they are treated as voluntary, bottom-up enterprises rather than top-down state instruments.

This research paper analyzes the political landscape of Gabon during the 2009 presidential election following the death of Omar Bongo. It examines the candidacy of Ali Bongo, the fragmentation of the opposition, and the historical use of oil wealth to maintain power through a presidential dynasty.

This text is an excerpt from an article by Halle, intended for publication in "Peace and Prosperity through Global Trade," which argues that the current structure of national and global economies undermines the goals of trade liberalization and requires a systemic retooling of the trading system.

This research paper examines the decline of South Africa's clothing and textile sector following the end of the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) in 2004 and the subsequent rise of Chinese exports. It argues that while imports from China have caused significant job losses, the sector's primary failure is a lack of competitiveness due to high labour costs, low productivity, and rigid labour markets. The author suggests that further trade protection is unlikely to be effective and instead advocates for non-trade industrial policy tools, such as skills and capital upgrades, and a strategic shift toward high-end niche products.

This summary report details an Institute for Security Studies (ISS) seminar held in Pretoria on 12 August 2009, titled "Sights Through the Hourglass: A Critical Review of the Progress of Women in Africa." The event brought together academics and practitioners to discuss the implementation of gender equity in South Africa and across the African continent, specifically focusing on security sector governance, peace-building, and the impact of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

This policy brief examines China's strategic investments in bauxite mining and infrastructure within Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting the lack of regulatory oversight and the potential for significant transboundary environmental impacts.

This document is a seminar report from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) regarding a presentation by Mr. Mohammed Hasan on the political situation in Sudan as of August 2009, focusing on elections, the Abyei region, and the conflict in Darfur.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines how the Asian Development Bank (ADB) finances projects that contribute to climate change and increase vulnerability in the Asia Pacific region. Through case studies in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, the report argues that the ADB's support for fossil fuels and destructive development projects outweighs its climate mitigation initiatives.

This research paper evaluates the 'price-gap approach' for measuring fossil fuel subsidies, arguing that while it provides a useful global benchmark, it systematically understates the total magnitude of government support by ignoring transfers that do not affect end-user prices.

This report analyzes the legal risks host states face when international investment agreements (IIAs) allow investors to 'internationalize' contract disputes, engage in forum-shopping, or initiate multiple legal proceedings. It examines the impact of broadly-worded dispute resolution clauses, umbrella clauses, and fork-in-the-road clauses, providing a survey of IIA drafting trends and arbitral jurisprudence to recommend best practices for protecting state sovereignty.

This policy brief, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2009, examines climate-related vulnerability and adaptive capacity among pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Borana and Shinile zones of Ethiopia. Based on a 2009 study, the document details how increasing temperatures, drought frequency, and unpredictable rainfall are rendering traditional coping strategies ineffective, leading to food insecurity and environmental degradation. It provides specific recommendations for the Ethiopian government, civil society, and international donors to enhance resilience through community-led interventions, improved infrastructure, and better climate information sharing.