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This report by the Climate Policy Initiative provides comparative scorecards for several countries, evaluating the progress between their previous Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and their new versions (often NDC 2.0 or 3.0). The analysis focuses on key criteria: needs scope and granularity, timeframe, conditionality, implementation readiness, private sector mobilization strategies, and alignment with national and sectoral plans.

This report, Chapter Four of a broader study by the Macroeconomic and Financial Management Institute of Eastern and Southern Africa (MEFMI) supported by FSD Africa, evaluates the governance and operational risk management frameworks for public debt in 12 MEFMI member countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines legal frameworks, managerial structures, debt strategies, reporting, and auditing, highlighting a general lack of comprehensive business continuity plans and procedure manuals, which increased operational risks during the shift to remote work.

This executive summary details a study on sovereign debt management in the MEFMI region during the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that the crisis led to sharp GDP contractions and a significant increase in the average debt-to-GDP ratio (rising to 70.6% in 2020). Countries responded with policy rate cuts, tax exemptions, and increased reliance on Local Currency Bond Markets (LCBMs). While international initiatives like the G20's DSSI provided critical relief, the pandemic exposed a lack of business continuity planning and operational risk management in debt offices.

The Economics for Nature (E4N) report details a six-year global partnership (2016-2022) led by the Green Economy Coalition, the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership, the Capitals Coalition, and WWF France. The programme aimed to shift economic systems toward 'nature positive' models by making the value of natural capital visible in business, finance, and government decision-making. The report outlines key tools developed, lessons learned regarding the challenges of mainstreaming natural capital, and four 'frontiers' for future systemic economic reform to protect biodiversity and human wellbeing.

Minutes from the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) Steering Group meeting on July 28, 2018, detailing the postponement of the GEC global meeting to January 2019 to align with the UN PAGE Ministerial meeting, the appointment of Kamal Gueye to the Steering Group, and GEC's support for the Dutch government's dialogue on natural capital.

This fact sheet by GreenCape outlines the European Union's Farm to Fork Strategy, which aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050 by transforming food sustainability, environmental standards, and health. It details specific 2030 targets for pesticide and fertiliser reduction and organic farming, while highlighting the potential impact on SADC EPA countries, particularly South Africa, which holds a significant share of agricultural exports to the EU.

This report analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and broader trade. It examines the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Farm to Fork strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan, identifying significant risks in the automotive, mining, and agricultural sectors while highlighting potential export opportunities for environmental goods.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how performance requirements (PRs)—stipulations imposed on foreign investors to achieve specific development goals—are treated in international investment treaties. It analyzes the tension between the use of PRs to foster sustainable development and the prohibitions on such measures found in WTO agreements and bilateral investment treaties (BITs), highlighting the risks to the policy space of developing countries.

This fact sheet describes the Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas (CAPA) Initiative within the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area in Southern Africa. The initiative focuses on nature-based solutions for climate adaptation, ecosystem restoration, and community training across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This case study examines Botswana's strategy to develop downstream diamond beneficiation by leveraging its strong bargaining position during license negotiations with De Beers. The government established a framework to move from raw diamond extraction into cutting, polishing, and trading, though it faces ongoing challenges from low-cost Asian competitors and depleting reserves.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the large-scale mining sector. It analyzes immediate impacts on direct and indirect labor, the role of national lockdown policies, and the long-term structural shifts toward automation and localized supply chains, while providing recommendations for building future resilience.

This white paper examines the integration of Life Cycle Costing (LCC) within sustainable public procurement (SPP), arguing that current models often fail to deliver the best value for taxpayers by overemphasizing upfront purchase prices over long-term operational and environmental costs. The authors identify systemic barriers—including conflicting capital and revenue budgets, a lack of professional expertise, and data gaps—and recommend that LCC be integrated into high-level public expenditure and resource allocation policies rather than remaining a routine procurement task.

This report analyzes the policy responses of Southern African nations to the global food price increases of 2006–2008. It argues that the region exists in a state of permanent food insecurity, making the global crisis a "spike" in a long-term trend rather than an isolated event. The report emphasizes the role of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) as the primary framework for coordinated regional responses, focusing on long-term structural improvements over short-term reactionary measures.

This report provides a detailed development forecast for Namibia up to 2043, utilizing the International Futures (IFs) forecasting platform. It outlines a 'Current Path' based on existing policies and evaluates several sectoral scenarios—including stability, health, agriculture, and education—to determine their potential impact on GDP per capita and extreme poverty. The report concludes with a 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario, which aggregates these interventions to project a significantly higher economic trajectory and a substantial reduction in poverty.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers for the Institute for Security Studies analyzes Africa's demographic transition, focusing on the 'demographic window of opportunity' defined by a worker-to-dependant ratio of 1.7:1. It details the varying timelines for different African regions to reach this threshold and the systemic requirements needed to convert population growth into economic dividends.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies details a 2000 survey of nine police agencies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to assess perceptions of organised crime. It identifies significant resource constraints, a lack of standardised definitions for organised crime, and the prevalence of transnational criminal activities, highlighting the need for improved regional cooperation and international training.

This monograph examines the development and impact of organised crime in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Swaziland in Volume One. It details how criminal networks exploit weak governance and porous borders to establish a regional market for illicit goods, often penetrating state structures through corruption and bribery.

This introductory text for Monograph 6, edited by Hussein Solomon, examines the intersection of water scarcity and security, with a specific focus on Southern Africa. It argues that dwindling fresh water resources, coupled with rapid population growth, increase the risk of resource-based conflict, while suggesting that regional cooperation and frameworks like the SADC Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems offer a path toward stability.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers discusses the establishment of the SADC Organ for Defence, Politics and Security, arguing that regional economic growth and development are dependent on peace, stability, and a transition toward democracy.

This report, the second volume of a monograph edited by Peter Gastrow for the Institute for Security Studies, examines the penetration of organised crime into state and business structures across Southern Africa. It specifically provides detailed country studies on Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa, illustrating how criminal networks exploit weak governance and economic instability to create a regional market for illicit goods.