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This research paper analyzes three major Chinese foreign policy initiatives—the Maritime Silk Road, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and expanded UN peacekeeping contributions—and evaluates their implications for Africa and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The author argues that while China is increasing its infrastructure and security investments in Africa, particularly on the east coast, the continent remains secondary to China's strategic interests in Asia and Europe.

This policy brief, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs, provides recommendations to restore multilateral trade cooperation and the central role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) amidst a systemic crisis characterized by the failure of the Doha Round and the rise of Mega-Preferential Trade Arrangements (MPTAs).

This briefing by the World Resources Institute outlines six critical areas of climate finance to monitor during the COP 21 negotiations in Paris. It emphasizes the need for developed countries to meet the $100 billion annual funding goal by 2020, the importance of increasing adaptation funding, and the necessity of transparent reporting and a predictable finance cycle to support developing nations.

This report describes a 'policy-first' or 'decision-first' approach to mainstreaming climate adaptation into sector development plans, using a case study of the tea and coffee sectors in Rwanda. It contrasts this with 'science-first' methods, emphasizing the integration of climate risk information into existing policy cycles to ensure interventions are economically justifiable and aligned with development objectives.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the African Standby Force (ASF), its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC), the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC), and the Amani Africa II field training exercise. It details the ASF's structure, mandate, funding challenges, and its relationship with other African Union (AU) peace and security mechanisms.

This technical annex assesses progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests, which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, the rule of law, and the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs). The report utilizes three primary indicators: the strength of institutions and policies in producer and consumer countries, the prevalence of illegal logging and related violence, and the formal recognition of land and forest rights for IPLCs.

This report, published in November 2015 by Climate Focus and partners, establishes an assessment framework and provides an initial progress report on the ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates the status of global efforts to halt natural forest loss, restore degraded lands, and improve forest governance one year after the NYDF's September 2014 signing.

This policy brief examines whether South Africa can utilize its role as co-chair of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to advance its global governance reform agenda. While South Africa seeks to align FOCAC with its broader goals of a just and equitable international order, the author argues that FOCAC is primarily a tool for Sino-African development diplomacy and is unlikely to replace or exceed the strategic global governance role of the BRICS bloc.

This policy brief from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolving security relationship between China and Africa. It analyzes how China is shifting from a strict policy of non-interference toward deeper engagement in both traditional military security and non-traditional threats, including the protection of its citizens, pandemic response, and environmental conservation, increasingly through multilateral frameworks.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) explains the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It details the consultative processes used to create the SDGs, the definition of sustainable development, and the specific role of the South African government in negotiating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

A statement by African civil society representatives expressing disappointment over the sudden cancellation of the 2nd Extraordinary Summit of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Heads of State and Government Forum, originally scheduled for 11 September 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.

This policy brief examines the challenges and instruments of agricultural financing in developing countries, emphasizing the need for a coherent strategy involving governments, financial institutions, and private actors to mitigate risks and boost production, infrastructure, and research.

This policy brief examines the alignment of Africa's maritime ambitions, specifically the African Union's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy), with the regional efforts of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). It highlights the challenges of institutional fragmentation and the need for improved communication and coordination to realize the economic and environmental potential of the Blue Economy.

This research paper analyzes the impact of currency risk on infrastructure projects in developing markets, arguing that hard currency loans from International Financing Institutions (IFIs) create dangerous asset-liability mismatches. The authors propose that IFIs shift their strategy from direct lending to developing local capital markets and providing credit guarantees. This approach aims to leverage private commercial capital and reduce the financial burden on host governments and end-users.

This policy brief analyzes the 2015 United Nations peacebuilding review, which advocates for a shift from 'post-conflict peacebuilding' to a holistic approach termed 'sustaining peace.' The authors examine how UN member states can implement these recommendations to prioritize conflict prevention and address the root causes of conflict through better coordination between UN organs and increased partnerships with regional organizations.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that South Africa should expand its foreign policy by reconceiving its engagement with Latin America and Africa as a unified 'South Atlantic Zone'. The authors suggest that this framework can enhance maritime security, promote the 'blue economy' through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, and increase trade and cultural ties among littoral states.

This report by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), evaluates the resource mobilisation strategies and sustainability of National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). It defines NCCFs as national-level entities that collect and channel climate finance to mitigation and adaptation projects. The report identifies significant funding gaps in developing countries, analyzes the performance of 13 operational NCCFs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and provides a best-practice handbook for NCCFs to define their vision, build institutional capacity, and engage investors.

This policy brief, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in July 2015, examines the relationship between the ambition level of the 2015 global climate agreement and the ability of countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Based on research by HR Wallingford and Metroeconomica, the brief argues that a high-ambition agreement—limiting global warming to 2°C—is essential for eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring sustainable development, whereas a low-ambition agreement would significantly undermine these goals, particularly in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies details the outcomes of the 25th African Union (AU) summit held in June 2015. It focuses on the Peace and Security Council's (PSC) efforts to address crises in South Sudan, Burundi, and Libya, the AU's strained relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, and broader initiatives including the Continental Free Trade Area and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC).

This policy briefing evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in the context of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Governance Architecture (AGA). While acknowledging the APRM's role in facilitating public debate on governance and its potential as a diagnostic tool, the authors argue that the mechanism has lost momentum due to inadequate political will, chronic funding shortages, and administrative instability. The document recommends a comprehensive revitalization of the APRM, including financial reforms, the appointment of a permanent CEO, and a shift in focus toward the implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPoAs).