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The document examines the role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in addressing infrastructure deficits in the SADC region, contrasting them with privatisation and traditional procurement. It identifies key barriers to PPP success in Africa, including political interference, lack of dedicated PPP units, and the risks of hidden debt through government guarantees. The author recommends establishing independent PPP units, formalising public consultation processes, and conducting rigorous due diligence on partners to ensure transparency and value for money in sectors such as energy, transport, and water.

The report details a participatory workshop in Thailand where stakeholders from agriculture, biotechnology, and social science backgrounds developed three distinct visions for a sustainable bioeconomy. These visions range from an ecology-focused approach prioritizing farmer well-being and environmental sustainability to a technology-driven approach focused on R&D and economic growth. The analysis emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships, regional ASEAN cooperation, and the specific cultural importance of rural development in the Thai context.

The report assesses the Philippines' green finance landscape, highlighting a strong private-sector-led green bond market and significant investment potential in renewable energy, low-carbon transport, sustainable water, and waste management. It details existing policy frameworks, such as the ASEAN Green Bond Standards, and provides a sample pipeline of 79 green projects to attract international and domestic capital.

The report identifies significant long-term financing gaps in Côte d’Ivoire's infrastructure, housing, and SME sectors, driven by a reliance on short-term bank lending and government borrowing that crowds out the private sector. Key hurdles include the lack of registered real estate for collateral, inadequate PPP frameworks, and a fragmented regional capital market. The document recommends structural reforms to land titling, the diversification of institutional investor mandates, and the strengthening of the national PPP unit to mobilize domestic and private capital.

The guide argues that sustainable mini-grid deployment requires a balance between government control, public funding, and retail tariffs. It introduces 'fourth generation mini-grids' as a tool for rural industrialization and provides a decision tree to help governments select appropriate delivery models, such as ESCO or split-asset models. Key recommendations include mitigating demand and termination risks through flexible contracts and phased implementation, and utilizing the 'Cost of Service' model to ensure financial viability. The document emphasizes that scaling requires efficient, digitalized administrative processes and portfolio-based licensing to reduce bureaucratic burdens.

The document argues that sustainable rural electrification requires a stable regulatory framework that balances government control, public funding, and consumer tariffs. It introduces 'fourth-generation' mini-grids that integrate productive use of energy to drive rural industrialization. The guide provides a decision tree to help governments select implementation models—ranging from public utility-led to private-sector driven—and details mechanisms for risk mitigation regarding demand volatility and project termination.

The document outlines strategies for implementing clean energy mini-grids, emphasizing the need for a balance between government control, financial subsidies, and consumer tariffs. It introduces 'fourth-generation mini-grids' as tools for rural industrialization and provides a decision-making matrix to help governments select the most appropriate delivery model based on their financial and operational capacities.

The briefing analyzes the need for a coordinated approach to legislative proposals regulating infrastructure in Brazil. It suggests that strengthening Technical, Economic, and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA) and integrating environmental considerations earlier in the project cycle can reduce conflicts and increase investment security.

The briefing analyzes proposed Brazilian legislation regarding infrastructure, bidding, and environmental licensing. It argues that treating these bills in isolation undermines reform and suggests that strengthening Technical, Economic and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA) early in the project life cycle would reduce conflicts and improve project quality.

The briefing argues that while private sector financing is often promoted to bridge Africa's infrastructure deficit, it carries significant risks including higher costs, a lack of development mandates, and extreme risk aversion. It suggests that public funds should be strategically targeted toward social infrastructure and project preparation where private interest is low, while emphasizing the need for capacity building to prevent exploitation and improve project quality.

The document analyzes the impact and implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) across Africa, with a detailed focus on Zambia. It explores the benefits of trade facilitation, such as increased exports and regional integration, while highlighting systemic barriers including inadequate infrastructure, reliance on donor funding, and poor inter-governmental coordination. Through a case study of four Zambian border posts—Nakonde, Kasumbalesa, Kazungula, and Chirundu—the paper illustrates the gap between high-level political commitment and on-the-ground operational realities, such as the failure to implement functional Single Window systems and the regression of previously successful One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) due to lack of data-sharing and poor donor exit strategies.

The document examines how the G20 has shifted from crisis management to a broader development focus, resulting in targeted engagements with Africa. It compares China's Industrialisation Initiative, which leveraged existing bilateral ties and focused on skills transfer, with Germany's Compact with Africa (CwA), a demand-driven model focusing on regulatory reforms to attract private investment. It also notes Argentina's approach of deepening diplomatic access for African representatives. The authors argue that while engagement has increased, Africa remains structurally excluded from global norm-setting and requires greater capacity and consistent representation within the G20 to influence global economic governance.

The document analyzes the evolution of bicycle-sharing schemes (BSS) across four technological generations, moving from simple free-bike models to sophisticated dockless and electric systems. It provides a comprehensive guide for city officials on planning, regulatory frameworks, financing, and safety, emphasizing the need for proactive governance to manage the risks and opportunities of the 'fourth generation' of bike sharing.

The guide provides a comprehensive overview of green financing in the ASEAN region, detailing available debt and equity instruments, credit enhancement tools, and a step-by-step process for issuing green bonds, sukuk, and loans. It highlights the role of governments, banks, and development finance institutions in scaling up private capital to meet an estimated USD3tn green investment need by 2030.

The report outlines Vietnam's need for approximately 31 billion USD by 2020 to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and transition to a sustainable economy. It highlights a significant gap in infrastructure investment, estimating a 102 billion USD shortfall by 2040 if current spending trends continue. The document analyzes four primary sectors for green investment: renewable energy, low-carbon transport, sustainable water management, and sustainable waste management. It details the emergence of green finance in Vietnam, including the issuance of 27 million USD in municipal green bonds by Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and the introduction of Decree 163/2018/ND-CP to provide a legal framework for corporate green bonds. The report also provides a list of 40 exemplary green projects and suggests policy actions, such as issuing sovereign green bonds and implementing climate risk disclosures, to attract private and international capital.

The report highlights the critical need for green infrastructure investment in Vietnam, estimating a requirement of USD31bn by 2020 to align with NDC commitments. It identifies key opportunities across renewable energy, low carbon transport, sustainable water management, and sustainable waste management, while analyzing the current state of green finance in the country. The document argues that while public funding has dominated, there is a significant opportunity to attract private capital through green bonds, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and the support of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). It provides a sample pipeline of 40 projects and recommends policy changes, such as issuing a green sovereign bond and improving the visibility of green assets, to accelerate the transition.

Between 2015 and 2018, Cape Town faced an unprecedented drought that threatened a 'Day Zero' scenario where water supply to 75% of homes would be cut. To prevent economic collapse and mass unemployment, the City of Cape Town (CCT) and Western Cape Government (WCG) formed the 'Economic Water Resilience Task Team'. This partnership included entities like GreenCape, Wesgro, and the National Business Initiative to mobilize businesses, provide technical guidance on water efficiency, and coordinate messaging. Despite punitive tariff increases and severe restrictions, the region avoided a macroeconomic jobs crisis, with the Western Cape and Cape Town both seeing decreases in their 2017/18 annual unemployment rates.

The document argues that private sector engagement is essential for successful National Adaptation Planning (NAP) because businesses and investors drive economic growth and provide the necessary financing, products, and services for climate resilience. It identifies four key enabling factors—information sharing, financing, institutional arrangements, and capacity building—that governments must address to overcome barriers to engagement. The guide outlines specific entry points for the private sector across the three phases of the NAP process: planning (consensus building and priority setting), implementation (climate-proofing operations and public-private partnerships), and monitoring and evaluation (designing metrics and reporting outcomes).

The document argues that private sector engagement is essential for climate adaptation in developing countries, as businesses and investors drive economic growth and provide necessary products, services, and financing. It identifies four key enabling factors—information exchange, financing, institutional arrangements, and capacity development—that governments must address to overcome barriers to private sector participation. The guide outlines specific entry points for engagement across the three phases of the NAP process: planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E). It also provides case studies from countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Jamaica to illustrate successful public-private collaborations in adaptation.

The document argues that private sector actors—including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and private financiers—are essential for achieving climate adaptation goals due to their role in economic growth and capital flow. It identifies four key enabling factors for engagement: information sharing, financing, institutional arrangements, and capacity building. The brief outlines specific entry points for private sector involvement across the three phases of the NAP process (planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation) and provides case studies from countries such as Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, and Jamaica to illustrate successful public-private collaboration in climate adaptation.