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This research paper analyzes China's role as the dominant economy within the expanded BRICS bloc, arguing that China uses the alliance to reshape global power dynamics and counter Western influence. While the bloc has achieved significant milestones through the New Development Bank and advocacy for climate justice and 'de-dollarization', it faces internal instability. Key challenges include the territorial and geopolitical rivalry between China and India, as well as the regional friction between new members Saudi Arabia and Iran.

This report by RMI outlines the economic and environmental advantages of adopting limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) as a strategy for decarbonizing the cement industry.

This research paper examines the waste management crisis in Africa, highlighting how inadequate infrastructure leads to significant methane and black carbon emissions. It emphasizes the health risks to women and children from open burning and the under-utilization of informal waste workers. The paper advocates for a circular economy approach to reduce global costs and environmental impact, noting that Africa's waste generation is expected to double by 2050.

This policy brief examines the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol, focusing on overcoming digital exclusion and harmonising regulations to boost intra-African digital trade. It provides specific recommendations for member states across regulatory reform, digital public infrastructure, and human capital development to bridge the digital divide and create a predictable business environment for digital services.

This report examines the potential for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) to expand its role in the global supply of critical minerals required for digital technology and low-carbon energy, emphasizing the need for formalization to mitigate environmental damage and support local livelihoods.

This policy note by Daniel Bradlow of the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines priorities for South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency to address the sovereign debt crisis in Africa. The author argues that current global governance mechanisms, including the IMF and G20 frameworks, are insufficient to meet the combined debt, climate, and development needs of African nations. The document proposes a 'holistic approach' to debt restructuring that integrates financial obligations with social and environmental commitments, suggests using the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) for reform, and discusses the tension between liquidity and solvency perspectives on restoring financial access.

This policy brief examines the potential for the South African G20 presidency to facilitate the rechannelling of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) to Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), specifically the African Development Bank (AfDB). It outlines the financial mechanisms for such a transfer, the political and legal hurdles preventing it, and the potential development impacts for African nations.

This policy note outlines the financial crisis in Africa, where rising public debt—reaching $1.8 trillion in 2022—is hindering climate and development goals. It calls for South Africa to use its 2025 G20 presidency to advocate for a holistic debt architecture that balances creditor obligations with social and environmental commitments.

This research paper analyzes the 'magnetic pull' of BRICS, exploring why non-member states seek to join the informal group. It argues that while initial appeal was based on economic credentials and promises of systemic reform, the group has transitioned toward more strategic outreach. The author examines the evolution of BRICS through its 2010 and 2023 expansions and the 2024 Kazan summit, highlighting the role of 'compound soft power' and the challenges of maintaining internal cohesion amidst rapid growth.

This research paper examines how artificial intelligence (AI) can drive economic growth, enhance security, and foster international cooperation among the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa). It argues that while AI cooperation is currently nascent, it can help these nations challenge Western dominance in technology and governance, provided they align their diverse regulatory approaches and address challenges like job displacement and economic imbalances.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) provides a guide for developing financial instruments for climate adaptation, drawing on a decade of experience from the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (The Lab). It identifies key barriers to adaptation finance—such as high perceived risk, limited investor awareness, and a lack of bankable pipelines—and outlines a five-step framework for structuring successful instruments: defining a resilience thesis, building robust pipelines, strategic funder engagement, cultivating collaborations, and measuring impact.

President Cyril Ramaphosa's remarks at the G20 Closing and Handover Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on November 19, 2024, marking South Africa's assumption of the G20 Presidency. He outlines the theme and priorities for the upcoming year, emphasizing the first time an African country will lead the group.

This policy brief examines the foreign and development relations between Africa, the European Union (EU), and Germany, arguing that these relationships are still characterized by 'coloniality'—the persistence of unequal power dynamics and colonial logic. The author analyzes how EU and German policies in security, raw material acquisition, and development aid often marginalize African agency, prioritize European economic interests, and employ 'saviourism' through top-down interventions. The document provides specific case studies from Mauritania, Mali, South Sudan, Namibia, and Zambia to illustrate these dynamics and concludes with recommendations for genuine decolonization, including respecting African demands on trade and resource beneficiation.

This research paper examines the strategic importance of South Africa's G20 presidency, which begins on 1 December 2024. The author argues that South Africa is uniquely positioned to advocate for the reform of global debt governance and the integration of sustainable finance to address Africa's severe sovereign debt crisis and climate vulnerabilities.

The paper argues that Africa faces unsustainable public debt levels due to a shift toward private and non-traditional creditors, which increases borrowing costs and crowds out climate and social investments. It concludes that current G20 and Common Framework relief mechanisms are insufficient and calls for a fundamental overhaul of the global financial system.

This policy brief examines the potential for carbon markets to provide finance for climate-resilient smallholder farmers in Africa. It argues that while carbon markets can fund climate-smart agricultural practices that improve soil health and food security, significant barriers—including strict credit requirements, high costs, and a lack of localized research—currently limit participation. The document calls for policymakers to move away from 'one-size-fits-all' regulations and instead prioritize frameworks that value non-carbon co-benefits like nutrition and economic development.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines strategies for reducing methane emissions in global agriculture, emphasizing the need for equitable policies that balance climate goals with food security and economic development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines how green technologies in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and green construction can address youth unemployment in Africa. It identifies significant job creation potential but highlights critical barriers including financing gaps, infrastructure deficits, and policy implementation failures.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the intersection of gender inequality and climate change, specifically within the African context. It argues that existing societal disparities magnify women's vulnerability to climate risks and that transformative climate action requires gender-responsive strategies, financial inclusion, and the integration of gender equity into international negotiations like COP29.

The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) is a financial market infrastructure led by Afreximbank and supported by the AfCFTA Secretariat to enable instant cross-border payments across Africa using local currencies. It aims to reduce reliance on foreign currencies, lower transaction costs, and increase financial inclusion, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises. While it has gained support from 13 African central banks and over 115 commercial banks as of May 2024, its widespread adoption is hindered by low awareness, fragmented regulatory frameworks, and inadequate digital infrastructure.