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This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) maps trade-related elements within the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) outcome document. It proposes a three-level architecture for follow-up and review—national, regional, and global—to ensure that trade policies are coherent with sustainable development objectives. The authors argue that because trade's contribution to the post-2015 Agenda is diffuse, a coordinated review process involving existing multilateral and regional mechanisms is essential to facilitate learning and policy improvement.

This guide describes the role of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in regulating chemicals and manufactured nanomaterials, specifically detailing the activities of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials (WPMN) and its steering groups.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the relationship between mineral resource dependence and development in Africa, using South Africa as a primary case study. It argues that the 'resource curse' is not deterministic and that the quality of development depends on the strength and nature of a country's institutions, which mediate political incentives and determine whether mineral wealth leads to inclusive growth or adverse governance outcomes.

This working paper examines the climate change agenda in Zambia, focusing on the national disaster management and climate change framework, the role of development aid, and the central government's interests regarding climate change.

This World Resources Institute working paper details the first phase of the Adaptation Finance Accountability Initiative (AFAI), which maps international-to-national adaptation finance flows and assesses institutional contexts in Nepal, the Philippines, Uganda, and Zambia.

This report presents a rapid institutional analysis of the readiness of Trinidad and Tobago's food production, coastal zone management, and tourism sectors to adapt to climate change. Using the Adaptation: Rapid Institutional Analysis (ARIA) tool, the study evaluates these sectors across five indicators: vulnerability assessment, prioritisation, coordination, information management, and mainstreaming. The findings reveal significant institutional gaps across all three sectors, including a lack of comprehensive vulnerability assessments, inadequate prioritisation of adaptation strategies, and the absence of formal mainstreaming processes in sectoral planning.

This report evaluates the progress of Cambodia in integrating climate change resilience into its national development planning using a 'building blocks' framework consisting of an enabling environment, policies and planning, and projects and programmes.

This 2013 report by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) examines the integration of climate change resilience into Kenya's national development planning. It evaluates progress against a three-part framework: enabling environment, policies and planning, and projects and programmes, highlighting the role of the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) in guiding the country toward low-carbon development and climate adaptation.

This briefing from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the limitations of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson's role upon the appointment of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and examines the political instability in Libya following the dismissal of Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur.

This report chapter discusses the intersection of global development, disaster risk management, and climate change adaptation, specifically examining the roles and differences between the UNISDR and the UNFCCC.

This research paper examines the institutional architecture for climate change mitigation and response in Zimbabwe, noting a lack of centralized policy despite existing legislation and active government initiatives.

This 2012 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyzes the implementation of the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) within the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) during the 2007-2013 period. It examines the challenges of integrating agricultural productivity with environmental boundary conditions, such as nutrient reduction and biodiversity conservation. The report argues that the diversity of farming systems in the BSR should be an asset and recommends that post-2013 CAP reforms shift toward treating environmental services as a core value of farming rather than a precondition for payment, while introducing 'soft measures' to improve transboundary cooperation and stakeholder engagement.

This research paper examines the necessity and challenges of integrating climate adaptation into development assistance in Mozambique, noting that while donor awareness and legislation are supportive, institutional capacity remains a significant barrier.

This research paper analyzes the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO) in South Africa as a case study of the failures associated with the adoption of New Public Management (NPM) principles. The author argues that CIPRO's vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement was not merely a result of poor leadership, but stemmed from fundamental design flaws caused by the South African government's ambivalence toward NPM—attempting to use its business-like tools while refusing to relinquish central political control.

This report details a conference held in Pretoria in November 2010 focused on the dynamics of decision-making within African continental and regional organizations. It analyzes the interactions between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU), the challenges of regional economic integration through Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and the complexities of establishing common African positions on global issues like climate change and security.

This conference report, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies, examines the political dynamics and institutional structures that influence decision-making within the African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Communities (RECs), as well as their interactions with the European Union (EU).

This research paper examines the potential impact of oil discovery on Ghana's democratic consolidation and economic stability. It weighs the country's strong civil society and history of fair elections against risks such as 'Dutch Disease', lack of absorptive capacity, and legislative delays in managing oil revenues.

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 by Steven Gruzd of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), examining its institutional origins, its relationship with the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), and its achievements in promoting good governance across Africa.

This research paper evaluates the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) at the end of its first term (2004–2009), analyzing its prospects for transforming from a consultative body into a full legislative assembly. The author argues that while the PAP Protocol envisions this evolution, the institution currently suffers from significant structural weaknesses, a lack of enforcement power, and a democratic deficit due to the indirect nomination of its members.