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This report examines the alignment between global, regional, and national development strategies for food security and sustainable agriculture in Zambia. It finds significant gaps between the aspirational goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the actual implementation of policies in Zambia, which remain heavily focused on maize production and large-scale commercial farming. While national policies mention diversification and sustainability, political incentives and subsidy structures (like the FISP) reinforce a maize-centric system that fails to address systemic barriers to food security for smallholder farmers. The report suggests that small-scale ICT interventions and conservation farming offer potential pathways toward the SDGs, but require systemic shifts in governance and investment to be scaled effectively.

This briefing from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the limitations of the African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson's role upon the appointment of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and examines the political instability in Libya following the dismissal of Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur.

This 2005 IISD report analyzes the impact of EU trade policy on conflict in the developing world. It highlights a contradiction: while the EU uses 'soft power' initiatives (like FLEGT and the Kimberley Process) to curb conflict resources and 'carrots' (preferential access) to encourage good governance, its structural policies—such as massive agricultural subsidies and the push for reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)—can undermine economic stability and fuel conflict. The report warns that commodity price volatility and the 'resource curse' further destabilize low-income countries, and recommends that the EU conduct conflict assessments of trade agreements and reduce agricultural subsidies to promote global peace and sustainable development.

The briefing examines the role of the BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) after the 2009 Copenhagen Accord. It notes that while the BASIC countries helped broker the Accord, they view it as a set of 'building blocks' rather than a replacement for the UNFCCC's formal two-track system. The group continues to push for developed nations to provide financing, technology transfer, and clear emissions targets. The document highlights a strategic alignment between the BASIC countries and the African Union on issues of climate justice and the balance between economic development and emissions reduction.

This May 2013 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes key security issues for the AU Peace and Security Council. It details the risks of electoral violence in Zimbabwe following its constitutional referendum, the need for a multi-dimensional enhancement of the AMISOM mission to combat al-Shabaab in Somalia, and the efforts to institutionalize the Pan-African Network of the Wise (PanWise) to coordinate conflict prevention across the continent.