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The study finds that soil and water conservation (SWC) and small reservoir expansion increased significantly in northern Burkina Faso, particularly in regions receiving 700 mm of rainfall or less. While regional cereal yields rose by approximately 3% per year, and rice productivity showed a strong correlation with reservoir expansion, the causal links to poverty reduction and food security are less clear due to data limitations. The report suggests that AWM adoption is one of many factors contributing to livelihood improvements and requires further long-term analysis to establish definitive causality.

The report identifies Swaziland as highly vulnerable to climate change, with observed temperature increases exceeding 3°C between 1961 and 2000. It assesses the role of higher education institutions, such as the University of Swaziland (UNISWA), in addressing these risks through research, teaching, and community outreach. The analysis reveals significant gaps in observational data, a lack of postgraduate research (Masters and PhDs), and a need for transdisciplinary approaches that integrate indigenous knowledge with scientific methods. While some initiatives in agriculture, water, and energy are active, the report argues for a more coordinated national strategy and the mainstreaming of CCD into university curricula and government policy.

The document outlines a collaborative project using the SEI nexus toolkit—integrating the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) and Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) systems—to analyze trade-offs and synergies in Ethiopia's upper Blue Nile region. Initial findings indicate that while increased irrigation can reduce water for hydropower and the environment, optimized dam operations can meet both energy and environmental goals. Additionally, the study highlights a link between energy transitions and agriculture, noting that shifting away from traditional biomass could improve soil productivity.

The 2014 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration outlines youth-led recommendations for the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on economic inclusivity, environmental protection, and social equity in South Africa and globally.

The document analyzes the resource constraints and policy conflicts in Ningxia, China, using a nexus approach. It highlights severe water scarcity, rapid land-use changes through afforestation and urbanization, and a heavy reliance on coal despite renewable potential. The authors argue that current sectoral targets may generate negative externalities and that better coordination is needed to align water, land, and energy goals.

The document examines the food-energy-water nexus in Ethiopia's Lake Tana and Beles River basins, using the SEI nexus toolkit (WEAP-LEAP) to model three development scenarios. It finds that agricultural intensification and energy transitions are interdependent and potentially competitive, noting that Ethiopia has reached a "biomass ceiling" where demand for fuel, food, and fodder equals primary productivity. The analysis highlights trade-offs between hydropower production and maintaining critical water levels in Lake Tana, suggesting that a coordinated nexus approach is essential to meet the targets of the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) and the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy (CRGE) without compromising environmental sustainability.

The document outlines the ROAM framework, which combines stakeholder engagement and data analysis to identify forest landscape restoration opportunities. It details a three-phase process: preparation and planning, data collection and analysis, and translating results into recommendations. The methodology employs tools for spatial mapping, economic valuation, carbon sequestration modelling, and institutional diagnostics to support national strategies and international commitments like the Bonn Challenge.

The document advocates for a shift from top-down development to a resilience-based approach in African agriculture, using conceptual models like the adaptive cycle and panarchy to understand systemic collapse and restoration. Through case studies in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Kenya, it demonstrates how political power, colonial legacies, and rigid policy frameworks can create poverty traps, while local leadership and enabling policies can restore ecological and social resilience.

The document advocates for a 'nexus' approach to land management to address the conflict between the need for increased agricultural productivity and the reality of land degradation. It highlights that while 24% of global land is degraded, a significant portion is improving through restoration. The proposed nexus approach seeks to move beyond the narrow goal of maximizing yields to reduce tradeoffs and build synergies between water, energy, food, and climate regulation.

The Social Impact Assessment (SIA) evaluates a proposed sustainable land management project in Nepal's Churia Range, focusing on four districts: Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, and Makwanpur. While the project is technically sound, the SIA identifies significant gaps in gender and social inclusion (GESI), noting that the design lacks quantified targets for the participation of women, Dalits, and Janajatis. Key risks identified include potential 'elite capture' of community grants and water resources, and the possible displacement of the poorest households during the identification of disaster-prone areas or strategic forest conservation sites. The report recommends ensuring at least 50% representation of marginalized groups in user committees and training, and implementing pro-poor criteria for the distribution of grants and alternative energy sources.

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.

Malawi relies heavily on traditional biomass for energy, leading to deforestation and land degradation. The country faces energy insecurity due to a total dependence on imported refined petroleum. While Malawi has long-term experience with sugarcane ethanol and is exploring Jatropha-based biofuels, production is under-utilized due to weak institutions and infrastructure. Transitioning to modern bioenergy, including cogeneration from agricultural residues and improved cookstoves, is proposed to diversify the energy mix and reduce climate vulnerability.

The report identifies that 8% of South Africa's land area generates 50% of its surface water run-off. These Water Source Areas (WSAs) are critical ecological infrastructures that feed the country's engineered water systems. The document details 21 specific WSAs across five provinces, highlighting that 16 are of national strategic importance. Major threats to these areas include coal mining, alien invasive vegetation, climate change, and land degradation. The report emphasizes that while engineered infrastructure is extensive, water security depends on the health of these natural catchments, many of which currently have low levels of formal protection.

The report analyzes the social, environmental, and business performance of 1,337 SMMEs in developing countries, with a focus on the 2011 applicant cohort. It identifies a strong trend toward the adoption of new technologies and a shift in organizational identity from strictly non-profit to hybrid or for-profit models. Key barriers include a lack of financial resources, limited access to technical research partners, and a deficiency in local-level environmental monitoring and enforcement. The study also highlights gender disparities, noting that women-led enterprises often face greater challenges in accessing business management skills and markets.

The report assesses three primary livelihood strategies in the Mkindo watershed: official irrigation agriculture, rainfed agriculture with supplementary irrigation, and livestock keeping. It identifies that while irrigated farmers are financially better off, rainfed farmers are more secure than livestock keepers. Key challenges across the watershed include poor road infrastructure, limited access to financial services, poor water quality leading to frequent health issues like malaria and typhoid, and escalating conflicts between farmers and livestock keepers over land and water access.

China has significantly increased and diversified its agricultural investments in Africa since 2000, driven by domestic food security concerns, market demand for commodities and biofuels, and a strategic 'going out' policy. These investments manifest as foreign direct investment (FDI), aid projects, infrastructure development, and technology transfer. While China's own success in poverty reduction through agricultural reform offers potential lessons, the paper notes that the effectiveness of these investments in Africa depends on local institutional environments and the adaptation of technology to specific African conditions.

The document addresses the conflict between increasing global food demand and the degradation of natural resources. It proposes a set of strategies—halting agricultural expansion, closing yield gaps, increasing cropping efficiency, shifting diets, and reducing waste—that could double food production while significantly lowering environmental impacts.

The document details a 2010 UNEP study aimed at mapping oil pollution in Ogoniland, Nigeria, to facilitate a clean-up plan. It highlights the historical conflict between the Ogoni people and Shell, the political tensions surrounding the study's publication, and the broader need for environmental remediation across the Niger Delta, calling for the home governments of international oil companies to provide expertise and pressure for regulation.

The policy brief examines the friction between Tanzania's land laws and its gold mining sector. While gold production has increased significantly, contributing 41.3% of export earnings, the lack of alignment between the land and mining cadastres has led to land degradation and tenure conflicts. The author highlights the environmental impact of large-scale mines, such as the North Mara Mine, and the unregulated nature of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The brief recommends strengthening compensation frameworks, merging land and mining cadastres, and exploring co-ownership models to address the deep ancestral attachments of local communities to their land.

The report evaluates South Africa's progress on governance themes identified by the APRM, noting that while institutional frameworks exist, implementation is often lacking. Key areas of concern include corruption, party-state blurring through 'cadre deployment', and high levels of poverty and unemployment. While elections are rated highly, the report highlights significant challenges in the justice system, service delivery, and the protection of media freedom.