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The paper examines the decline of urban accessibility in the global South due to rapid urbanization and motorization. It introduces an access-mobility framework to categorize under-served residents and proposes three priority action areas: building safe, democratic street networks; developing integrated, user-oriented transport services; and managing private vehicle demand. The authors emphasize that these actions require capable governance and sustainable funding models to move cities from a vicious cycle of car-dependency to a virtuous cycle of balanced, multimodal transport.

The document identifies a "missing middle" in climate finance—a systemic gap where mobilized funds fail to reach local and subnational actors due to bureaucratic barriers, capacity constraints, and a preference for international intermediaries. It argues that the direct access modality is a critical tool for overcoming this gap by empowering national and subnational entities. The authors highlight that while the AF has pioneered direct access, the GCF remains dominated by Multilateral Implementing Entities (MIEs), with only 16% of approved funding channeled through Direct Access Entities (DAEs) as of March 2019. The paper recommends shifting toward a principle of subsidiarity, increasing grant-based financing, and holding MIEs accountable for transferring capacity to national institutions.

The document highlights Rwanda's approach to expanding clean cooking access amidst a regional trend in Sub-Saharan Africa where the number of people without such access has increased by 275 million. It notes that 860 million people in the region, or approximately 70 percent of Africa's population, lack clean cooking, which negatively impacts health, productivity, and gender equality. Furthermore, it reports a decline in clean cooking finance from USD 32 million in 2013-14 to USD 30 million in 2015-16, far below the USD 4.4 billion annual investment required by 2030.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is facilitating the participation of Latin American and Caribbean funding agencies in a Collaborative Research Action (CRA) on Food Security and Climate Change. This joint initiative, involving the Belmont Forum, the European Commission, and the EU Joint Programme Initiative (JPI) FACCE, aims to develop climate-resilient food value chains and assess the impacts of climate change on food systems across Europe, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean. The program seeks to provide scientific knowledge to support Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), with the European Commission providing matching funds for eligible participating agencies.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is promoting a joint call by the Belmont Forum and the European Commission for a Collaborative Research Action (CRA) focused on the interactions between climate change and food systems. The initiative seeks to develop sustainable and resilient food value chains and assess climate impacts on markets, specifically targeting regional food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. The CRA aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger) and 13 (Climate Action), offering funding opportunities, including potential matching funds from the European Commission via the ERANET Cofund mechanism, to support interdisciplinary research on agricultural food, waste residues, and socio-economic vulnerabilities in the Global South.

The COP 24 Climate Resilience roundtable emphasized the urgent need to scale up investments in adaptation and resilience, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The document outlines a roadmap of priority actions from 2020 to 2050, advocating for people-centered, nature-based solutions and the development of shared resilience metrics to attract private sector capital. Key commitments include the LDC Initiative for Effective Adaptation and Resilience (LIFE-AR) and various financial pledges from the Nordic Development Fund and Bank of America.

The report finds that while online remittance use is surging among certain African diaspora communities in the UK, 'stickiness' of cash remains high in countries with underdeveloped digital payment infrastructures, such as the DRC, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone. Key drivers for switching to digital include convenience, price incentives, and word-of-mouth recommendations, while barriers include complex registration processes, security concerns, and a lack of awareness. The report recommends simplifying onboarding, improving marketing through community influencers, and enhancing digital payment infrastructure in receive-countries to lower costs and meet UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The report examines the 2019 outlook for the African Union's Peace and Security Council, highlighting the potential return of major powers like South Africa and Ethiopia to the council. It critiques the slow implementation of AU reforms, specifically regarding financial self-sufficiency and the reduction of the AU Commission. The document details a volatile 2019 electoral calendar across 11+ countries and warns of escalating instability in Gabon, Cameroon, and the Sahel. Additionally, it discusses the progress of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the tensions surrounding AU-EU negotiations.

The paper argues that Africa can leapfrog into sustainable development by learning from China's infrastructure successes and failures. It highlights the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' framework for transportation and examines case studies in high-speed rail, automated ports, and urban mass transit to suggest low-carbon alternatives to road-based development.

The 2018 Lancet Countdown identifies extreme heat as the primary health concern globally, noting that 157 million more vulnerable people were exposed to heat waves in 2017 compared to 2000. In Canada, the report links air pollution from human activity to 7,142 premature deaths in 2015, with health impacts valued at $53.5 billion. The document advocates for carbon pricing, the phase-out of coal-fired power plants by 2030, and the integration of climate health into medical curricula.

The paper argues that including gender concerns in energy decision-making improves development outcomes, though practice often focuses on technological fixes over systemic equity. Using a case study of a solar mini-grid in Zambia, it demonstrates that energy transitions are not gender-neutral and that benefits are unevenly distributed due to existing socio-cultural norms.

The author argues that African administrations, specifically in Cameroon, should move beyond a 'tax for service' paradigm to understand the sociological drivers of tax resistance and the concept of the 'just tax' to increase tax morale.

The briefing examines the first EU-South Africa summit since 2013, highlighting the importance of attracting foreign direct investment and leveraging the EU's External Investment Plan. It notes that while the EU is South Africa's largest investment partner and a primary destination for manufactured exports, the partnership has struggled due to internal crises in both regions. The agenda includes economic cooperation, sustainable energy, multilateralism, and climate change.

The document argues that the RSPO serves as a greenwashing tool for the industrial palm oil industry, failing to address a production model based on land grabbing, deforestation, and labor exploitation. It asserts that voluntary certification cannot replace state regulation and calls for a moratorium on plantation expansion and a reduction in palm oil demand.

The document argues that the RSPO serves as a 'greenwashing' tool for the palm oil industry, failing to prevent deforestation and land grabbing while promoting a destructive industrial model. It calls for government moratoria on plantation expansion and a shift toward agroecology.

The document argues that the RSPO serves as a tool for 'greenwashing' the palm oil industry, masking systemic human rights violations and deforestation. It asserts that the RSPO's certification principles support a destructive industrial model based on large-scale monocultures, land grabbing, and labour exploitation. The authors call for government moratoria on plantation expansion, a reduction in palm oil demand, and the promotion of agroecology and community land rights.

The report highlights that while Africa has contributed minimally to global warming, it is disproportionately vulnerable due to high levels of extreme poverty and low state capacity. It projects that without significant intervention, the number of people in extreme poverty will rise until 2040, peaking at 590 million. The document argues that prioritizing human development—specifically education, healthcare, and water infrastructure—is essential to increasing adaptive capacity. It contrasts the 'Current Path' with a 'Green Road' scenario where inclusive, sustainable growth effectively eliminates extreme poverty by mid-century and significantly reduces the population lacking access to improved water.

The report warns that room air conditioner (RAC) stock could grow from 1.2 billion to 4.5 billion units by 2050, potentially increasing global temperatures by 0.5°C by 2100. It argues that conventional efficiency improvements and the Kigali Amendment are insufficient to offset this growth. The authors propose a '5X solution'—technology with five times less climate impact than current standards—which could prevent 100 gigatons of CO2e emissions by 2050 and save US$1.4 trillion in power generation capital costs.

The document examines the shift in Africa's debt structure toward non-concessional and domestic loans, identifying drivers such as commodity price shocks and fiscal deficits. It assesses the debt-carrying capacity of various African nations using IMF and World Bank frameworks, noting that several countries are in debt distress or at high risk. The briefing details current coping mechanisms, including the issuance of long-term Eurobonds and novel financial products, and recommends enhancing domestic revenue mobilization, economic diversification, and the establishment of autonomous debt management offices.

The document analyzes the resurgence of debt in Africa, noting that 19 countries have exceeded the 60% debt-to-GDP threshold. It identifies key drivers such as commodity price shocks, exchange rate volatility, and a shift from concessional to market-based loans. Through case studies of Nigeria and Morocco, it examines debt management strategies, including the use of Eurobonds and the importance of autonomous debt management offices, while recommending economic diversification and improved domestic resource mobilization to ensure long-term sustainability.