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The document argues that South Africa's informal economy, which employs 4.5 million people, is characterized by low incomes and poor security. It criticizes state-led repression and the narrow focus of micro-enterprise support, proposing instead a transition toward formalization through the implementation of ILO Recommendation 204. Key recommendations include amending the Labour Relations Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act to recognize own-account workers as workers, enhancing labour inspectorate capacity, and providing basic infrastructure for those working in public spaces. The brief specifically highlights the need for inclusive policies in informal retail and waste recycling, suggesting that corporate responsibility and innovative financing, such as Extended Producer Responsibility levies, be leveraged to support these sectors.

The text examines the transition from the Keynesian-Fordist model of steady employment to a precarious landscape defined by 'Uberisation', digital platforms, and automation. It highlights the inadequacy of current labour laws based on employer-employee subordination and proposes a shift toward recognizing 'economic dependence' to protect hybrid workers. The author advocates for a new social model for a post-employment world, including basic income and reduced working time, to ensure social welfare is no longer solely dependent on waged labour.

The document argues that fossil fuel subsidies are often socially regressive and environmentally damaging, and that their reform can provide the necessary budgetary space to fund a just transition for workers and communities. It outlines strategies for successful reform, including market-based pricing, impact management, and stakeholder engagement, while highlighting the higher employment potential of renewable energy sectors compared to fossil fuels.

The report argues that fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) is a critical tool for financing a just transition, as global subsidies total at least USD 425 billion per year. It posits that FFSR can reduce global carbon emissions by roughly 10 per cent by 2050 if both production and consumption subsidies are eliminated. The document outlines a framework for successful reform based on three elements: getting prices right, managing impacts, and building support. Through case studies of Morocco, Mexico, Argentina, Indonesia, and the Netherlands, the report demonstrates that while FFSR can create budgetary space for social safety nets and renewable energy, a lack of stakeholder engagement and abrupt price hikes—as seen in Mexico—can lead to civil unrest. Conversely, the Netherlands' long-term transition of its coal sector illustrates how targeted supports and social dialogue can protect workers during industrial shifts.

This report examines the intersection of gender and LPG subsidy reform in Indonesia, finding that current subsidies are regressive and fail to reach many poor women. It highlights that women are more vulnerable to price increases due to their primary role in cooking and household management, and that switching back to biomass fuels poses significant health risks through indoor air pollution.

The document tracks SDG 1 progress in Canadian cities, finding that while child poverty is declining and social assistance coverage is increasing, overall poverty rates have risen in most cities, deviating from 2030 targets. It highlights significant regional disparities in poverty rates and municipal budget allocations for social services.

The document analyzes Poland's attempt to make its coal sector profitable and competitive following the 1989 democratic transformation. While the sector achieved significant reductions in employment and production, it failed to reach overall profitability, with sector debt increasing from 5.45 billion PLN in 1993 to 22 billion PLN by 2000. The study highlights the role of trade unions in resisting change and the inefficiency of 'golden handshakes' compared to retraining programs. It concludes that for coal-dependent transition economies, improving sector efficiency is a critical interim step for emission reduction when immediate fuel substitution is not feasible.

The report analyses historical coal transitions in the UK, US, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, concluding that proactive anticipation and comprehensive regional strategies are essential to avoid long-term socio-economic decline. It argues that the cost of failing to invest in a managed transition often exceeds the cost of the transition itself, as evidenced by high long-term social security costs and regional stagnation. Key recommendations include moving away from simple cash redundancy payments toward on-the-job retraining, diversifying regional economies through industrial clusters, and addressing the specific vulnerabilities of workers aged 35-45.

The document argues that fuel subsidy reform is essential for Nigeria's economic diversification but requires a 'portfolio approach' to compensation to prevent social unrest and protect the poor. It proposes seven specific programs—including transport vouchers, mass transit schemes, and e-wallets for farmers—with an estimated first-year budget of ₦250 billion (USD 1.3 billion). The report emphasizes that these measures should be implemented through existing ministries rather than new institutions, with oversight provided by a new Directorate for Subsidy Reinvestment Monitoring under the National Planning Commission.

The paper examines the 'wicked problem' of aligning poverty eradication with climate mitigation and adaptation. It proposes 'climate compatible development' as an analytical framework that integrates mitigation, adaptation, and economic transformation. The author emphasizes that achieving 'zero poverty, zero emissions' requires strong policy leadership, careful design to manage winners and losers, and cross-government implementation to avoid 'pilot phase syndrome'.

The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) outlines ten critical considerations for financing development in the context of climate change, emphasizing that climate action can enhance development outcomes. Key points include the potential for $5 trillion in transport spending to improve energy efficiency, the falling costs of clean energy, and the role of forest protection and climate-resilient agriculture in supporting livelihoods and ending hunger. The document also notes that disasters currently cost $100 billion annually, that financial institutions are beginning to manage climate risk, and that increased climate finance should not reduce aid for poor countries.

The paper argues that the World Bank's target of reducing extreme poverty to below 3% by 2030 is unrealistic for most African nations. Using a revised extreme poverty line of US$1.75 (2011 PPP), the authors propose a more achievable continental goal of reducing extreme poverty to below 15% by 2030 and below 4% by 2045. The analysis emphasizes that while pro-poor economic growth provides the most immediate impact, a combined approach including social assistance, human development, and progressive social change is necessary to address chronic poverty and structural inequalities.

A pilot study in Malawi reveals that while short-term weather and seasonal forecasts are used, medium- to long-term climate projections (5–40 years) are not currently integrated into national policy or planning. Barriers include inappropriate spatial and temporal scales of data, technical jargon, and policy cycles that are too short to accommodate long-term climate horizons. However, there is significant opportunity to incorporate climate projections into Malawi's long-term development visions and economic modelling to prioritise resilient investments.

The briefing examines the concept of 'climate compatible development' as a means to achieve 'zero-zero'—the simultaneous eradication of poverty and the elimination of net CO2 emissions. It frames this as a 'wicked problem' requiring the integration of mitigation, adaptation, and economic transformation. The author emphasizes that success depends on policy leadership, careful design to manage winners and losers, and cross-government implementation beyond environmental ministries.

The report examines flood resilience in the River Derwent catchment, Cumbria, using a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach. It analyzes how different communities—from hill farms to post-industrial towns—mobilize human, social, financial, physical, and place-based resources. Key findings highlight the role of 'Communities of Resilience Practice' (CoRP), the importance of 'broker' individuals in linking communities to power, and the tension between structural defenses and long-term risk management. The study proposes a set of qualitative indicators to measure community resilience over time.

The document argues that climate change planning in Ethiopia is under-invested and requires an approach that manages prediction uncertainty by fostering adaptive capacity. It draws on 2010-11 research conducted by Haramaya University and government officials across three Ethiopian sites to evaluate how existing interventions in social protection, sustainable livelihoods, and disaster risk management can be improved to better support vulnerable rural communities.

The document identifies five priority policy intersections for the SADC region, noting that over half of the region's countries have economies where fewer than eight sectors account for 75 per cent of exports, primarily focusing on minerals or agriculture.

The document argues that Indonesia's fossil-fuel subsidies are inefficient and regressive, suggesting that a transparent reallocation of spending toward clean energy and better social protection is necessary.

The paper examines how adaptive capacity—comprising assets, institutions, knowledge, innovation systems, and governance—interacts with social protection measures to enhance income and capabilities in agroforestry systems. In Zambia, the adaptive capacity of farmers strengthened their social protection to reduce drought impacts, while in Honduras, formal social protection measures improved adaptive capacity. The author argues that understanding these linkages is essential for planning adaptation initiatives and identifying specific areas of adaptive capacity for investment to ensure social protection measures are effective.

The report examines Sudan's fuel subsidy reform process, highlighting the September 2013 price hikes for petrol, diesel, and LPG. It analyzes the economic drivers, such as the loss of oil revenue following South Sudan's secession, and the subsequent social unrest and inflationary pressures. The document concludes with lessons learned regarding pricing systems, mitigation strategies, and the necessity of public support.