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The 'Air Aware: A Journey of Youth-Led Action for Clean Air and Environmental Justice in Johannesburg' guide documents a campaign by Youth@SAIIA, part of the global Breathe Cities initiative. The program empowers young people aged 13–25 in South Africa to transition from awareness to advocacy through capacity-building workshops, the creation of 'Youth Air Champions' (YACs), and community-led campaigns. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between youth lived experiences and formal air quality governance, culminating in a Youth-Led Conference on Air Pollution Policy and Implementation to influence the City of Johannesburg's air quality policies.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the business environment in Mozambique through interviews conducted in November 2003 with South African companies. It analyzes the drivers of South African investment, the systemic challenges faced by firms—particularly small and medium enterprises—and the impact of this investment on the Mozambican economy.

This policy brief examines the approach of AVIC International, a Chinese state-owned company, toward local skills development in Kenya. It argues that AVIC treats skills development as a top business priority, utilizing a flexible 'industrial bootstrapping' approach to create a variety of for-profit and CSR programs. While participants report high satisfaction and improved perceptions of Chinese firms, tangible outcomes such as machinery utilization and widespread job creation remain limited.

This policy brief examines the impact of Chinese investments in Tanzania's plastic recycling industry and the subsequent effects of China's 2018 import ban on waste materials. It highlights how Chinese firms have facilitated technology transfer and local business growth, while also noting significant environmental and health risks and a potential decline in local waste sourcing due to the import of cleaner waste from Europe and the US.

This policy brief by the Johns Hopkins SAIS China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) examines two distinct models of Chinese agricultural investment in Africa through case studies in Ghana and Nigeria. It contrasts a small-scale, private entrepreneurial model in Ghana with a large-scale, state-backed public-private partnership in Nigeria, analyzing their motivations, land acquisition challenges, and social impacts.

A speech delivered by Søren Asp Mikkelsen, Deputy Ambassador of Denmark to South Africa, on October 26, 2009, discussing the objectives of the upcoming COP15 climate conference in Copenhagen and Denmark's experience with green growth through wind energy.

This research paper examines the trade reform of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), focusing on the challenges and opportunities for regional integration among its member states. Through eight case studies of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland (BLNS), the paper identifies significant regulatory, infrastructure, and systemic barriers that hinder the development of cross-border value chains. It argues that the current SACU structure is dominated by South Africa and that a regional development fund could be a critical tool to finance infrastructure and reforms necessary to deepen economic integration and alleviate poverty.

This research paper examines Botswana's experience with multilateral development banks (MDBs) in financing infrastructure, specifically focusing on the African Development Bank (AfDB). It identifies systemic delays in loan processing and procurement as primary challenges while highlighting the success of non-lending knowledge services. The document also evaluates alternative financing sources, such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and domestic bond markets, noting that while these exist, they have not yet replaced the need for MDB lending.

This research paper by Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu examines the relationship between think tanks and government funding, specifically focusing on whether financial dependence inhibits the ability of these institutions to critique public policy. Using Nigeria as a primary case study, the author analyzes the transition of think tanks from military to civilian rule and proposes a transactional framework to understand the variables that determine institutional independence.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines how mining projects in Africa can better contribute to sustainable development through strategic partnerships. It argues that mining-led growth is often hindered by a lack of cooperation between companies, governments, and NGOs, as well as a lack of long-term planning and regulatory capacity. The document advocates for the use of 'good practice' Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) and the creation of shared infrastructure to maximize local economic and social benefits.

This case study by Mike Muller examines the political economy of water resource development and management within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that a disconnect exists between local/national priorities and regional agendas, largely because the latter have been driven by donor preferences for environmental conservation over infrastructure development. The author highlights that while some bilateral projects have succeeded, the broader region has suffered from 'economic water scarcity' due to a lack of long-term finance for infrastructure, a gap recently being filled by new financiers like China and Brazil.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) outlines a strategic roadmap for implementing Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) withinS within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The authors argue that while SADC has strong foundational payment systems, it faces systemic risks due to policy fragmentation and a lack of regulatory harmonisation, specifically regarding the AU Malabo Convention. The document proposes a 'Triple-A' agenda—accelerate, anchor, and assert—to drive inclusive digital transformation, leveraging lessons from India's 'security-by-design' and Brazil's 'brownfield' approach to digital sovereignty.

This research paper examines the inclusion of women in the renewable energy (RE) value chains of Rwanda and South Africa. It identifies systemic barriers—including limited access to STEM education, a lack of gender-responsive financing, and a disconnect between policy and implementation—that prevent women from moving beyond passive roles as energy consumers into technical, managerial, and entrepreneurial positions. The document provides a three-tier gender mainstreaming toolkit to help policymakers, donors, and the private sector foster a more inclusive energy sector in Africa.

Remarks by Amida Adiatu Bangura regarding the impact of the SEforALL Healthcare Electrification Project in Sierra Leone, highlighting the transition from unreliable diesel generators to 24/7 solar power in hospitals and community health centres.

The executive summary of 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape 2021' analyzes energy finance commitments in 20 developing 'high-impact countries' (HICs) for 2019. It finds that investments for both electricity and clean cooking are critically insufficient to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), with electricity finance declining in 2019 and clean cooking investment stagnating. The report emphasizes the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, a shift away from fossil fuels, and a more comprehensive, multi-technology approach to clean cooking to ensure a just energy transition.

This case study describes the Malawi Energy Compact, which aims to provide the entire population of 25 million people with access to climate-friendly, energy-saving, or cleaner cooking solutions by 2030, with a long-term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The Multilateral Energy Compact for Health Facility Electrification is a sectoral initiative convened in 2021 by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and Power Africa to address the energy gap in global healthcare, aiming to electrify 35,000 health facilities by 2026.

This case study examines Indonesia's transition from universal commodity-based energy subsidies to targeted Energy Safety Nets (ESNs) for electricity and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). It analyzes the role of the Unified Database System (BDT) in targeting poor households, the impact of reforms on energy access and consumption, and the challenges posed by geographical remoteness and infrastructure gaps, particularly in eastern provinces.

This case study examines Energy Safety Nets (ESNs) in Kenya, analyzing government-led initiatives designed to make modern energy services affordable for poor and vulnerable populations. It reviews electricity access programs, clean cooking initiatives, and the broader national social protection framework to identify opportunities for integrating energy access into existing social safety nets.

This case study examines Energy Safety Nets (ESNs)—social assistance mechanisms designed to help poor and vulnerable households access modern energy services—in Mexico. It analyzes four specific measures: differentiated electricity tariffs, the Oportunidades Energéticas program, the Fondo de Servicio Universal Eléctrico (FSUE), and a pilot program for subsidized LPG. The report finds that while Mexico has extensive experience with social safety nets, its energy subsidies often disproportionately benefit wealthier households, and targeted ESNs have frequently been short-lived due to political transitions.