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This briefing outlines how Rwanda has successfully accessed climate finance through dedicated funding mechanisms like FONERWA, multi-stakeholder engagement platforms, and a strong policy environment. It recommends that other developing countries, especially in Africa, establish similar dedicated climate funds and national strategies to enhance project development capacity and attract international investment.

This policy brief examines South Africa's two terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2007–2008 and 2011–2012. It focuses on South Africa's efforts to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) by formalising institutional links between the UNSC and the African Union (AU), advocating for predictable financial resources, and promoting the role of regional organisations in security management under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

This policy brief analyzes Turkey's 2015 G-20 presidency, focusing on its priorities of inclusiveness, investment, and implementation, and their implications for Africa and low-income developing countries (LIDCs). The authors argue that while Turkey has expanded its diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa through a 'bottom-up' approach, the G-20's institutional framework remains problematic due to the underrepresentation of African nations and a disconnect between its finance and development tracks.

The document argues that South Africa is legally obligated by its own domestic legislation to uphold the Rome Statute, despite political pressures from the African Union. It critiques the ICC for perceived bias and double standards while simultaneously criticizing the Malabo Protocol for exempting heads of state from the jurisdiction of a proposed African court, thereby perpetuating impunity for political elites.

A statement issued in March 2015 by social movements and civil society organizations at the World Social Forum in Tunis, calling on governments to suspend the G8's 'New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition' in Africa. The signatories argue that the initiative prioritizes corporate interests over small-scale farmers, threatens food sovereignty, and promotes land grabbing.

A March 2015 statement by a coalition of civil society organizations and social movements calling on African governments to cease engagement with the G8 "New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition," arguing that the initiative prioritizes corporate interests over food sovereignty and the rights of small-scale producers.

This briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of food safety, health security, and human security in Southern Africa. It argues that food insecurity and reliance on unsafe food sources strain already constrained health systems and hinder socioeconomic development, calling for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to increase agricultural capacity and reduce dependence on food exports and aid.

This commentary by Scott Vaughan, President and CEO of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), discusses the book 'On the Edge: The State and Fate of the World’s Tropical Rainforests' by Claude Martin. The text outlines the scientific history of tropical rainforest research, the primary drivers of deforestation—specifically agriculture and infrastructure—and the progress made through protected areas and remote sensing. It further examines the intersection of forest loss with climate change, carbon emissions, and the risks of species extinction.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) maps trade-related elements within the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) outcome document. It proposes a three-level architecture for follow-up and review—national, regional, and global—to ensure that trade policies are coherent with sustainable development objectives. The authors argue that because trade's contribution to the post-2015 Agenda is diffuse, a coordinated review process involving existing multilateral and regional mechanisms is essential to facilitate learning and policy improvement.

This World Bank Group report provides a framework for using investment contracts to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of large-scale agricultural projects in developing countries. It identifies five key positive outcomes and five primary weaknesses associated with these investments, offering specific legal and contractual options to ensure sustainable development and the protection of local communities.

The policy brief argues that the deadlock in global climate finance is caused by a lack of predictability. It suggests that Africa, through the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), can break this deadlock by demonstrating the credible and effective use of existing funds and by promoting 'win-win' solutions that combine climate adaptation with low-carbon development. The author recommends moving away from unreliable budget support toward off-budget and market-driven financial solutions to ensure sustained funding.

This policy briefing examines how Rwanda has successfully accessed and managed climate finance, highlighting the role of its national strategies, inclusive local needs assessments, and the establishment of a dedicated climate fund (FONERWA) to strengthen project development and institutional capacity.

WRI responds to critiques from Argonne National Laboratory, reaffirming that dedicating land to bioenergy is highly inefficient compared to solar PV and poses significant risks to food security and carbon storage. WRI argues that 'marginal lands' are often misidentified and that bioenergy does not inherently provide greenhouse gas reductions unless it creates additional plant growth.

This research paper examines the strategic importance of the South Atlantic Zone for South Africa's foreign policy, arguing that treating the region as a single entity can bridge the divide between African and Latin American engagements. It highlights opportunities for cooperation in maritime security, the 'blue economy' through Operation Phakisa, and South-South economic and cultural collaboration, while noting that current trade levels remain low despite significant potential.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the conflict between extractive industries and the conservation of Protected Areas (PAs) and World Heritage (WH) sites in Africa. It argues for the strict enforcement of 'no-go zones' in WH sites and the implementation of rigorous biodiversity management standards for mining in other PAs to prevent irreversible ecological damage.

The May 2015 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to integrate women into the security sector, the doctrinal and financial tensions in the AU-UN peacekeeping partnership, the instability and humanitarian crisis in Libya, and the lessons learned from the AU's first mission to counter the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.

This policy briefing examines the role of the African Union (AU) Panel of the Wise (PoW) in employing preventive diplomacy to mitigate electoral-related conflicts in Africa. It analyzes the tension between prioritizing 'peace' over electoral legitimacy and evaluates the effectiveness of the PoW's interventions based on the timing of action and the structural nature of the conflicts involved.

The SAIIA Youth Policy Committee issued a statement condemning xenophobia in South Africa, calling for national unity, government intervention to stop violence, and a national discussion to address the root causes of the attacks.

The report details the design and pilot of the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument, aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk of underperformance. It focuses on a 2015 pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector and outlines a replication strategy for Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G-20 and OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project from an African perspective. It analyzes the causes of Africa's low tax base, the impact of illicit financial flows and tax incentives, and provides recommendations for African nations to better influence global tax standards to ensure sustainable domestic revenue mobilization.