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The document examines the potential for African public pension funds and Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) to address an annual infrastructure investment deficit of $130–$170 billion. While these institutional investors possess long-term horizons and substantial assets—such as South Africa's $318 billion retirement fund industry—actual infrastructure investment remains low due to a preference for traditional assets, a lack of bankable project pipelines, and regulatory constraints. The paper analyzes the landscapes of five countries and identifies key barriers, including a shortage of liquid financial instruments and a lack of internal expertise to appraise complex infrastructure risks. It suggests that capacity building, resource pooling, and early engagement between developers and regulators are essential to stimulate institutional appetite for this asset class.

The document analyzes the similarities and differences between China's engagement with Africa via the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and with Arab states via the China–Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). It finds that while China–Arab relations are characterized by deeper economic and energy ties, China–Africa relations are more robust in terms of cultural diplomacy, people-to-people exchanges, and military engagement. The author highlights how China uses Africa as a testing ground for foreign policy initiatives and notes potential frictions in the Horn of Africa where Chinese and Gulf state interests overlap.

The SEI Initiative on City Health and Wellbeing focuses on the intersection of urban growth, environmental quality, and resident wellbeing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Using case studies in Nakuru, Kenya, and Udon Thani, Thailand, the initiative employs a multi-disciplinary approach to study the impact of urban forms, co-design citizen science monitoring, analyze urban metabolism through participatory modelling, and examine governance for urban equity. The goal is to generate evidence that informs holistic decision-making and sustainable urban planning, integrating health and wellbeing with climate change mitigation and resilience.

The CARE-WWF Alliance implemented community-based management and climate-smart agriculture in Mozambique, leading to the 2012 designation of the Primeiras e Segundas archipelago as a protected area and improving food security and credit access for local populations.

The commentary argues that the IRP 2018 is a form of 'climate denial' that lacks a meaningful carbon constraint and continues to prioritize coal and gas over cheaper, cleaner renewables. It highlights the severe health costs of air pollution from Eskom and criticizes the public consultation process as exclusionary. The authors advocate for a total phase-out of coal, the rejection of new extractive gas projects, and a transition to a socially owned renewable energy system that creates jobs and ensures energy justice for the poor.

Mighty Earth criticizes Michelin for failing to lead the tire industry in ending deforestation and land-grabbing caused by rubber harvesting in Southeast Asia and Africa, calling for the inclusion of civil society in the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber.

The report assesses the GCF's adaptation portfolio, finding it generally aligned with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) but lacking in areas like human health. It identifies a critical need for standardized guidelines on 'climate rationale' to distinguish adaptation from general development and recommends a flexible three-tier costing approach (total, incremental, and beyond incremental cost). The study also highlights the under-utilization of diverse accredited entities and the limited role of the private sector in adaptation projects.

The proposal argues that existing national and international legal mechanisms are insufficient to hold multinational corporations accountable due to corporate complexity, state collusion, and the non-binding nature of current guidelines. It advocates for a permanent, itinerant international tribunal with broad jurisdiction over parent companies and their supply chains, featuring a reversed burden of proof and cost-free access for victims. The document includes a detailed draft statute for the 'International Tribunal on Multinationals, Other Enterprises and Human Rights' (TIMEDH), emphasizing complementarity with national courts and the use of class actions to secure reparations for affected communities.

This report, produced by Friends of the Earth Africa with support from Friends of the Earth Europe and International, proposes the creation of a legally binding international tribunal to hold transnational corporations accountable for human rights violations. The document argues that existing national and regional mechanisms are insufficient to protect victims, particularly in the Global South, and provides a detailed draft statute for a 'sui generis' court designed to ensure access to justice and reparations.

The document examines the shift in international investment governance as countries move toward 'new-generation' model investment treaties. It highlights how states are revising their models to correct problematic language, integrate sustainable development goals, and limit the use of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). The text details specific national approaches from Canada, the Netherlands, India, Nigeria, and Brazil, while noting a general trend toward more transparent, consultative processes in drafting these agreements.

The document argues that while renewable energy (RE) offers a unique opportunity to correct gender imbalances seen in traditional energy sectors, significant barriers remain in Africa. Using South Africa and Rwanda as case studies, it identifies three primary obstacles: a lack of leadership to mainstream gender, a deficiency in appropriate financing mechanisms for women-owned businesses, and a shortage of entry-level gender-based initiatives in education and enterprise development. The brief proposes a three-tier strategy involving short-term policy improvements, medium-term educational trust funds, and long-term industry guidelines to ensure women's participation in technical and management roles.

The paper analyzes South Africa's role as a major intra-African investor, noting that while it maintains a significant FDI stock, its relative influence is declining due to increased competition from China and other African nations. It highlights South Africa's function as a regional distribution hub and suggests that the country must deepen trade liberalization and improve public-private coordination to maintain its economic footprint on the continent.

The paper examines the role of women in the renewable energy sectors of Rwanda and South Africa, highlighting a systemic disconnect between gender-equality policies and their practical implementation in large-scale infrastructure projects. In Rwanda, while national gender strategies are strong, private sector integration remains low. In South Africa, the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme is praised for its structure but lacks specific gender-based targets and monitoring. Key barriers identified across both contexts include limited access to STEM education for women, a lack of gender-responsive financing for women-owned businesses, and a 'tick-box' approach to gender targets by developers. The document proposes a three-tier toolkit focusing on political mandates, financial mechanisms, and educational pipelines to foster a more inclusive energy value chain.

The research concludes that South Africa does not need a dedicated state-owned export-import bank because its current trade finance market, comprising both private banks and state entities like the IDC and ECIC, is robust and sufficient. The authors argue that establishing a new ECA would be unfeasible due to severe fiscal constraints and would result in unnecessary market duplication. However, the paper identifies a significant gap in trade finance access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and recommends that the IDC and ECIC prioritize streamlined solutions for this sector.

The paper examines how African countries attempt to move beyond the export of raw minerals through resource-based industrialisation, specifically focusing on the role of Chinese investment. It analyzes tools such as export restrictions, local content requirements, and fiscal policies, concluding that these measures often fail due to inadequate infrastructure, energy shortages, and a lack of human capital. The author argues for a shift toward 'product space diversification'—developing capabilities that allow for a broader variety of exports—rather than focusing solely on downstream mineral processing (beneficiation).

The 'Life on the Frontline 2018' report presents findings from a global survey of 4,686 patrol rangers across 17 countries, highlighting critical gaps in health, safety, training, and equipment. The data reveals that rangers face excessive risks, including inadequate medical care, lack of communication devices, and exposure to infectious diseases like malaria, while often being underpaid and under-appreciated. The document argues for the professionalization of the ranger service through improved training curricula, guaranteed insurance, and better community relations to ensure the effective protection of global biodiversity.

As of 31 August 2018, the GCF pipeline included 103 funding proposals requesting USD 6.3 billion and 192 concept notes requesting USD 10.16 billion. The report details the distribution of these requests by sector, region, and theme, while also tracking the progress of the Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot, the Project Preparation Facility (PPF), and several active requests for proposals (RFPs) including Enhanced Direct Access and REDD-plus result-based payments.

The author contends that Africa's high fertility rates, particularly in countries like Tanzania, hinder economic growth by maintaining a high ratio of dependents to working-age people. By comparing Africa to the 'Asian Tiger' economies and the US, the text illustrates how a higher ratio of working-age persons per dependent drives income growth. The document suggests that improving water, sanitation, education, and contraceptive access could lead to a significantly larger economy and the elimination of poverty by 2063.

This policy insight examines the rise of sovereign debt in Africa, specifically focusing on Chinese lending and the 'debt trap' narrative. It analyzes the historical context of African debt, the failure of structural adjustment programmes, and the current trend of increasing debt-to-GDP ratios since 2012.

The document addresses the tension between the need for increased energy access for social development and the environmental risks associated with fossil fuels and deforestation. It specifically examines whether bioenergy can serve as a viable, affordable, and environmentally sound alternative to oil, coal, and natural gas in developing regions.