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This policy brief examines how the methodologies of major private credit rating agencies (CRAs) negatively impact African development by inflating risk premiums and increasing the cost of capital. It argues that the current system is marred by oligopolistic structures, subjective biases, and a lack of transparency, which hinders access to financing for infrastructure and climate projects. The document advocates for the establishment of the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) and a global fiscal body to create a more equitable financial architecture, while advising African nations to improve data transparency, debt management capacity, and macroeconomic fundamentals.

This policy brief examines how the methodologies of major private credit rating agencies (CRAs) negatively impact African development by inflating risk premiums and increasing the cost of capital. It argues that these agencies operate as an oligopoly with subjective, biased methodologies that ignore social indicators and long-term development. To counter this, the document discusses the establishment of the Africa Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA) and proposes broader reforms to the international financial architecture, including the creation of a global fiscal body and improved domestic fiscal transparency and debt management in African nations.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disconnect between trade policy and climate change adaptation, arguing that 'international technology transfer' remains an abstract concept rather than a practical reality. It proposes aligning trade negotiations with National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Technology Needs Assessments (TNAs) to ensure developing countries can access context-specific hardware, software, and orgware necessary for climate resilience.

This report examines the intersection of climate and trade policy frameworks to enhance the transfer of adaptation technology to developing countries, specifically focusing on the roles of the UNFCCC and the WTO.

This policy brief examines how the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) can be leveraged to improve food security and food sovereignty across Africa. It identifies significant barriers to intra-African food trade, including high tariffs on sensitive food items, restrictive sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards for small enterprises, and a lack of coordinated strategic food reserves. The document recommends accelerating tariff removal, differentiating compliance requirements by enterprise size, and protecting indigenous genetic resources through intellectual property rights to build a more resilient and self-sufficient agricultural system.

This executive summary outlines a framework for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction, emphasizing the integration of sustainability, resilience, and climate neutrality into governance and infrastructure. It advocates for a unified national green recovery strategy aligned with European Union standards and the enhancement of the Digital Restoration Ecosystem for Accountable Management (DREAM) platform to track environmental performance.

This report examines the relationship between the first global stocktake (GST) under the Paris Agreement and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process for developing countries, providing recommendations for integrating GST outcomes into domestic adaptation efforts.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the use of mining tax incentives across Africa, arguing that they are often poorly designed and lead to revenue losses. It provides policy recommendations for reforming incentive frameworks to better align with sustainable growth and the Africa Mining Vision.

The '2030 Global Forest Vision' report outlines eight priority actions for governments to implement in 2025 to meet the goal of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. The framework emphasizes integrating forest goals into national climate and biodiversity plans, scaling up finance through mechanisms like the Tropical Forest Finance Facility (TFFF), securing land rights for Indigenous and local communities, and reforming harmful agricultural subsidies.

This briefing by the African Food Systems Transformation Collective explores the use of 'agroecological territories' and integrated landscape approaches to transition African food systems toward sustainability. It argues for a holistic framework that connects agricultural practices, biodiversity conservation, and embedded food systems to address systemic environmental degradation and food insecurity.

This report examines the role of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in promoting low-carbon procurement within the infrastructure sector, identifying both the opportunities for MDBs to lead the transition and the systemic challenges that hinder the adoption of sustainable practices in developing countries.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative outlines recommendations for developing financial instruments for climate adaptation, drawing on a decade of experience from The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab), which has supported 78 instruments and mobilized over $1.2 billion for adaptation projects.

This briefing by Ember analyzes the European Union's grid policy framework, identifying over 80 action points across various legislative and non-legislative files. It evaluates the roles of the European Commission, EU institutions, and Member States in expanding and modernizing electricity infrastructure to support renewables and electrification, while providing three specific recommendations for the new EU Energy Commissioner to improve implementation, financing, and digitalization.

This research paper by the Climate Bonds Initiative analyzes the European Union Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR), evaluating its potential to combat commodity-driven deforestation and providing recommendations to strengthen its implementation and scope.

This policy brief argues that United Nations (UN) mediation must adapt to a fragmented geopolitical landscape characterized by increased conflict intensity and the rise of diverse mediation actors. It calls for the Summit of the Future and the Pact for the Future to be used as catalysts for renewing political consensus, enhancing partnerships with regional organisations, and adopting innovative approaches to address geoeconomic and geoecological threats.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of the G20 in supporting industrialisation in Africa. It argues that while industrialisation is essential for improving living standards and creating youth employment, recent G20 summits in 2022 and 2023 lacked a central focus on this goal. The document outlines a policy framework for structural transformation and recommends that future G20 presidencies adopt a cohesive strategy to bolster Africa's manufacturing sector, agricultural productivity, and digital infrastructure.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the role of the UNFCCC in addressing fossil fuel subsidies, specifically focusing on opportunities at COP 28 and beyond. It highlights the gap between government rhetoric and the record USD 1.3 trillion in subsidies provided in 2022, arguing that the UNFCCC can strengthen global commitments through clear deadlines, improved transparency in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and integration into climate finance discussions.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the integration of the ocean-climate nexus within the UNFCCC process, evaluating progress from the 'Ocean Super Year' of 2022 through COP27 and looking toward COP28. It emphasizes the need for African stakeholders to shift the global dialogue from negotiation to concrete implementation, leveraging regional initiatives and policy frameworks to drive ambitious ocean-climate action.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs advocates for the upscaling of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the vulnerability of coastal and island states to climate risks and argues that integrating EbA into national policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can simultaneously address climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and socio-economic development.

This policy brief examines the integration of gender mainstreaming within climate finance, arguing that current efforts are often superficial and fail to address the root causes of gender inequality. It specifically highlights the role of public development banks (PDBs) as key vehicles for shifting financial flows toward gender-transformative climate action, recommending a move beyond 'women-focused' strategies toward a comprehensive approach that engages all genders to dismantle systemic power imbalances.