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The document outlines how governments in developing countries can use fiscal policy to support the mining sector during the COVID-19 crisis. It identifies specific pandemic-driven impacts—such as mine closures, fluctuating commodity prices, and supply chain disruptions—and proposes targeted relief options including the deferral of social charges, VAT credits, and royalty exemptions. The guide emphasizes that aid should be conditional on job retention and transparency, while warning against broad corporate income tax exemptions.

Following the successful 2013 presidential election of Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, Mali faces critical challenges including the resolution of security crises in the north, the implementation of the Preliminary Ouagadougou Agreement, and the reform of defence and security sectors. While the election saw high participation and legitimacy, the new administration must now navigate inclusive dialogues with armed groups, organize parliamentary elections amidst political division, and implement a €3.25 billion sustainable recovery plan to revive an economy damaged by institutional and security crises.

The paper examines the limitations of short-term economic rescue measures in East Africa following Covid-19, advocating for a shift toward 'fiscal democracy' and 'civil protection' to address systemic vulnerabilities. It highlights how high public debt, illicit financial flows (IFFs), and a lack of public participation in fiscal policy undermine economic sustainability. The author calls for human rights-based approaches to tax justice and a return to civic education to empower citizens to hold governments accountable for service delivery and resource management.

The briefing highlights the interconnectedness of economic and environmental systems exposed by COVID-19, urging governments to use recovery packages to shift toward a 'nature-positive' economy. While tools for valuing nature exist, the author notes that investment remains marginal due to a lack of political will and fiscal strain. The document proposes seven strategies for transformative change, including green fiscal reforms, full-cost accounting of natural capital, and the use of nature bonds to unlock private capital.

The policy brief highlights a severe economic downturn in South Africa during the third quarter of 2021, characterized by a 1.5% GDP contraction and record-high unemployment. It identifies specific vulnerabilities among youth, Black African women, and informal workers, while noting significant job losses in retail, hospitality, and community services. To mitigate these effects and prevent social instability, the author recommends a suite of interventions including wage support, expanded social grants, sector-specific loans for tourism, and increased funding for industrial policy.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) reports that South Africa's economy continued to contract and shed jobs during the COVID-19 third wave in June 2021, with unemployment reaching record highs of 32.6% (43.2% expanded). The report highlights severe hardships, including 39% of households running out of food money in January 2021, and criticizes the slow rollout of the government's R500 billion rescue package, of which only one-third had materialized by February 2021. The IEJ identifies specific vulnerabilities in the construction, manufacturing, tourism, and informal sectors, as well as disproportionate impacts on women and children. It recommends a comprehensive set of policy priorities, including grant-based business support, extended wage subsidies, increased public infrastructure spending, and the reinstatement of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.

The report examines Zimbabwe's stalled transition following the 2017 ousting of Robert Mugabe and the 2018 elections. It argues that while President Emmerson Mnangagwa has adopted an 'open for business' slogan, genuine international re-engagement is blocked by a profound deficit of trust, persistent economic instability, and a lack of substantive political reform. The document highlights the role of targeted sanctions, the influence of China, and the critical importance of national dialogue and legislative reform in restoring Zimbabwe's global standing.

The document argues that integrating the mitigation of short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs)—including methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone—into economic recovery plans allows governments to simultaneously achieve immediate economic stability and long-term climate and public health goals. It focuses on the energy, agriculture, transport, and waste sectors as primary sources of these emissions and targets public policymakers to encourage the use of both immediate stimulus and long-term transformational policies to drive this recovery.

The document argues that while green stimulus can generate jobs and energy cost savings, it cannot replace comprehensive climate policy. It suggests that G-20 leaders coordinate national stimulus programs to support long-term emission goals and build confidence for UN-led negotiations in Copenhagen.

The document argues that integrating low-carbon transport into economic recovery plans can drive inclusive growth, job creation, and health improvements while helping countries meet their NDC targets. It advocates for a comprehensive 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' strategy to reduce transport emissions.

The document argues that green economic recovery packages can simultaneously address the climate crisis and food insecurity by investing in nature-based solutions and sustainable agriculture. It highlights the role of natural capital spending, payment for ecosystem services, and remote monitoring technology in protecting forests. Furthermore, it emphasizes that securing indigenous land rights is a critical strategy for supporting vulnerable populations and slowing forest loss.

The document analyzes the outcomes of green stimulus spending following the 2008-2009 global financial crisis, noting that while such investments supported economic recovery and job creation, they were often hampered by disbursement delays, lack of transparency, and insufficient systemic reforms to prevent a rebound in CO2 emissions.

The document argues that COVID-19 recovery plans provide a unique opportunity to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and low-carbon power sector transitions to prevent an emissions rebound and meet 2030 targets.