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The report examines the synergies between Community Forest Management (CFM) and agroecology, positioning them as essential tools for food sovereignty and biodiversity conservation. It critiques the 'green economy' and market-based conservation models like REDD+, arguing that they erode traditional values and community autonomy. The document specifically challenges the FAO's definition of forests for including monoculture plantations, which it claims facilitates deforestation and undermines the livelihoods of the 1.6 billion people dependent on forests. It advocates for the recognition of territorial control, women's autonomy, and traditional knowledge as the primary drivers of effective forest protection.

The document examines the nexus between the 'Blue Economy' and 'maritime security' within the African maritime domain, arguing that economic prosperity from ocean resources is dependent on the protection of marine resources, property, and life. It highlights that maritime insecurity—driven by criminal activities such as piracy, trafficking, and fisheries crime—acts as a barrier to economic growth. The author emphasizes the need for African states to move beyond contested definitions and adopt holistic national maritime strategies. A central recommendation is the ratification and implementation of the African Charter on Maritime Security, Safety and Development (Lomé Charter) to foster regional collaboration, information sharing, and capacity building.

The document examines the governance of marine and coastal resources in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO), emphasizing the need for integrated coastal management (ICM) and coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) to balance economic growth with biodiversity conservation. It highlights the role of marine protected areas (MPAs) and locally managed marine areas (LMMAs) in securing ecosystem services and supporting livelihoods. The author argues that for the 'Blue Economy' to be sustainable, conservation must be integrated into development agendas through economic valuations of natural capital and inclusive, community-based management to avoid 'ocean grabbing' and ensure equitable benefit-sharing.

The document analyzes France's strategic use of its territories, military presence, and diplomatic ties to maintain influence in the Indian Ocean Region. It highlights the tension between established powers like France and emerging economies such as China, India, and South Africa, particularly regarding the 'Blue Economy' and maritime security.

The African Union (AU) has developed comprehensive maritime strategies, most notably the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIMS), but implementation has stalled due to a lack of resources, expertise, and a clear conceptual definition of the 'blue economy'. The document highlights the failure of the 2050 AIMS Strategic Task Force (STF) to meet quorum or produce a road map, and the marginalisation of the interdepartmental task force within the Office of the Legal Counsel. To resolve this, the author recommends establishing a dedicated AU department of maritime affairs—potentially within the Department of Trade and Industry or Transport—and convening a conference in 2017 to align the AU's vision of the blue economy with Agenda 2063.

The report details a workshop focused on integrating civil society into South Africa's Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) process. It identifies critical gaps in the Draft MSP Bill and Framework, such as the lack of an ecosystem-based approach and insufficient public participation. Key recommendations include establishing a civil society institutional structure (like a stakeholder forum or Community of Practice), aligning academic research with national MSP milestones, and developing an information-sharing portal to improve transparency and data accessibility.

The document examines the intersection of Ghana's oil industry and its artisanal fisheries, which account for 60-70% of the total marine catch. While initial tensions focused on exclusion zones around oil platforms and collisions, the paper argues that the oil sector is not the primary threat to fisheries sustainability. Instead, the sector faces systemic challenges including fleet overcapacity, illegal fishing practices, and climate change. The author advocates for a 'socio-ecological compact' where the oil industry, government, and fishing communities collaborate through integrated maritime governance and co-management to ensure long-term sustainability.

The 2016 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration outlines specific demands from South African youth to integrate global sustainability goals into national governance. It calls for increased accountability, educational reform, improved basic services, and economic opportunities, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy, climate adaptation, and social equity.

The document examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to 'Africanise' its maritime domain through AIMS 2050, specifically by proposing a continental cabotage regime to reduce foreign dominance in intra-African shipping. While proponents argue this would create jobs and economic independence, the paper identifies significant barriers, including inadequate port infrastructure, a lack of skilled seafarers, and limited political will, as evidenced by the low ratification rates of the African Maritime Transport Charter. It further analyzes the legal complexities regarding World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations and concludes that the proposed regime is currently 'ahead of schedule' due to the absence of necessary industrial and governance preconditions.

The document analyzes the shift in Indian foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, moving toward a more proactive and assertive 'geo-economic' approach. It examines how this strategy integrates Africa into India's broader geostrategic space, stretching from the Suez to the Pacific, and evaluates the outcomes of the third India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS III). The authors argue that while India seeks to enhance its soft power and energy security, the relationship must evolve from a focus on Indian-sourced credit lines to partnerships that support African industrialization and manufacturing.

The report analyzes the growth and effectiveness of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in the seafood industry, noting that certified production grew from 0.5% of global production in 2003 to 14% in 2015. While wild catch certification is dominated by the MSC and FOS, aquaculture certification is led by GLOBALG.A.P. and ASC. The analysis reveals a strong emphasis on environmental criteria, particularly ecosystem integrity, but a significant lack of social and economic requirements, especially in wild catch fisheries. Governance is characterized by a high concentration of developed-country and male representation on boards, and a general lack of responsiveness to smallholder needs. The report argues that while VSS provide essential traceability and assurance, their ability to drive comprehensive sustainability depends on public investment in infrastructure and the alignment of trade policies, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, with sustainability goals.

The document examines the challenges and necessity of resolving maritime boundary disputes in Africa, highlighting how these conflicts hinder the 'Blue Economy' and regional security. It discusses the role of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIMS), while recommending a preference for bilateral and regional resolution mechanisms over international courts.

The policy brief examines the emergence of the Blue Economy as a central priority for African policymakers, specifically through the AU's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy). It identifies a significant challenge of fragmentation, where maritime ambitions span a complex array of sector-specific institutions and programmes. The author suggests that the 2050 AIM Strategy should link with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which has recently undergone institutional renewal and adopted the Blue Economy as its top priority. The brief emphasizes that for these initiatives to succeed, they must avoid duplicating sector-specific efforts and instead focus on high-level integrated planning, improved communication platforms, and bolstered institutional capacity.

The policy brief proposes that South Africa shift its Latin American engagement from a Brazil-centric approach to a broader 'South Atlantic Zone' framework. This strategy aims to leverage shared developmental trajectories and maritime interests to bolster the 'blue economy' and regional security. The authors highlight the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) as a key mechanism for collaboration, alongside maritime exercises like IBSAMAR and Atlasur. While trade between South Africa and Latin American South Atlantic countries remains low, the document identifies significant potential for growth in ocean economics, specifically through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, and cultural ties via the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP).

The document examines the revival of the Indian Ocean as a commercial and geo-strategic hub, driven by the strategic visions of China, India, and Indonesia. It details China's 'maritime Silk Road', India's focus on security and the 'cotton route', and Indonesia's 'global maritime fulcrum'. The brief highlights South Africa's 'Operation Phakisa' and its goal to expand its blue economy. It concludes that Africa must coordinate its maritime strategies through the AU and IORA to avoid further militarisation and to leverage economic opportunities from these emerging power strategies.

The document examines Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) as a multi-sectoral governance approach to balance the development, use, and protection of coastal zones. It traces the global shift from sectoral 'command-and-control' methods to ecosystem-based management and analyzes South Africa's transition from a conservation-focused model to one prioritizing sustainable livelihoods and poverty eradication. The author highlights the 2008 Integrated Coastal Management Act as a key legal framework but notes significant failures in local-level implementation, particularly in the Eastern Cape, where unregulated sand mining and illegal development persist due to a lack of municipal capacity and political will.

The research paper argues that South Africa can bridge the conceptual divide between its 'Latin American' and 'African' foreign policy by treating the South Atlantic Zone as a single entity. It highlights the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) as a framework for security and economic collaboration. Key drivers for this engagement include the 'Operation Phakisa' blue economy initiative, the need to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, and the exploitation of untapped oil and gas reserves. While trade between South Africa and Latin American partners like Brazil and Argentina remains low due to similar commodity exports, the document identifies significant growth potential and the role of South Africa as a strategic gateway between Latin America and Asia.

The author contends that for BRICS to be perceived as a force for positive global change rather than just a new set of dominant powers, it must move beyond narrow self-interest. The paper proposes an inclusive agenda centered on four key challenges: rising inequality, the finite nature of the Anthropocene age (climate change and sustainable development), the rise of identity-based radicalism, and the tension between state sovereignty and global public goods. The author suggests that by leading on these issues, BRICS can build collective soft power and a more legitimate global compact.

The document details the methodology used to value the global ocean economy, estimating a total asset value of 24 trillion USD and an annual economic contribution of approximately 2.5 trillion USD. It employs market-based and value-based (Net Present Value) approaches across seven asset categories and five annual activity categories, while explicitly excluding oil and gas production to avoid inflating the 'blue economy' value.

The policy brief examines the historical marginalisation of black and coloured fishers in South Africa and the subsequent struggle for fishing rights. It highlights the transition from individual to collective rights under the 2012 Policy for the Small Scale Fisheries Sector (SSF policy) and the failures in the 2013 rights allocation process. The author argues that while transformation is necessary to address racially skewed ownership, it must be paired with procedural justice and effective law enforcement to combat poaching and restore trust in the sector.