Search Climate Insights Directory

This statement from the Africa Policy Research Institute and other signatories condemns the travel restrictions imposed on Southern African countries following the detection of the Omicron variant. The authors argue that these bans are scientifically unjustified, racially biased, and economically damaging, while highlighting a systemic failure in global vaccine equity.

This case study examines the efforts of the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the Desert Research Foundation of Namibia (DRFN) from 2014 to 2021 to mainstream climate change into national and sub-national policy. It focuses on the role of 'knowledge brokering'—acting as a link between knowledge producers and users—to facilitate evidence-based decision-making and climate adaptation.

This case study by GreenCape examines how Wesgro, a trade promotion agency in South Africa's Western Cape, adapted its services during the Covid-19 pandemic to support SMMEs and how these lessons can be applied to enhance green trade competitiveness and resilience.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the strategic partnership between India and Africa, arguing that security cooperation remains an under-exploited pillar compared to trade and investment. It advocates for a comprehensive shared security agenda centered on the African Union to enhance mutual stability and development.

This research paper examines the state of nuclear governance across the 16 SADC member states, highlighting the disparities in their regulatory frameworks and the need for regional synchronisation. It focuses on the safety and security of uranium mining and the transport of radioactive materials, proposing that SADC provide a platform for cooperation to harmonise policies and improve regional emergency responses.

The Climate Adaptation Notes (CAN) is a proposed funding mechanism designed to increase private, commercial bank, and institutional investment in water and wastewater infrastructure projects across sub-Saharan Africa by combining short-term construction financing with long-term asset-based funding.

The Africa Sustainable Forestry Fund II (ASFFII) is a USD 150 million private equity fund managed by Criterion Africa Partners that invests in sustainable forestry value chains across Africa, utilizing a blended equity structure to provide both mitigation and adaptation benefits.

This case study details the financing and implementation of the Abu Rawash Wastewater Treatment Plant project in Egypt, highlighting the roles of development finance institutions (DFIs) and the national government in funding climate adaptation infrastructure.

A report by the Center for International Environmental Law, Above Ground, and the Global Law Alliance for Animals and the Environment requesting that the TSX Venture Exchange investigate Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. (ReconAfrica) for potential unreported material changes or misrepresentations. The authors allege that ReconAfrica shifted its public narrative from targeting unconventional shale resources to conventional oil and gas after the Namibian government clarified that the company lacked a license for unconventional resource development, while continuing to rely on unconventional resource estimates and expertise.

This fact sheet provides guidance on Adaptation Communications (ADCOMs) under the UNFCCC, explaining their purpose, voluntary nature, and flexible submission options. It specifically details how countries can align ADCOMs with National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes to reduce reporting burdens and provide input for the first global stocktake.

The report details a 2021 workshop for the Lesotho APRM Popular Sensitisation (LAPS) Project, aimed at reviving Lesotho's engagement with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) after its national structures collapsed around 2015/2016. Through peer-learning from Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the project seeks to empower non-state actors to identify 12 key governance issues for a civil society submission by June 2022, addressing national challenges such as political instability and lack of social cohesion.

This research paper assesses the implications of the African Peer Review Mechanism's (APRM) Expanded Mandate, a series of decisions taken between 2016 and 2019 to revitalise the agency. While the expansion has renewed momentum and increased membership, the author argues that the APRM must now consolidate these gains to avoid distracting from its core mission of comprehensive country reviews.

This policy brief examines the role of nuclear science and technology in advancing Africa's sustainable development, specifically aligning with the AU's Agenda 2063 and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights applications in healthcare and agriculture, the existing infrastructure of research reactors, and the legal frameworks ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy on the continent.

This briefing describes the experience of civil society organisations (CSOs) in Botswana participating in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process between 2019 and 2021. It details the Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Project, which was led by the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) to produce a civil society submission on governance.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while the agricultural sector was less severely affected than others, the pandemic exacerbated existing structural weaknesses, such as food insecurity and a heavy reliance on subsistence farming. The document proposes a 'dual approach' to development that supports both small-scale and large-scale commercial farming, alongside the adoption of digital technologies, climate-smart infrastructure, and the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive regional integration and growth.

This report documents the April 20, 2021, virtual launch of the Civil Society APRM Submission, a result of the Botswana APRM Popular Sensitisation (BAPS) Project. The project, a collaboration between the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) and the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), aimed to integrate civil society perspectives into Botswana's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process.

This working paper examines the experiences and challenges of climate change practitioners in the global South as they transitioned to online engagement during the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on a 2020 CDKN survey and interviews across Africa, Asia, and South America, the document analyzes the impact of the digital divide, evaluates various communication platforms, and provides lessons for organizing inclusive virtual events for marginalized and remote populations.

This policy briefing examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). While the agricultural sector was less affected than others, the pandemic exacerbated existing structural challenges, including food insecurity, a reliance on subsistence farming, and infrastructure deficits. The authors argue for a 'dual approach' that supports both small-scale and commercial farming, alongside the adoption of digital technologies and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive regional integration and growth.

This report, compiled by civil society organisations in 2020 and 2021, outlines 12 key governance issues in Botswana as a submission to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). While acknowledging Botswana's history of good governance, the document highlights worrying trends in corruption, lack of accountability, and the need for more inclusive, participatory governance.

This research paper examines the struggle of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to meet the 2001 Abuja Declaration's pledge to allocate 15% of national budgets to healthcare. It argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted critical systemic gaps and provides an impetus for innovative financing strategies to overcome economic decline and aid dependency.