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The report analyzes the Zona Franca de Manaus (ZFM) as a public policy tool for industrial development in Brazil. It details the complex system of tax incentives—including exemptions and reductions in IPI, PIS/PASEP, and COFINS—and evaluates their distribution across key sectors such as two-wheelers, audio/video, and non-alcoholic beverages. The study compares the ZFM's industrial performance and workforce concentration against national Brazilian averages and provides a brief comparative overview of free trade zones in other countries including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the US, Canada, and China.

The NAP Global Network provided technical assistance to 27 developing countries and responded to 40 Country Support Hub requests between 2019 and 2020. The Network emphasizes the role of NAPs as roadmaps for resilient recovery from COVID-19, particularly in health, water, and agriculture sectors. Key achievements include the finalization of Peru's first NAP, the development of private sector engagement strategies in Viet Nam, Ghana, and Saint Lucia, and the implementation of nature-based solutions in Fiji. The report also highlights the integration of gender-responsive approaches and the establishment of monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems across various partner nations.

The evaluation of the CARE-WWF Alliance in Mozambique found that conservation interventions, such as no-take zones and mangrove management, initially increased dietary diversity by 25% between 2008 and 2014, though this correlation vanished by 2018 as investment declined. Farmer Field Schools were the most popular intervention, increasing the likelihood of year-round food security by 13%. While microcredit through Village Savings and Loan Associations led to a 31% increase in assets for female-headed households, the report notes that no-take zones primarily benefited male-headed households due to the cultural exclusion of single women from fishing. The document recommends better beneficiary targeting to avoid elite capture and stronger long-term governance to sustain community-based natural resource management.

The CAMBio II programme, implemented by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), focuses on enhancing the climate resilience of agricultural MSMEs in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and the Dominican Republic. The initiative employs a three-pronged approach: providing innovative financial mechanisms through intermediary financial institutions (IFIs), offering capacity building and technical assistance, and implementing an incentive scheme called 'Adapt-Award' to promote ecosystem-based adaptation. The programme leverages a Global Credit Line (GCL) to distribute loans for sustainable resource management. A previous iteration of the project (CAMBio) demonstrated that while financial intermediation is successful, reaching the most vulnerable small-scale farmers remains a challenge due to conservative banking practices and high perceived risks in rural areas.

The document analyzes the Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), a US$3.8 billion project financed largely by China. It argues that most controversies surrounding the project—including corruption, land disputes, and labor tensions—stem from Kenya's neo-patrimonial political culture and governance failures rather than Chinese predatory behavior. While the SGR has provided local employment and skills training, the authors highlight concerns over its economic viability, the lack of transparent bidding, and the environmental impact on wildlife corridors in Tsavo National Park.

The document examines FSD Kenya's intervention to scale savings groups in Kenya by reducing formation costs and improving sustainability. It evaluates these efforts through the 'Adopt-Adapt-Expand-Respond' (AAER) framework, highlighting the transition from donor-funded pilots to fee-for-service models and the attempt to link informal groups to formal banking services like Postbank.

The paper pilots the use of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to understand why some research projects achieve policy uptake while others do not. Analyzing 20 completed projects, the study identifies three causal pathways to success, with research credibility emerging as a necessary 'gatekeeper' condition. The authors conclude that while QCA is a resource-intensive method that reduces causal complexity, it is a valuable tool for challenging and refining a Theory of Change in complex international development settings.

The study assesses an 'edutainment' high school assembly program using a random sample of 49 schools and 1,241 students. Results indicate that the program positively influenced youth knowledge and behavior, shifting students into audience segments more engaged with climate change and inspiring further personal, political, and consumer advocacy.

The report evaluates a ZAR 1.1 billion education programme by Anglo American Platinum in South Africa's Limpopo and North West provinces. Using a mix of qualitative field visits and quasi-experimental methods, the study finds that while individual learners benefited from specific interventions, the overall programme had no statistically significant positive impact on school-level National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rates. Crucially, the research identifies a 'proximity to mine' effect, where schools located within 50 km of platinum mines actually show a negative correlation with mathematics and science pass rates, potentially due to high learner enrolment in technical subjects without adequate resources. The study concludes that the small positive effects of corporate social investments were outweighed by the negative externalities of the mining operations themselves.

The report evaluates the implementation of EcoSan projects in Niger between 2002 and 2010, specifically in regions like Torodi, Aguié, and Madaoua. It finds that the use of hygienized human excreta (Takin Ruwa for urine and composted feces) significantly improves crop yields for vegetables and grains while enhancing village sanitation. Despite initial cultural skepticism, the approach achieved high adoption rates through social mobilization and the involvement of religious leaders. Technical challenges remain regarding the quality of construction by local masons and the need for better protective equipment for handlers.

The report evaluates information tools used to encourage residential energy retrofits, categorizing them by the stage of the decision-making process they target: creating awareness, assisting in planning, and supporting professional implementation. It finds that while individual tools like detailed billing or energy audits can trigger savings, their effectiveness often depends on implementation design, such as 'opt-out' participation and the communication skills of professionals. The document highlights that in Germany, the government aims to reduce buildings' primary energy demand for thermal use by 80% by 2050, requiring a significant increase in the annual retrofit rate.

The report details rainwater harvesting techniques in Niger, categorizing them into individual (Zaï, demi-lunes, manual trenches) and collective (mechanical trenches, banquettes, spreading sills, mini-dams) methods. It assesses the effectiveness of these technologies in increasing crop yields, such as millet and sorghum, and identifies significant barriers to adoption, including extreme poverty and lack of equipment. The document also examines the role of various stakeholders, from state services to NGOs, and briefly discusses ex situ rooftop harvesting, which is less common in Niger than in neighboring Burkina Faso.

The report examines the Southern African Customs Union (SACU)—comprising South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland—and its various trade agreements. It finds that most agreements focus almost exclusively on market access and economic growth, largely ignoring social and environmental pillars of sustainable development. The study highlights the critical role of the SACU Revenue Sharing Formula in supporting smaller member states and warns that rapid trade liberalization, particularly with the EU, US, and China, may lead to significant tariff revenue losses and job cuts in sensitive sectors like textiles. It recommends that SACU integrate sustainable development guidelines into negotiations, conduct impact assessments, and increase transparency and parliamentary oversight of trade deals.

The scoping review identifies a critical shortage of robust quantitative evidence regarding refugee education interventions. Out of 1,873 screened articles, only eight met the strict methodological criteria for impact evaluation. Findings suggest that while cash transfers can increase the time children spend in school, they do not necessarily increase overall enrolment. Promising results for learning quality were found in early childhood development programmes, online game-based solutions, and language-enhanced physical education for second-language acquisition, as well as child and youth learning centres for literacy and numeracy in camp settings. The authors highlight significant gaps in research concerning the Global South, long-term impacts, and gender-specific needs for girls.

The document assesses WRI India Ross Center's role as a change agent in Bengaluru since 2010, focusing on its transition from mobility to broader urban development, energy, water, and climate resilience. It identifies a data-led approach and sustained physical presence as key success factors, while noting that governance complexities and short funding timeframes present significant challenges.

The report concludes that the United States cannot meet its oil and GHG targets through vehicle technology alone and must also reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT). It highlights a lack of evaluation for existing federal transportation programs and recommends that the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress prioritize funding and planning for strategies that reduce VMT, such as public transit and pricing, to eliminate oil imports by 2030.