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This research paper examines Botswana's experience with multilateral development banks (MDBs) in financing infrastructure, specifically focusing on the African Development Bank (AfDB). It identifies systemic delays in loan processing and procurement as primary challenges while highlighting the success of non-lending knowledge services. The document also evaluates alternative financing sources, such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and domestic bond markets, noting that while these exist, they have not yet replaced the need for MDB lending.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the 'key certainties' and 'key uncertainties' regarding the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Southern Africa, highlighting trends in urbanisation, energy costs, and climate vulnerability.

A keynote speech delivered by Chen Xiaodong, China's Ambassador-designate to South Africa, on October 13, 2020, detailing the evolution of China-Africa cooperation. The speech emphasizes a transition toward market-driven trade, digital economy integration, and infrastructure development, while addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strategic importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

This research paper by Professor Ahmed Mohiddin examines the tendency of executive branches to dominate governance structures in Africa. It analyzes the systemic reasons for this dominance, the capacity failures of legislatures and judiciaries, and the role of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and civil society in establishing effective checks and balances.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the revival of Côte d’Ivoire’s regional diplomacy under President Alassane Ouattara. After a period of decline following the death of Félix Houphouët-Boigny in 1993 and subsequent civil crises, the country is seeking to regain its status as a leading political and economic actor in West Africa through a policy of 'good neighbourliness' and strategic engagement with regional organizations and global powers.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines South Africa's economic diplomacy toward Zimbabwe following the July 2013 elections. It argues that South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) prioritized security and political stability over economic concerns, leading to a decision to end regional monitoring of Zimbabwe despite a continuing economic crisis.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines Botswana's need for economic diversification as diamond revenues decline. It evaluates the potential of coal and iron ore as intermediate revenue sources while arguing that long-term sustainable growth should be anchored in eco-tourism and investments in human and physical capital.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the gap between the African Union's (AU) normative commitments to democracy and human rights and the actual foreign policies of its member states. The author argues that strong sovereignty norms and a state-centric approach have hindered the domestication of human rights, leading to a state of 'stasis' or reversal in several countries. The brief recommends that the AU embrace global partnerships with civil society and that pivotal states like South Africa rejuvenate human rights as a core pillar of their external engagements to ensure continental stability.

This 2012 policy brief examines the struggle of Chinese Economic and Trade Co-operation Zones (ETCZs) in Africa to become operational. Despite official targets and approvals in countries like Zambia, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, most zones remain underpopulated or non-functional, with Egypt being the primary exception. The author identifies failures on the Chinese side, such as top-down developer selection and cultural barriers, and on the African side, including poor offsite infrastructure and a lack of regulatory frameworks to ensure local economic spillovers. The brief notes that private Chinese industrial zones in South Africa and Botswana have fared better than these official state-backed initiatives.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes South Africa's efforts to influence political and economic reform in Swaziland since 1994. It examines the role of bilateral diplomacy, regional institutions like SACU and SADC, and the personal relationship between President Jacob Zuma and King Mswati III, concluding that South Africa's approach has been largely reactive and tempered by the Swazi government's resistance to reform.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that effective governance, specifically the devolution of rights to local communities, is the essential 'linchpin' for the sustainable management of Africa's dryland forests. It highlights the economic under-valuation of these ecosystems and calls for policy incentives that align community benefits with conservation efforts.

This 2014 policy briefing outlines a path to finalize the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It identifies four critical obstacles: export taxes, the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause, agricultural safeguards, and rules of origin. The author argues that the EU should drop demands for export tax bans, adopt a percentage-based MFN clause, allow for immediate agricultural safeguards, and provide technical and financial support for the implementation of rules of origin to ensure the agreement's success and political viability.

This policy brief provides an overview of local procurement regulations for the mining and petroleum sectors across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. It distinguishes between demand-side policies, which encourage companies to buy locally, and supply-side policies, which support local supplier capacity. The document highlights a regional trend toward state intervention to create backward linkages from extractive activities to the wider economy, noting that while most SADC countries have some form of local procurement language, the depth of regulation varies significantly, ranging from vague 'best effort obligations' to specific, measurable targets.

This case study examines the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), a hybrid public-private partnership established in 2000 to facilitate trade and infrastructure development in Namibia and neighboring SADC countries. The WBCG coordinates a network of roads and rail—including the Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Caprivi, Trans-Cunene, and Trans-Oranje corridors—to connect the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Lüderitz to landlocked markets.

This case study by Mike Muller examines the political economy of water resource development and management within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that a disconnect exists between local/national priorities and regional agendas, largely because the latter have been driven by donor preferences for environmental conservation over infrastructure development. The author highlights that while some bilateral projects have succeeded, the broader region has suffered from 'economic water scarcity' due to a lack of long-term finance for infrastructure, a gap recently being filled by new financiers like China and Brazil.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines Africa's priorities and demands for COP28, emphasizing the need for a fundamental overhaul of the global financial architecture to ensure equitable climate finance, accelerated adaptation funding, and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the proposed preferential trade agreement (PTA) between the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and India. It details the economic rationale, negotiating interests, and potential challenges of the deal, while considering its place within the broader IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Dialogue and the possibility of a future trilateral free trade agreement.

This report details a Civil Society APRM Sensitisation Workshop held on February 26, 2021, as part of the second phase of the Zimbabwe APRM Popular Sensitisation (ZAPS) Project. The event, hosted by the SIVIO Institute and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), brought together representatives from the Zimbabwean government, the APRM Secretariat, and civil society organisations (CSOs) from Zimbabwe and other SADC countries to discuss the role of CSOs in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process.

This fact sheet by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) outlines various donor-funded financing programs available for renewable energy manufacturing and clean energy innovation, primarily targeting Africa and other developing regions.

This guide from the World Resources Institute outlines various instruments for raising public finance to support climate goals, focusing on international public finance, climate bonds, debt-for-climate swaps, and national climate funds. It details how these mechanisms can help developing countries fill funding gaps for their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the benefits and challenges associated with each, and provides real-world examples of their implementation.