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The policy brief examines how the EU can support the implementation of the AfCFTA to foster African economic integration and resilience. It identifies structural hurdles such as non-tariff barriers and infrastructure deficits, and recommends that the EU reorient its trade support, focus on institutional capacity building, coordinate efforts to match local needs, and engage directly with the African private sector.

The policy brief examines the opportunities and challenges of a sustainable energy transition partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). It highlights Africa's vast renewable energy potential and the possibility of energy trade via Power-to-X technologies, while cautioning that the EU must avoid post-colonial rhetoric and provide tailor-made incentives for fossil-fuel-dependent African nations. The authors recommend joint vision formulation, large-scale green infrastructure investment through blended finance, and a focus on job creation and education to ensure a just transition.

The document examines the state of regional integration in Africa and Southern Africa, specifically within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies significant gaps in infrastructure and productive integration, noting that while South Africa is the continent's most integrated country, the region as a whole struggles with poverty, unemployment, and poor governance. The author proposes seven dynamic opportunities for recovery: reshaping manufacturing for self-reliance, sustaining pan-African cooperation, closing the digital skills gap, addressing and financing infrastructure deficiencies, establishing infrastructure management systems, and enhancing integrated decision-making through potential supranational organisation. The paper concludes that South Africa must lead these efforts to reclaim regional agency and advance the African Union's Agenda 2063.

The report advocates for a transformative shift in Africa's development policies to address biodiversity loss and climate change. It proposes using COVID-19 economic recovery packages as a 'green stimulus' to invest in ecological infrastructure and full-cost accounting of natural capital, aligning with the AU's Agenda 2063 and the post-2020 global biodiversity agenda.

The briefing urges the Puerto Rican government to move from planning to action following the passage of Act 17, which sets a 100 percent renewable energy goal. It highlights the urgent need for new capacity in solar and battery storage to mitigate reliability risks caused by earthquake damage to the Costa Sur Power Plant and the legacy of Hurricane Maria. The author advocates for the expedited procurement of solar projects, the use of virtual power plant solutions to integrate existing distributed batteries, and the development of energy efficiency programs to reduce demand and lower costs for ratepayers.

The document emphasizes that achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires increasing the capacity of global carbon sinks through land-use management. Drawing on an IPCC special report, it identifies four high-potential mitigation categories: BECCS, reforestation/forest restoration, afforestation, and biochar. The author advocates for a 'portfolio' approach tailored to regional conditions, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas, while warning that high land demand could pressure food prices and biodiversity. Key success factors include prioritizing optimal biomass conversion, developing multifunctional landscapes, ensuring fair community participation, prioritizing the avoidance of deforestation, and increasing R&D for biochar and BECCS.

The document advocates for a managed decline in global fossil fuel production to meet Paris Agreement goals, suggesting that supply-side policies complement demand-side efforts to reduce emissions and carbon lock-in. It proposes using NDCs, long-term strategies, and a global stocktake to track production phase-downs while ensuring a just transition for affected workers and economies.

The document examines the tension between developed nations pushing for binding e-commerce rules and developing nations, particularly in Africa, who prioritize the Doha Development Agenda. It categorizes proposals into 'less controversial' facilitative measures and 'more controversial' rules regarding data localization and source code transfers. The author argues that while e-commerce offers significant opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by reducing information costs, digital protectionist tools like data localization are often costly and ineffective. The paper recommends that African negotiators take a precautionary approach at MC11, potentially trading e-commerce concessions for gains in other development priorities, and suggests pursuing regional strategies for digital integration.

The document evaluates the progress of WTO commitments made at the 10th Ministerial Conference (MC10) in Nairobi, specifically regarding agriculture and least-developed countries (LDCs). It highlights significant implementation gaps, such as the lack of a permanent solution for public stockholding for food security and the slow pace of eliminating agricultural export subsidies. The paper notes a fundamental disagreement between developed and developing nations over whether to prioritize the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) or introduce new 21st-century trade issues. For South Africa, the authors recommend aligning with the Africa Group on regional integration and industrialization, supporting the G33 proposal on public stockholding, and backing the ACP proposal on fisheries subsidies to support its own ocean economy.

The 2016 World Conservation Congress, convened by the IUCN, aims to develop governance responses to biodiversity loss through a series of motions and resolutions. The document emphasizes the need to integrate biodiversity into all development choices and align the IUCN's 2017–2020 Programme with global frameworks like the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement. For Africa, the brief highlights the importance of Motion 086 and the need for consolidated voting positions to protect vulnerable ecosystems.

The author contends that Africa should actively influence the New Development Bank (NDB) during its early implementation to overcome the slow pace of traditional multilateral development bank financing. The NDB is highlighted for its agility, equal voting rights among founding members, and potential to lend in domestic currencies to mitigate exchange-rate risks. The paper emphasizes the role of the NDB's Africa Regional Centre in South Africa to address the shortage of bankable projects and suggests integrating poverty alleviation and women's empowerment indicators into project preparation.

The document identifies critical priorities for the GCF Board meeting in Zambia, emphasizing the need for 'paradigm-shifting' project approvals and a better balance between national and international implementing entities. It argues for increased transparency in the accreditation and proposal process and the urgent establishment of a Strategic Plan to manage the $10 billion in committed funds.

The policy brief examines the intersection of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the COP 21 climate negotiations, and the Financing for Development agenda. It advocates for a 'bottom-up' approach to climate mitigation through INDCs that are integrated with domestic socio-economic priorities to create co-benefits in sectors like agriculture and energy. The author emphasizes that African nations should leverage clean energy and the energy-food-water nexus to leapfrog fossil-fuel-based development, while highlighting South Africa's green economy strategies as a model for job creation and GDP growth.

The document analyzes Turkey's G-20 presidency priorities—inclusiveness, investment, and implementation—and their application to Africa and LIDCs. It highlights a historical shift in Turkish foreign policy toward Africa, characterized by increased diplomatic missions and official development assistance. The authors argue that the G-20 suffers from a lack of African representation and a disconnect between its finance and development tracks. To address this, the brief suggests that Turkey align the G-20 agenda with UN sustainable development goals, facilitate private infrastructure investment through new asset classes, and include African policymakers in G-20 working groups.

The policy brief contends that the deadlock in global climate finance negotiations stems from a lack of predictability in financial flows. It suggests that Africa can lead a breakthrough for the Paris (COP21) conference by shifting focus from quantifying 'adequate' finance to securing 'predictable' flows. The author argues that by demonstrating the ability to effectively deploy available resources and aligning adaptation needs with low-carbon development pathways, African nations can create a 'win-win' scenario that encourages developed nations to provide sustained funding. The brief recommends identifying off-budget and market-driven financial sources to avoid the unreliability of traditional budget support.

The policy brief assesses the underperformance of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), noting that US imports from Africa remain dominated by energy commodities. It proposes a four-pillar strategy for the 2015 renewal: a clean, long-term extension of at least 10 years; the reduction of non-tariff barriers through expanded US Trade Hubs and relaxed rules of origin for least-developed countries; structural reforms including the Power Africa initiative and the development of African capital markets; and alignment with global trade frameworks like the TPP and TTIP to ensure African competitiveness.

The document argues that while engaging the private sector in post-conflict settings carries reputational and political risks, it is essential for sustainable economic recovery. It suggests that SADPA should move beyond a purely militaristic or diplomatic approach to PCRD by coordinating with businesses to create jobs and stimulate growth. The author proposes six specific modalities for engagement, including risk guarantees, governance reform, and the creation of public-private dialogue platforms, while cautioning against a purely mercantilist approach that could damage South Africa's image in Africa.

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free US market access to eligible sub-Saharan African countries, is set to expire on 30 September 2015. While the US Executive Branch conducts impact investigations and makes recommendations, the US Congress holds the central role in determining the timing and content of reauthorisation legislation. The document warns that a swift renewal is unlikely due to a partisan stalemate in Washington, the 2014 congressional elections, and opposition from US agricultural and business interest groups. It advises African leaders to prioritize advocacy with the US Legislative Branch, specifically members of committees with jurisdictional interest, rather than focusing solely on the US Executive Branch during the 2014 US–Africa Leaders Summit.

The policy brief argues that Africa has been sidelined in the Doha Development Round (DDR) and must shift from relying on emerging power leadership to a strategy of 'common interest' partnerships. It specifically identifies trade facilitation and a Least Developed Country (LDC) package as key areas for leverage. The author emphasizes that the Africa Group should use its collective voting power to mediate and block harmful decisions while maintaining internal unity to avoid marginalization in a global economy increasingly shaped by Free Trade Areas and the rise of BRIC nations.

Scott Vaughan argues that while NAFTA did not cause a widespread 'race to the bottom' in environmental standards, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has lost relevance. He suggests the CEC pivot from the trade-environment debate toward a cooperation agenda focused on North American energy and climate integration, cumulative environmental impact assessments, and the improvement of comparable environmental data.