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Climate Central's analysis reveals that the average person globally lost nearly 56 hours of sleep annually due to nighttime heat from 2020 to 2025, with approximately six hours attributed to climate change. The most significant climate-linked sleep losses occurred in Middle Eastern cities, where residents in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE lost between 12 and 16 hours of sleep per year due to climate change. Globally, the amount of temperature-related sleep loss linked to climate change has at least doubled since the early 1970s, increasing from about two hours to five hours per year. Vulnerable populations, including adults over 65 and those in lower-middle-income countries, face higher risks, and while air conditioning provides some protection, access remains unequal and tied to income.

The report projects Togo's development to 2043, highlighting a transition toward solar energy and urbanisation, while noting that population growth may outpace poverty reduction on the current path. It assesses how targeted improvements in agriculture, trade, and governance could significantly boost GDP per capita and reduce extreme poverty, though such growth is linked to increased carbon emissions.

The report outlines a strategic roadmap for Niger's development, emphasizing the need to transition from a resource-dependent economy to a diversified one. It highlights critical vulnerabilities, including a 47.4% extreme poverty rate as of 2023 and significant food insecurity affecting 13% of the population in 2024. Key recommendations focus on leveraging a youthful demographic, scaling solar energy to improve a 21.5% national electricity access rate, and implementing climate-smart agriculture to combat desertification. The document also stresses the importance of governance reform following a history of five military takeovers and the need for regional security cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) and the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

Niger is a low-income, landlocked country in Western Africa facing severe developmental challenges, ranking 189th out of 191 countries on the 2024 Human Development Index. The country is characterized by extreme heat and rainfall variability, with desertification and climate change increasing vulnerabilities. Politically, Niger has experienced a history of instability, most recently marked by a July 2023 military coup that deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. This shift led to the withdrawal of French and US military forces and Niger's exit from ECOWAS and the G5 Sahel to join the Alliance of Sahel States and the Confederation of Sahel States. Despite seeking new partners like Russia, China, and Türkiye, the security situation remains precarious due to Islamist insurgent activity and internal dissent from groups such as the Patriotic Liberation Front.

The report analyzes Ghana's socio-economic landscape, projecting its development to 2043. It highlights a strong growth potential driven by natural resources but warns of persistent poverty, high public debt, and corruption. The analysis compares a 'Current Path' with several targeted scenarios—including Governance, Manufacturing, and AfCFTA—demonstrating that integrated policy interventions in education, health, and industrialization could significantly increase GDP per capita and reduce extreme poverty. It also addresses critical challenges such as the 'galamsey' illegal mining crisis affecting water and forests, and the need for a transition toward renewable energy to mitigate rising carbon emissions.

The paper argues that the armed organization to which a person belongs is the most powerful predictor of whether they become a perpetrator of conflict-related sexual violence. Using datasets like SVAC and ACLED, it finds that while state forces have historically been more frequent perpetrators, there is a recent trend of increasing reports involving rebel groups. The author identifies key organizational risk factors, such as forced recruitment and child soldiering, which use sexual violence as a socialization tool for group cohesion. Conversely, restraint is linked to strong internal governance, such as electoral leader selection and ideological norms. The paper suggests that policy interventions should target organizational structures and use risk factors as early warning indicators rather than focusing solely on individual perpetrators.

Mali is a low-income Sahelian nation facing severe environmental degradation and political volatility. The country is characterized by three natural zones—Sudanese, Sahelian, and Saharan—and is highly vulnerable to climate change, having experienced significant rainfall declines since the 1980s. Politically, Mali has a history of military coups and recurring rebellions, most recently leading to its withdrawal from ECOWAS in January 2024 and the formation of the Confederation of Sahel States with Burkina Faso and Niger. The document also notes the presence of violent extremist groups and the shift in external relations from France toward Russia.

The document describes Burkina Faso as a landlocked West African nation facing severe political instability, characterized by six coups and ongoing jihadi violence. It highlights the country's status as the most affected by terrorism globally in 2023, resulting in millions of internally displaced persons and significant disruptions to health and education. Economically, the nation relies on subsistence farming and gold mining, while its geopolitical alignment has shifted toward Russia and the Confederation of Sahel States following its withdrawal from ECOWAS.

The report forecasts Benin's development to 2043, predicting a population increase to 21.2 million and GDP growth to US$66.3 billion under the Current Path. While GDP per capita is expected to rise to US$4,685, absolute poverty is projected to increase to 11 million people. Sectoral scenarios suggest that Free Trade and Leapfrogging have the highest potential for economic growth, while the Combined Agenda 2063 scenario could double the economy to US$117.2 billion but would increase carbon emissions to 10.1 million tons.

The document provides administrative and bibliographic information for the Burkina Faso Development Futures research, detailing the open-access nature of the work and the objectives of the African Futures & Innovation (AFI) program at the Institute for Security Studies.

The document introduces ECOWAS as a regional economic community established in 1975 to promote economic integration and stability in West Africa. While it has achieved some success in facilitating free movement for citizens, the bloc currently faces significant threats from terrorism, climate change in the Sahel, and infrastructure deficits. The document highlights a critical geopolitical crisis where Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their intention to exit the bloc by January 2025, citing sanctions and a failure to combat insecurity.

The report details specific multipliers and targets for Burundi across several development scenarios. Key interventions include improving government effectiveness, reducing child and maternal mortality, increasing vocational training, boosting agricultural yields, and expanding renewable energy and ICT infrastructure. The document compares these projected outcomes against averages for low-income African countries and historical benchmarks from other African nations.

The authors argue that the upcoming UN General Assembly resolution to operationalize the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on climate change is a critical test of global climate leadership. They assert that the resolution reflects existing legal obligations to prevent climate harm, provide reparations, and ensure a just transition from fossil fuels. While noting resistance from major emitters and oil producers who seek to weaken the text, the authors maintain that the resolution complements existing UNFCCC processes by closing an 'accountability gap' that the treaty regime has failed to address.

The briefing examines the strained bilateral relationship between Benin and Niger following Niger's 2023 coup and the subsequent withdrawal of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) from ECOWAS. It highlights how the election of Romuald Wadagni in Benin on 12 April 2026 offers a window for de-escalation, as both nations face economic losses and rising insecurity. The author suggests that the African Union, specifically through the AU Mission for Mali and the Sahel, is best positioned to facilitate a formal reset based on mutual territorial assurances to overcome mistrust and security gaps in the W-Arly-Pendjari Complex.

The report concludes that Africa's path to economic development lies in transitioning from a reliance on global export markets to a focus on domestic food self-sufficiency. It emphasizes the need for coordinated government support for smallholder farmers, investment in AgTech, and the adoption of sustainable, indigenous farming practices to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change, particularly in the Sahel region.

The report details systemic gender discrimination in African households, highlighting the prevalence of child marriage, the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women, and legal and cultural barriers to equal divorce and inheritance rights.

The document highlights a significant gap in educational quality in Africa, noting that sub-Saharan Africa consistently underperforms globally in primary and secondary standardized tests. It emphasizes that educational quality has a stronger correlation with economic growth than quantity. The text identifies a 'learning crisis' driven by student unpreparedness due to malnutrition and poverty, ineffective or absent teachers, lack of materials, and poor governance. It also stresses the critical role of early childhood development (ECD) and nutrition in establishing the cognitive foundations necessary for quality learning outcomes.

The document introduces investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) as a mechanism allowing foreign investors to bring claims against host states before international tribunals. It highlights that the mining sector is one of the most frequent targets of such claims, which can result in large monetary awards and delay regulatory reforms. The brief details how consent for ISDS is established through investment treaties, domestic laws, and contracts, and notes a growing trend of claims linked to the demand for critical minerals. It concludes with recommendations for governments to manage ISDS risks through inter-agency coordination, thorough documentation, and legal coherence.

The report analyzes Africa's economic growth drivers, arguing that while labour-fueled growth is unlikely to emulate other regions due to a late demographic dividend, future growth must rely on physical capital accumulation and multifactor productivity (MFP). It highlights that for low- and lower-middle-income African countries, poor physical capital is the primary drag on growth, whereas upper-middle-income countries are constrained by poor human capital.

The document analyzes the deadlock in WTO agriculture negotiations regarding domestic support, public stockholding, and market access. It argues that while comprehensive breakthroughs are unlikely at MC14, meaningful progress for LDCs is possible through reducing trade-distorting cotton subsidies, improving market access for cotton products, and establishing LDC exemptions from export restrictions. It also notes the emergence of the WTO Dialogue on Sustainable Agriculture as an informal space to explore the intersection of trade and sustainability.