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The document serves as a framework for analyzing the business-enabling environment and economic indicators in Southern Africa. It utilizes nine specific case studies to examine barriers to economic growth, including access to finance in Malawi, regulatory constraints on fuel ethanol markets in SADC, alternative energy in mining, access to medicines, the SADC univisa, regional transit bonds, non-tariff barriers at Beit Bridge, the Non-Tariff Barrier Monitoring Mechanism, and logistics development in Walvis Bay.

Botswana possesses 212 billion tonnes of coal, offering potential for economic diversification away from diamonds. However, the document argues that a coal export industry is likely economically unfeasible due to massive infrastructure costs—specifically a proposed $10 billion railway to Namibia—and environmental constraints. Instead, the author suggests that integrating regional fossil fuels for electricity production could address Southern Africa's power crisis, provided there is political cooperation, particularly from South Africa, and until solar baseload power becomes a viable alternative.

The paper examines the potential for mining to coexist with environmental preservation in Botswana's Okavango Delta. It highlights the economic pressure on Botswana to diversify away from declining diamond revenues by utilizing iron-ore, copper, and coal deposits. While acknowledging the environmental risks to the Delta—which is also threatened by upstream irrigation in Angola and Namibia, population growth, and poaching—the author suggests that mining companies can be allies in conservation. This is supported by the reputational risks associated with the Delta's World Heritage status and the regulatory oversight of the Toronto Stock Exchange and the International Finance Corporation. The document advocates for a governance model based on cooperation, land-use planning, and community engagement to ensure mining provides the capital and employment necessary to sustain the region's long-term ecological and tourism value.

The document analyzes the African Group's engagement at the UN Human Rights Council, noting a tension between a desire for regional leadership and a tendency to grant accused governments veto power over resolutions. While some 'human rights-friendly' states consistently support country-specific resolutions, others systematically abstain or oppose them, leading to an uneven response to crises across the continent and globally.

The Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF) developed a simulation game to communicate the complexities of its productive social safety net (PSSN) program to rural farmers. This tool was designed to help farmers understand conditional cash transfers and how PSSN participation manages rising drought risk. Following tests with over fifty farmers, TASAF adopted the game in 2012 as the primary extension tool for a national rollout targeting 13 million Tanzanians living below the poverty line.

The document examines the tension between economic growth driven by extractive industries in the SADC region and the resulting social and environmental harms. It argues that because a shift away from extractive-dependent growth is unlikely to happen immediately, the effective management of this sector is the primary lever for achieving a transition toward inclusive green growth that benefits rural poor populations.

The document analyzes how comprehensive 'WTO-plus' agreements like the TPP and TTIP influence South Africa's regional trade goals. It argues that while direct GDP impacts may be modest, these agreements create risks of preference erosion—particularly in clothing and textiles—and set new global benchmarks for regulatory coherence, intellectual property, and investment that South Africa and TFTA members must adapt to avoid isolation.

The authors call for the urgent capitalization of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), suggesting that an injection of finance would signal political commitment and rebuild trust between parties before the 2015 Paris agreement. They highlight the GCF's role in scaling innovative projects, such as the African Risk Capacity insurance mechanism and Chile's MAPS project, and emphasize the need to address the funding gap for adaptation in vulnerable countries. The text echoes calls for capitalization of at least US$10 billion to US$15 billion by November.

The document examines the tension between the Africa Mining Vision's goals of sustainable development and the legal constraints imposed by Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). It evaluates ownership-related policies and performance requirements, concluding that while these tools can be effective for creating national champions and local linkages, they often conflict with treaty obligations regarding national treatment and expropriation.

The document examines the tension between the 'Africa Mining Vision'—which seeks to use national champions and performance requirements to drive sustainable development—and the legal constraints imposed by international investment treaties. It evaluates ownership options (such as joint ventures and state-owned enterprises) and performance requirements (such as local content and technology transfer), concluding that while these tools can be effective if integrated into broader strategies, they often conflict with treaty obligations regarding national treatment, fair and equitable treatment, and expropriation. The briefing provides strategic drafting options for states to preserve their 'policy space' in future treaties.

The policy brief examines the impasse in negotiations for the SADC EPA, which were set to end on 1 October 2014. It identifies four primary obstacles: the EU's demand for a ban on export taxes, the restrictive nature of the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause, the slow activation of agricultural safeguards, and the technical complexity of rules of origin. The author proposes compromises, such as shifting the MFN clause to a percentage-based liberalisation model and inverting the burden of proof for agricultural safeguards, to ensure the agreement is politically viable and supports African industrialisation and sovereignty.

The document examines the critical role of dryland forests in Southern Africa, highlighting their vulnerability to deforestation and climate change. It proposes a 'nexus approach' to overcome the marginalisation of the forestry sector by demonstrating its interdependencies with water, energy, and food security. The author argues that integrated landscape management and multi-sectoral policy coordination can identify win-win solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, such as agroforestry and payment for watershed services.

The paper examines the shifting landscape of Africa's extractive sector, noting the rise of emerging economies like China and Brazil and the increasing pressure on companies to demonstrate social and developmental obligations. It suggests that European firms can gain a competitive edge by embracing local processing, reskilling workers affected by mechanization, and improving transparency. Furthermore, it discusses how a projected decline in EU material demand by 2030 could shift global supply chains and allow for more technical, less geo-economic cooperation between the EU and Africa.

The report identifies Botswana as highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly regarding water shortages and agricultural yields. It finds that while universities like the University of Botswana and Botswana College of Agriculture possess significant individual expertise, there is a critical lack of overarching national CCD policy and institutional coordination. The document argues for a shift toward transdisciplinary research and the integration of indigenous knowledge systems to build climate resilience.

The document outlines a framework for transitioning African governance toward the 2030 SDGs, emphasizing the need for National Councils for Sustainable Development (NCSDs) and integrated planning. It identifies current gaps, such as poor policy implementation and a dearth of data, and proposes capacity-building strategies and the establishment of Communities of Practice (CoP) to foster knowledge sharing across the continent.

The paper argues that South Africa's regional policy exhibits an inconsistent and weak linkage between its stated normative values and its economic diplomacy. While South Africa positions itself as a normative leader in Africa, its historical ties to liberation movements and a focus on regional state-building have limited its use of economic resources as tools for political reform. The author concludes that South Africa has not integrated its economic drivers with its normative drivers, often failing to sacrifice economic interests to defend the political anchors of its external identity.

The policy brief examines the critical role of dryland forests in Africa, which cover 61% of the continent and support 60% of its population. It argues that these ecosystems are chronically undervalued in national economic planning and suffer from a history of centralized management that alienated rural communities. The author contends that sustainable management requires devolving rights and responsibilities to the local level, legally entrenching community tenure, and investing in the real economic value of non-timber forest products to ensure conservation is more profitable than degradation.

The document argues that South Africa has been reluctant to use its economic power to push for democratic reforms in Zimbabwe and Swaziland, preferring a policy of 'quiet diplomacy' and non-interference. This approach is driven by realpolitik concerns regarding regional stability, personal ties between political elites, and a desire to avoid being perceived as a hegemon. While South Africa's foreign policy officially commits to human rights and democracy, the author finds a disconnect in implementation, noting that economic diplomacy is primarily used for domestic wealth aggregation rather than as a tool for political influence. The paper suggests that South Africa could more effectively advance its agenda by integrating economic statecraft into its foreign policy, potentially through public sector financial institutions or the reformulation of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenue-sharing formula.

The interior of Southern Africa faces severe climate impacts, including temperature increases of up to 6°C by 2100, which threaten dryland forests. These ecosystems, comprising Miombo and Kalahari Woodland biomes, are already degraded by land-use changes and over-use. The author argues that current SADC forestry policies are too sector-based and lack specific adaptation guidance for dryland forests. To build resilience, the document recommends a shift toward Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA), full-cost accounting of natural capital, and the creation of landscape connectivity to allow species migration. It emphasizes the role of community-based management and the use of non-timber forest products as socio-economic safety nets for the millions of people dependent on these forests.

The document argues that South Africa's mining competitiveness is declining, as evidenced by its 64th place ranking in the 2013 Fraser Institute Survey. It highlights a shift toward partnerships between Chinese state-owned enterprises and the South African Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), such as the acquisition of Palabora Mining Company. The author warns that these opaque arrangements may favor 'predators'—politically connected opportunists—over 'producers' who adhere to the rule of law, potentially leading to revenue mismanagement and asset stripping.