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The document examines how digitalization is restructuring global value chains and the risks it poses to developing nations, such as increased technological divides and value capture by advanced economies. It contrasts the digital industrial policies of the EU (market-friendly) and China (interventionist) to propose a dual-track policy framework for developing countries: 'enabling markets' (focusing on infrastructure, ecosystems, and mitigating disbenefits) and 'digital catch-up' (focusing on technology linkage, learning, and economic leverage). The authors highlight specific instruments like payment interoperability, data localization, and fiscal incentives, while warning of implementation hurdles such as ministerial silos and international trade agreement constraints.

The report examines remittance flows in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting that while they are a vital source of capital—often exceeding official development assistance (ODA) and foreign direct investment (FDI)—formal flows are constrained by high costs and regulatory barriers. Nigeria is the dominant receiver of remittances in the region. The study identifies a significant mismatch between migration patterns and formal remittance data, suggesting a high level of informality. It argues that shifting these flows to formal channels would enhance financial sector development and overall economic growth in SSA.

The report examines the intersection of global energy trends and gender equality, arguing that universal energy access by 2030 requires moving beyond 'business-as-usual' to address systemic discrimination. It identifies decentralization, affordability, and mobile payments as potential catalysts for inclusion, while urbanization and humanitarian crises present significant hurdles. Through case studies in five countries, the document highlights how barriers such as lack of land tenure, digital gender gaps, and inadequate financial services prevent women from leveraging these trends to improve their livelihoods and health.

The report assesses the integration of gender equality into Kiribati's climate adaptation planning, finding that while the Joint Implementation Plan on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KJIP) represents a positive shift from previous gender-blind documents, significant gaps remain. Gender mainstreaming in Kiribati has historically focused almost exclusively on domestic violence, leaving a lack of understanding regarding the specific linkages between gender equality and climate adaptation. The study highlights that women are often positioned as victims rather than agents of change and notes a lack of sex-disaggregated data to inform adaptation options. Recommendations include framing gender equality through a 'climate-resilient family' lens, strengthening the link between women's economic empowerment and adaptation, and formally integrating the Ministry of Women, Youth and Social Affairs (MWYSA) into the Kiribati National Experts Group on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management (KNEG).

The report assesses the integration of gender equality into Kiribati's climate adaptation planning, finding that while the KJIP represents a positive shift from previous gender-blind documents, significant gaps remain in gender analysis and institutional coordination. It highlights that gender equality in Kiribati has historically been reduced to addressing domestic violence, leaving a lack of understanding regarding the specific linkages between gender and climate change. The study recommends a family-focused approach to gender equality, strengthening women's economic empowerment, and formally integrating the Ministry of Women, Youth and Social Affairs (MWYSA) into the national climate coordination body (KNEG).

The report examines the impacts of investment treaties on developing countries, noting a modest increase in some types of foreign direct investment (FDI) but finding no clear evidence for other benefits like domestic reform or the rule of law. It highlights that treaties limit government policy space and create distributive costs through compensation requirements, though insufficient evidence exists to determine the overall net effect for developing countries.

The report assesses the evidence on whether investment treaties attract foreign direct investment (FDI), facilitate domestic reforms, or limit government policy space. It finds that while treaties may modestly increase FDI, particularly in high-sunk-cost sectors like mining, they often benefit foreign investors at the expense of host states through distributive effects and potential regulatory chill. The evidence on other claimed benefits, such as 'levelling the playing field' or depoliticizing disputes, is found to be limited or contradictory.

The document assesses SEI's global urban research portfolio to identify strengths and gaps that can be leveraged for a new programme in sub-Saharan Africa. It finds that while SEI has diverse expertise across 64 projects, there is a lack of cross-centre collaboration and significant research gaps in Central and West Africa, as well as in specific areas like urban solid waste management and green infrastructure in the Global South. The report recommends replicating successful global projects in Africa and expanding research into under-studied regions and strategic themes such as urban governance and inclusive cities.

The report analyzes the energy-irrigation nexus in Haryana, India, where heavily subsidized electricity has led to the over-extraction of groundwater and financial distress for distribution companies (DISCOMs). It quantifies subsidies for wheat, paddy, and sugarcane, finding that electricity subsidies account for approximately 46% of total subsidies. The study recommends spatial targeting of reforms, the adoption of energy-efficient and solar pumps, and a transition toward output-driven subsidy regimes to ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability.

The report examines the 'peace potential' of oil and gas resources, analyzing how joint development, revenue sharing, and infrastructure projects like pipelines can either mitigate or fuel conflict. It contrasts successful cooperation, such as the Saudi-Kuwaiti Partitioned Neutral Zone and Turkey-Iraqi Kurdish relations, with failures in the Caucasus and disputes in the South China Sea and Eastern Mediterranean. The study also addresses the role of international environmental law and the climate impact of transitioning from coal to natural gas.

The document analyzes 75 carbon-financed cookstove projects in India and Kenya, finding that while carbon revenues often fund price subsidies and after-sales support, many developers rely on them exclusively, creating financial risk. It suggests that carbon finance is most effective as 'transitional crediting' to stimulate early demand and that the monitoring requirements of carbon markets can actually improve long-term stove uptake.

The report examines the role of carbon finance in scaling up improved cookstove initiatives in India and Kenya. Through a review of 75 project design documents and 49 stakeholder interviews, it finds that while carbon revenues can provide essential funding for price subsidies, R&D, and after-sales support, they also introduce significant risks. These include a potential mismatch between carbon efficiency goals and cultural user needs, uncertainties in emission reduction predictions, and volatility in carbon credit demand. The study suggests that carbon finance is most effective as a transitional tool for businesses that are already fundamentally viable, rather than as a sole funding source for NGOs or small enterprises.

The document argues that sustainable governance of water, energy, and food requires an integrated nexus approach to reduce trade-offs and generate co-benefits. Using a scoping study of 85 organizations in Ethiopia's Tana and Beles basins, it demonstrates that social network analysis can identify the formal and informal relationships necessary to move beyond siloed sectoral management. The findings reveal that while some connections exist, relationships largely follow administrative and sectoral boundaries, with stronger vertical ties than horizontal ones, hindering the coordinated decision-making required for comprehensive solutions.

The report argues that mitigation and adaptation are complementary rather than substitutable, as adaptation has physical and societal limits and cannot offset the risks of catastrophic climate change. It critiques most Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) for oversimplifying adaptation as an optimal, linear process and underestimating damage costs. The authors highlight the PAGE09 model as a more robust tool due to its uncertainty analysis. The document also reviews sector-specific physical models for water, agriculture, and coasts, noting that while they provide more detail, they often lack a dynamic representation of the adaptation process. It concludes by proposing a conceptual framework that combines different levels of mitigation and adaptation effort under various socioeconomic pathways to analyze residual risks.

The document examines the crisis facing higher education in Africa, characterized by overcrowding and resource scarcity, and argues that governance education is neglected in favor of technical training. It presents findings from a 2008-2009 study of eight universities, highlighting severe constraints in staffing, funding, and infrastructure. The author proposes regional cooperation and the use of ICT to overcome these barriers and better align university output with the goals of the African Union and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

The report examines the development of leadership capacities among youth in the circumpolar North, specifically focusing on the impact of the Circumpolar Young Leaders (CYL) program and other experiential learning initiatives. It identifies a 'capacity deficit' in the North where positions outnumber qualified locals, and outlines systemic barriers such as biased educational curricula and a lack of northern role models. The document argues for a diversified, long-term regional leadership strategy that integrates indigenous and western teachings, expands post-secondary access, and increases youth participation in decision-making processes.

The report examines the vulnerabilities of 'non-legal entities'—multistakeholder partnerships hosted by other organizations—noting a lack of standardized governance codes. Through literature reviews, consulting experience, and three case studies, it identifies ten key governance issues, including misaligned priorities between hosts and partnerships, lack of clear fiduciary responsibilities, and insufficient public accountability. The author argues that these entities should adopt a governance discipline similar to that of legal entities to improve performance and reduce the transactional costs of seeking independence.

The report identifies a critical leadership gap in sustainable development driven by a retiring generation of experts and the increasing complexity of global environmental challenges. It reviews various training models—including internships, scholarships, and professional placements—used by organizations like IUCN, WWF, and IISD. The findings emphasize that while technical knowledge is important, there is a significant need for 'enabling' soft skills such as communication, innovation, and multi-stakeholder management. The document advocates for the creation of a consortium to standardize skill sets, share training materials, and better track alumni to support a non-linear, mobile career path for the next generation of sustainability leaders.

The report details a scoping workshop held in Johannesburg in October 2010 to launch the APRM Monitoring Project (AMP). The project seeks to empower civil society organisations (CSOs) in Southern Africa to track the implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPoA) through the APRM Monitoring & Advocacy Template (AMAT). The workshop identified challenges such as limited CSO resources, low public visibility of the APRM, and the need for collaborative rather than antagonistic relationships with governments. Lessons from Uganda's NGO Forum highlighted the value of aligning APRM monitoring with existing governance networks. The workshop concluded with a consensus on the need for an independent, inclusive, and grassroots-oriented review process.

The report examines China's increasing influence in the Mekong region through its 'Going Global' strategy, which drives demand for natural resources. It analyzes how Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI), trade, and official development assistance (ODA) operate in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting a shift where Chinese financiers fill the vacuum left by International Financial Institutions. The study finds that while China is a dominant investor in Laos and Cambodia across agribusiness, hydropower, and mining, its role in Vietnam is primarily as a trading partner, with investment concentrated in mining. The report warns that poor implementation of local regulations and a lack of adherence to international social and environmental standards by Chinese state-owned enterprises pose significant risks to the region's ecosystems and communities.