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The report evaluates the PM-KUSUM scheme's grid-connected components (A and C-FLS), which aim to deploy decentralized solar power plants (1–10 MW) on farmers' land. While the economic case is strong—with land leases earning farmers an average of INR 30,000/acre annually and investments yielding 11%–16% returns—scaling has been gradual. The report identifies three primary barriers: governance challenges limiting state ownership, market barriers such as misaligned tariffs and thin financing, and structural constraints regarding land access and grid readiness. It recommends a flexible, cooperative federalism approach for the next phase, the adoption of competitive bidding for tariff discovery, and the creation of state-level 'incentive stacks' to complement Union Government incentives.

The report evaluates the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) scheme, specifically Components A (decentralized solar plants) and C-FLS (feeder-level solarization). While these components offer significant benefits—including reliable daytime power for farmers, reduced agricultural subsidies for DISCOMs, and rural employment—they have seen low uptake, with only 7% and 34% achievement against targets respectively as of December 2025. Key barriers include a mismatch between regulatory tariffs and market costs, inadequate rural grid infrastructure, complex land acquisition and leasing laws, and poor institutional coordination between state agencies and distribution companies (DISCOMs). The report recommends shifting toward competitive bidding, implementing GIS-based land identification, adopting virtual feeder segregation via IoT, and enhancing the leadership role of DISCOMs in project implementation.

The evaluation of Viet Nam's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2021-2025 reveals that while a robust institutional and legal framework has been established, implementation remains uneven across sectors and regions. Approximately 20% of the 142 priority tasks have been completed, with 74% continuing into an updated NAP. Significant progress was made in state management, agriculture, and disaster risk monitoring, but critical gaps persist in gender equality and social inclusion (GESI), private sector financing, and the widespread deployment of scientific research. The report emphasizes the need for better intersectoral coordination and dedicated funding to ensure sustainable climate resilience.

The handbook traces G20 engagements with Africa from 2008 to 2025, noting a transition from ad hoc initiatives to structured partnerships, culminating in the African Union's permanent membership in 2023. While identifying successes in rural youth employment and financial inclusion, it highlights persistent implementation gaps in infrastructure and climate finance. The document maps G20 outcomes against AU Agenda 2063, finding strong alignment with economic integration but gaps in peace and institutional capacity. It also details South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency priorities, focusing on solidarity, equality, and sustainability through specific task forces on inclusive growth, food security, and AI.

The report assesses the progress of 40 adaptation interventions across various sectors in Ethiopia, finding that nearly 67% of the 64 associated indicators lack current data for tracking. While the health sector shows strong implementation and monitoring, the water, energy, and urban sectors suffer from significant data gaps and institutional capacity constraints. The analysis highlights a critical lack of gender-sensitive indicators, with only six of 64 being gender-sensitive, and recommends expanding the NDC's scope to include the financial, labour affairs, industry, and education sectors to address heat stress and financial exclusion.

The IAI Executive Directorate has advanced several strategic mandates from CoP-31, including the launch of a climate, environment, and health research program, the establishment of an Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Regions Committee, and the expansion of scientific diplomacy initiatives. Key achievements include the distribution of initial grants to 12 research teams across 15 countries, the development of partnerships with the University of the West Indies and the Global Change Research Center in Paraguay, and the implementation of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship with 45 fellows. The Directorate is also coordinating regional efforts on the Amazon and tropical forests, as well as enhancing gender and indigenous inclusion through new advisory committees and targeted funding for underrepresented researchers.

As of 30 April 2023, the GCF has approved 693 readiness grants totaling USD 513 million for 142 countries. Analysis of 239 completed grants shows significant progress in capacity-building, strategic framework development, and adaptation planning, with a strong focus on vulnerable regions. However, the portfolio has faced substantial delays, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to 336 grants receiving no-cost extensions. The GCF is implementing operational improvements, including the Readiness Results Management Framework (RRMF) and the Portfolio Performance Management System (PPMS), to enhance reporting and efficiency.

The first progress report on Albania's National Adaptation Plan (NAP) reveals a low overall completion rate, with only 15% of the 118 planned adaptation measures completed between 2019 and 2023. Implementation was significantly delayed by the 2019 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. While 69% of measures saw some advancement, 22% had not yet started, particularly in areas concerning monitoring systems, irrigation, and agriculture. The NAP is estimated to cost approximately ALL 11 billion (EUR 80 million), with a high proportion of measures rated as medium or high complexity. The report identifies critical gaps in institutional knowledge, human resources, and sustainable national financing, noting a heavy reliance on international donors. Despite these challenges, the report highlights successes in revitalizing the Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Climate Change and mainstreaming climate considerations into the National Strategy for Development and Integration (NSDI) and the revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The report details the creation of an open-source groundwater monitoring dashboard (groundwaterinfo.africa) for the Table Mountain Water Source Area. It outlines the transition to the Lizmap web client, the use of a PostgreSQL database to store regional groundwater and rainfall data, and the implementation of two user interfaces: a 'Quick view' for the general public and a 'Deep dive' for scientists. The document emphasizes the necessity of regular data updates from entities like the City of Cape Town and the Department of Water and Sanitation to ensure the dashboard's long-term sustainability.

The review finds that Kenya has implemented numerous initiatives to enhance climate resilience in its agriculture sector, including the development of drought-tolerant crops, improved rangeland management, and the scaling of sustainable aquaculture. While the enabling environment has improved through legislation like the Climate Change Act (2016) and the establishment of the Climate Smart Agriculture Multistakeholder Platform, the report notes a critical lack of baseline data and indicators in the original NAP, making it difficult to accurately track progress. Despite these efforts, smallholder production remains limited due to persistent climatic shocks, including a 40-year record drought from 2019 to 2022.

The report reviews the GCF's country ownership framework, finding that while National Designated Authorities (NDAs) are recognized as leaders, they often lack the capacity for inclusive stakeholder coordination and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). It highlights the importance of Country Programmes (CPs) and the role of Direct Access Entities (DAEs), while noting challenges in private sector engagement and long proposal approval timelines. Drawing on best practices from organizations like the Global Fund (GFATM) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), the report recommends establishing formal country coordination platforms, accelerating DAE accreditation, and improving accountability through mandatory sharing of Annual Progress Reports (APRs) with NDAs.

The report finds that 41 of 54 African UN member states have subscribed to the HCoC, with the highest participation in ECOWAS (93%) and the lowest in SADC (56%). While ballistic missile threats within Africa are generally low—with only Algeria and Egypt maintaining active programmes—the report highlights the growing importance of the HCoC as African states expand their civilian space agencies and the AU aims to establish an African Space Agency by 2023. Key challenges include the exclusion of cruise missiles from the HCoC scope, administrative burdens for resource-constrained states, and a lack of institutional memory. The authors argue that the HCoC supports a 'nexus between security and development' by facilitating peaceful space exploration and improving a state's non-proliferation credentials for technology exports.

The monograph evaluates the African Union's (AU) 'Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020' (STGIA2020) initiative, concluding that the continent is far from achieving a conflict-free state. While the AU established coordinating structures and the 2016 Lusaka Master Roadmap, progress is hampered by conceptual confusion, institutional weaknesses, and a lack of political will among member states. The report highlights the critical role of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) proliferation, driven by foreign imports—particularly from Russia—and local craft production. It identifies governance deficits, youth unemployment, and foreign military presence as key drivers of instability. The authors recommend redefining the initiative as a multi-year programme focused on arms control and strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

The document introduces a review of REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation), noting that over 50 countries have initiated strategies, subnational governments have tested jurisdictional programs, and more than 350 projects have been implemented globally to provide results-based incentives for reducing tropical deforestation.

The document evaluates the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1540, focusing on the tools of the 1540 Committee, the role of the group of experts, and the challenges faced by developing regions, particularly Africa. It argues for a shift toward strategic, intra-governmental processes, increased engagement with the private sector and civil society, and the adoption of a 'CBRN security culture' to complement legal obligations.

The report evaluates Estonia's implementation of a cluster of four global biodiversity conventions using a 15-category methodology. It concludes that overall implementation effectiveness is relatively high, with 'Cross-border cooperation' scoring as strong and the remaining 14 categories scoring as moderate. While Estonia has a unified administrative system under the Ministry of the Environment and a comprehensive legal framework, the report identifies gaps in inter-sectoral coordination, stakeholder engagement, and the lack of a specific integrated action plan for these conventions.

The document describes a methodology developed by SEI for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to evaluate the coherence and effectiveness of national implementation of MEA clusters. Tested in Estonia and Tanzania on four biodiversity-related agreements, the methodology uses 15 governance categories to score performance as 'strong', 'moderate', or 'weak'. Findings indicate the tool is useful and relatively easy to apply, though outcomes are harder to trace than processes, and the methodology may require adaptation to specific national contexts.

The report evaluates Tanzania's adherence to four global biodiversity conventions using a 15-category review methodology. While Tanzania is found to have a strong legal and policy framework, it struggles with financing, monitoring, and the practical enforcement of laws, particularly regarding illegal ivory trade under CITES. The study concludes that implementation effectiveness is moderate overall, with significant gaps in human and technical capacity and a heavy reliance on international donor funding.

The document examines Australia's carbon pricing scheme, which began on July 1, 2012, targeting the largest emitters to achieve a 5 per cent emissions reduction below 2000 levels by 2020. It details the transition from a fixed-price period to a flexible cap-and-trade system, the role of the Clean Energy Regulator, and extensive compensation packages for trade-exposed industries and households. The brief highlights the importance of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) as a foundation for implementation and warns against locking in fixed prices during volatile international market conditions.

The document examines the WTO's efforts to provide technical assistance (TA) and capacity-building (CB) to developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) following the Doha Ministerial Declaration. It details the 2003 Technical Assistance Plan, which aims to move away from ad hoc seminars toward systematic capacity-building, and discusses the role of the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. The briefing highlights the Integrated Framework as a key model for LDCs but notes criticisms regarding institutional coordination and the need for TA to be better integrated into national development strategies.