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This case study examines the establishment and impact of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in Southern Africa, analyzing how these regional public goods facilitate regional integration through the cooperation of member states, NGOs, and the private sector.

This report, part of the Political Economy of Regional Integration in Southern Africa (PERISA) project, examines regional integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through the lens of public goods rather than trade. It analyzes four case studies—water resource management, forestry (REDD+), transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)—to identify drivers of success and institutional barriers to integration.

This case study examines the SADC Payment Integration System, specifically the launch of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Integrated Regional Electronic Settlement System (SIRESS) in July 2013. The system aims to facilitate cross-border payments and financial integration across SADC member states, starting with a pilot in the Common Monetary Area (CMA).

This case study examines the political economy of the sugar sector within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the role of private-public partnerships, regional trade agreements, and the challenges posed by a distorted global market. It details the production capacities of member states and the mechanisms used to manage regional trade and protect producers from international dumping.

This case study examines the role of the Communications Regulators’ Association Southern Africa (CRASA) in harmonising telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal policies among member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the active participation of private sector companies, such as Vodacom and MTN, within government delegations to provide technical expertise and influence regional regulatory frameworks.

This briefing examines the economic and strategic relationship between South Africa and the European Union (EU) ahead of the 2013 EU-SA Summit, focusing on job creation, foreign direct investment (FDI), and regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the mobilisation of private sector finance for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a particular focus on developing countries and the role of the Green Climate Fund.

This research paper examines why South Africa is a founding member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) but remains absent from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The author argues that South Africa's reliance on general domestic transparency laws is insufficient for the specific needs of the extractive sector and suggests that the government's reluctance is tied to geopolitical perceptions of double standards between the global North and South.

This research paper evaluates the viability of the South African Customs Union (SACU) transitioning from a Common Monetary Area (CMA) to a full monetary union. Using Southern African Development Community (SADC) convergence criteria, the authors find that while there is strong convergence in inflation, debt, and reserves, significant fiscal deficits in Lesotho and Swaziland present a major hurdle. The paper suggests that a monetary union would be beneficial and that the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is well-positioned to lead the process.

This report examines the socio-economic challenges facing Mozambique, specifically focusing on the critical shortage of skilled labor and the constraints imposed by restrictive foreign labor regulations. It argues that Mozambique could accelerate its development by adopting a more liberal regional approach to skills transfer and professional migration, leveraging its position within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

This case study examines Capricorn Investment Holdings (CIH), a Namibia-based financial services group, and its regional expansion into Botswana and Zambia. It details the operational barriers CIH faces, including tax inefficiencies, regulatory uncertainty in Namibia, skill shortages, and the costs associated with duplicating IT systems to meet national central bank requirements.

This report documents the 6th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held in November 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria. The conference focused on the role of staff colleges in preparing military officers to address emerging security challenges in Africa, emphasizing the need for a balance between academic education, professional military studies, and tactical training to develop flexible, intellectual leaders.

This policy brief examines the intersection of transport and environment in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting critical issues such as rising urban air pollution, high road fatality rates, and traffic congestion. It argues that current transport policies often favor automobiles over the needs of poor and vulnerable populations and calls for an integrated approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve equity through strategies like the 'avoid, shift, improve' framework.

This case study examines the investment incentive landscape for renewable energy in Zambia as of December 2012. It details the country's energy sector structure, the resource potential for various renewable technologies, and the specific financial and fiscal incentives provided by the government to attract private investment, while noting a lack of transparency regarding the costs of these incentives.

This report, the final part of a five-part series by WWF South Africa, SinCo, Carbon Tracker, and Trucost, synthesizes research on the financial risks and opportunities associated with carbon emissions and water scarcity for institutional investors in South Africa. It argues that many investors are 'universal owners' whose returns depend on the overall health of the economy, making them vulnerable to systemic risks from climate change and water stress. The report finds that carbon and water risks are largely mispriced in the market, with significant exposure in the energy and mining sectors, and calls for regulatory interventions and a shift toward low-carbon, water-responsible investment strategies to avoid stranded assets and ensure long-term returns.

This briefing examines food security challenges in Africa, focusing on the impact of price volatility, the role of agricultural policy, and international initiatives like the G-8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. It highlights the gap between policy commitments, such as the CAADP's spending targets, and actual implementation, while discussing the tension between trade-led food security and national self-sufficiency.

This report details a study based on interviews with approximately 50 companies to identify trade barriers within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. It highlights a divide in perceived constraints between Southern African Customs Union (SACU) members and non-member states, emphasizing that while large-scale infrastructure projects are necessary, smaller regulatory and bureaucratic interventions are critical for fostering business growth, particularly for small-scale entrepreneurs.

This case study details the operational challenges faced by DHL in the SADC region, focusing on border inefficiencies, corruption, infrastructure deficits, and bureaucratic hurdles that impede the rapid delivery of packages.

This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Namibia Dairies (ND), a dairy processor part of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group. The document details significant barriers to growth, including trade disputes over milk dumping from South Africa, regulatory hurdles in Angola and Botswana, and domestic issues regarding VAT claims, finance, and a shortage of skilled engineers.

This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Wesbank Transport, a Namibian logistics market leader, in conducting cross-border transport within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The company reports that regulatory inconsistencies, insurance gaps, and border inefficiencies force it to avoid lucrative markets and focus only on predictable routes.