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This literature review by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Sitra examines the relationship between the transition to a circular economy and its impact on global and regional employment, emphasizing the need for 'decent work' and just transition policies.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of technical assistance and capacity building (TACB) in implementing a potential World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement on fisheries subsidies. It identifies critical gaps between the needs of developing countries for compliance—such as subsidy inventory and IUU monitoring—and the actual distribution of official development assistance (ODA), which heavily favors general fisheries development and management over specific subsidy reform.

This policy brief advocates for the development of youth-led National Action Plans (NAPs) in African Union member states to operationalise the AU Continental Framework on Youth, Peace and Security. It identifies critical gaps in funding and capacity, proposes a four-phase lifecycle for NAP development (consultation, drafting, implementation, and monitoring), and sets targets for 50% of member states to have NAPs by 2029.

This policy brief, authored by a coalition of 22 non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, argues that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the critical link between ecosystem health and human health. It provides a roadmap for policymakers to integrate nature-based solutions into pandemic response and economic recovery to prevent future zoonotic spillovers and achieve a nature-positive economy.

This policy brief argues that the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the critical link between ecosystem health and human health. It recommends that governments prevent future zoonotic pandemics by stopping the degradation of natural habitats, reforming livestock production, and strictly regulating the wildlife trade. Furthermore, it urges a "nature-positive" economic recovery that protects existing conservation investments, reallocates harmful agricultural subsidies, and integrates nature-based solutions into stimulus packages to create sustainable jobs and long-term economic resilience.

This policy brief, authored by a coalition of 21 non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations, argues that the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the critical link between ecosystem health and human health. It provides a roadmap for policymakers to integrate nature-based solutions into crisis management and economic recovery to prevent future zoonotic pandemics and ensure a sustainable, carbon-neutral future.

This briefing examines the relationship between de-risking, illicit financial flows (IFFs), and capital flows within African regional economic hubs, emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks that maintain financial integrity without compromising inclusion.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the current state, structure, and growth potential of the green bonds market in Africa, highlighting its current underdevelopment and the role of multilateral development institutions.

This research paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced South Africa's leadership and relations within Africa. While the author praises South Africa's multilateral coordination of the continental health response as AU chair, they argue that domestic failures—specifically institutionalised xenophobia and corruption—undermine the country's soft power and long-term leadership potential on the continent.

This policy brief examines how the European Union (EU) Green Deal operationalizes the concept of 'just transition' through a territorial approach. It analyzes the use of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) to engage subnational carbon-intensive regions, aiming to bypass national-level political resistance to carbon neutrality by 2050. The author identifies several risks, including the potential for national governments to block funding, the lack of monitoring for vulnerable groups, and the need for the EU to address the global geopolitical impacts of decarbonization on fossil fuel-producing countries.

This research paper examines the increasing risk of African sovereign debt defaults exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, focusing on China's role as a primary bilateral lender and the limitations of international debt relief initiatives like the DSSI.

This briefing, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, outlines strategic priorities for a green transition and energy access partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). It emphasizes the need to maintain momentum on climate goals despite the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for a transition that supports Africa's developmental objectives, including industrialization and employment growth.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines how regional integration, specifically through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and a strategic partnership with the European Union can accelerate the transition to green energy in Africa. It identifies significant energy deficits and systemic constraints—including finance, technical capacity, and domestic policy—that hinder progress, arguing that a regional approach can overcome the limitations faced by individual nation-states.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of skills transfer, gender equality, and the green energy transition in Africa. It highlights the systemic under-representation of women in energy value chains and the need for a 'just transition' that addresses unemployment risks in fossil fuel-dependent economies through reskilling and targeted AU-EU strategic partnerships.

The policy brief advocates for an integrated strategy to build resilience in Africa by combining decentralised renewable energy solutions with expanded digital economy access. It highlights that current energy and internet deficits hinder the continent's ability to respond to crises like COVID-19 and climate change. The document calls for an AU-EU partnership to invest in green energy, broadband infrastructure, and ICT skills to drive inclusive economic growth and improve health and education outcomes.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of green financing and blended finance in scaling renewable energy across Africa, using Kenya as a primary case study to illustrate how public and private capital can be combined to meet rising energy demands and climate commitments.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that integrating renewable energy—specifically solar mini-grids—with agricultural finance and cooperative reform can unlock a 'green revolution' in Africa. Using Uganda as a case study, the document highlights how low productivity and a lack of post-harvest processing limit economic growth and food security, proposing a trifecta of energy access, financial incentives, and micro-enterprise training to empower smallholder farmers.

This policy brief argues for a strategic AU-EU partnership to facilitate sustainable energy transitions, emphasizing that such cooperation can provide Africa with increased energy access and jobs while helping the EU meet its carbon neutrality goals. It highlights the need for diplomatic sensitivity, tailored incentives, and a focus on 'just transitions' to ensure that fossil-fuel-dependent African nations are not unfairly penalized by European climate standards.

This policy brief examines the strategic opportunities and challenges for cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Africa following the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It argues that the AfCFTA allows the EU to move beyond traditional development aid toward a political partnership based on equal terms, while highlighting the need for the EU to align its investment and trade support with the AfCFTA's goals to foster African economic resilience and productive capacity.

This policy brief examines the tension between fossil fuel development and renewable energy transitions in Africa, highlighting the geopolitical competition between China's Belt and Road Initiative and the EU's 'green transitions' strategy. It argues that for the EU to effectively partner with African nations, it must shift its framing from climate change to energy security and economic development, while promoting transparency and social innovation to avoid foreign exploitation and 'debt traps'.