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The document examines the development of Theories of Change (ToCs) for three community-based organisations (CBOs) in the Western Cape and Northern Cape. It finds that while ToCs provide a strategic framework linking theory to practice and align community-led interventions with global best practices, their success depends heavily on organisational ownership, in-person engagement, and inclusivity regarding language barriers.

The document challenges the common assumption that unemployment, particularly among youth, increases the likelihood of political violence and protests. By reviewing global research and analyzing survey data from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the author finds that unemployed individuals are not more likely to support political violence or participate in demonstrations than those who are employed. Instead, the brief identifies other work-related factors—such as ambiguous employment status, part-time work, and job dissatisfaction—as stronger predictors of political activity. The author suggests that the unemployed may be less active due to a lack of resources, social stigmatization, or low interest in politics.

The document analyzes the resurgent roles of China and Russia in Africa since 2000. China's influence is primarily economic, driven by the Belt and Road Initiative and long-term infrastructure investments, while Russia's approach is more opportunistic, focusing on mining, arms exports, and the deployment of private military contractors in fragile states. While the two powers coordinate on challenging Western norms and supporting non-interference in the UN Security Council, they maintain a 'competitive partnership' characterized by limited strategic coordination in security and economics, and occasional competition for commercial contracts in countries like Zimbabwe.

The policy brief examines the conflict between the OECD's 'Second Pillar' global minimum tax of 15% and existing fiscal stabilization clauses in national laws and investment contracts, particularly in developing nations. It argues that these clauses may hinder governments from updating tax policies without risking international litigation. The authors propose that the OECD's model legislation should explicitly state that the global minimum tax applies regardless of stabilization agreements and that good-faith adjustments to align with GloBE rules should not be considered breaches of international law or investment treaties.

The policy brief advocates for a shift from short-term competitive grants to 5-year core funding for community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada. It highlights that 100 of Canada's 167 watersheds lack sufficient data for health scores and warns that a lack of long-term monitoring threatens insurance actuarial models and ESG scores for Canadian businesses. The author proposes that the Canada Water Agency coordinate a horizontal initiative to integrate monitoring across federal, provincial, and local levels to reduce redundancy and improve data interoperability.

This policy brief advocates for a shift from short-term competitive grants to five-year base funding for community-based water monitoring (CBWM) in Canada. It highlights critical gaps in Canada's watershed knowledge—noting that 100 of 167 watersheds lack health scores—and argues that CBWM is a cost-effective method (> 3:1) to collect rigorous long-term data. The brief recommends a five-year pilot project to strengthen local capacities and suggests the Canadian Water Agency as a coordinator to improve data interoperability across federal, provincial, and local levels.

The document examines how permitting processes can be optimized to support the rapid decarbonization of heavy industry, specifically in Sweden's cement, steel, petrochemical, and refinery sectors. Based on a workshop with government agencies and industrial companies, it identifies key characteristics of successful permitting—such as transparency, predictability, and dialogue—and emphasizes the critical role of competence and resources. The brief argues that while some regulatory reforms may be needed, significant improvements can be achieved within existing frameworks by increasing institutional expertise, ensuring stable funding for authorities, and encouraging companies to treat stakeholder dialogue as a core competence.

This policy brief summarizes a March 24, 2021 webinar regarding the use of international trade policy, specifically voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and free trade agreement provisions, to reduce deforestation and preserve forest ecosystems.

The document argues that the disruption of world trade by COVID-19 necessitates a shift toward digital internationalisation support for green SMEs. It highlights the International Cleantech Network's (ICN) approach, which combines a reciprocal network of 18 clusters, a structured process for maturing business leads into actionable needs statements, and the 'Solved' virtual collaboration platform. Case studies from Helsinki and New York demonstrate how these tools facilitate co-creation and matchmaking when physical travel is restricted. The brief recommends investing in reciprocal partnerships, leveraging virtual tools to lower transaction costs, and using digital platforms to support long-term innovation and R&D collaboration.

The document establishes a direct link between gender-based development pillars—specifically secondary education for girls and access to modern contraception—and the capacity of vulnerable populations to adapt to climate change. It highlights that women in low- and middle-income countries face disproportionate climate impacts, which often trigger a cycle of early marriage and school dropout. The brief provides evidence that education reduces disaster vulnerability and that family planning improves maternal and child health, thereby increasing household resilience. It concludes that these strategies are largely absent from National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and calls for their integration into climate finance and policy frameworks.

The document identifies girls' education and family planning as critical, yet overlooked, long-term strategies for climate adaptation. It details how these interventions reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, improve agricultural productivity, and enhance overall community resilience. The authors call for these components to be formally included in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), supported by dedicated climate finance.

The document examines the role of foreign interventions in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, highlighting the use of private military companies like the Wagner Group and Dyck Advisory Group, as well as the deployment of Rwandan and SADC (SAMIM) troops. It argues that while foreign forces have achieved rapid tactical successes, such as recapturing Mocímboa da Praia and consolidating control in Palma, these interventions often lack transparency and parliamentary oversight. The author emphasizes that military action alone cannot end the insurgency, recommending a comprehensive approach including deradicalization, inter-religious dialogue, and socio-economic development in the north.

The ARIES for SEEA Explorer is an AI-powered, open-source tool that enables rapid, standardized, and customizable natural capital accounting globally. By utilizing machine reasoning and a semantic web of data, it allows National Statistical Offices (NSOs) and other users to generate ecosystem accounts for any terrestrial area, reducing technical barriers for data-scarce countries while allowing for local customization. The tool supports monitoring for the SDGs, the Paris Climate Agreement, and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

The paper argues that while coal is insignificant to Russia's national GDP, it is critical to regional economies like Kuzbass. It criticizes official diversification plans for continuing to rely on extractive industries and instead proposes five innovative low-carbon pathways: utilizing abandoned mines for geothermal heating and energy storage, developing wind and solar PV, producing solid biofuels, establishing Green Special Economic Zones (GSEZ), and supporting small business entrepreneurship.

The policy brief examines how African pension funds can bridge the renewable energy investment gap in sub-Saharan Africa. It proposes the use of 'renewable energy-backed' (RE) bonds to align long-term pension obligations with energy infrastructure projects, reducing reliance on foreign currency and mitigating exchange risks. The author identifies a significant funding gap, noting that Africa requires approximately $70 billion in annual renewable energy investment until 2030, while actual investment in sub-Saharan Africa was only $10 billion in 2018 and $30 billion in 2019. To unlock this potential, the document recommends the creation of green banks to coordinate finance, the implementation of government-backed guarantee schemes to lower risk perceptions for regulators, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies to improve the competitiveness of clean energy.

The report examines rural credit in the Cerrado, noting that while the biome accounts for about one-third of Brazil's rural credit and agricultural production, financing is highly concentrated among large producers and public banks. It highlights a growing reliance on private funding sources like Agricultural Credit Notes (LCA) and a significant scarcity of credit for family farming through programs like PRONAF. The authors argue that improving credit access for smaller producers is essential for increasing productivity and reducing deforestation pressures.

The document argues that African states must shift from a strategy of blocking new negotiations to one of active participation to avoid becoming 'rule takers' in the global trade system. It specifically recommends narrowing the TRIPS waiver proposal to focus solely on COVID-19 vaccines to secure broader support and suggests that African states prioritize a few key development outcomes from the stalled Doha Round while engaging in Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on e-commerce and investment. The brief also emphasizes the need for the African Union to coordinate common policy positions and the establishment of regional vaccine production hubs in countries like South Africa, Senegal, Algeria, and Tunisia.

The document analyzes the devastating impact of COVID-19 on South Africa's economy, noting a 7% contraction in 2020 and a record unemployment rate of 32.6% in Q1 2021. It highlights that initial relief measures, such as the R500 billion rescue package, were poorly implemented, with only one-third materializing by February 2021. The brief details severe job losses in construction, trade, and manufacturing, and notes that women and informal workers were disproportionately affected. It specifically identifies a 'second pandemic' of gender-based violence and femicide (GBV-F), with annual costs estimated between R28.4 billion and R42.4 billion. To mitigate these crises, the IEJ recommends replacing the Loan Guarantee Scheme with grants, extending the TERS wage support, reinstating the SRD grant at R585 per month, and increasing public infrastructure spending.

A meta-analysis of eight recent studies indicates that the United States can achieve approximately 80% clean electricity by 2030 at minimal cost. The findings suggest that such a transition would drive 500,000 to 1 million net new jobs, avoid up to $3 trillion in health and climate damages by 2050, and is essential for meeting the Biden administration's GHG emissions reduction targets. The analysis concludes that a strong national clean electricity standard (CES) is the most effective policy mechanism, primarily driving the deployment of wind, solar, and battery storage.

The document advocates for a 'One Health' strategy in Africa to address the interconnected crises of human health, biodiversity loss, and climate change. It argues that blanket bans on wildlife trade are unworkable and may increase the risk of zoonotic spill-over by driving trade underground. Instead, it recommends nature-positive investments, green stimulus packages, and financial incentives for source countries to reduce IWT and improve governance. The brief emphasizes that socio-economic factors, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, drive IWT, and suggests that supporting rural communities through alternative livelihoods is the most effective way to reduce pathogen spill-over risk.