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The document assesses how Indonesia's shift from a protected to an open economy has affected its SMEs, which constitute over 90% of all firms. Despite facing significant institutional constraints—such as lack of capital, technology, and skilled labor—the author finds no evidence that trade liberalization has negatively impacted the overall number or GDP contribution of Indonesian SMEs. While most SMEs remain domestically focused or export indirectly through intermediaries, the paper argues that a free-trade regime generally provides more long-term benefits than protectionism, provided that supporting policies for human resource and technological upgrading are implemented.

South Africa is a signatory to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and has indicated that ratification will soon be referred to Parliament. While the government has not disclosed the exact size of its cluster munition stockpile, it has acknowledged possessing obsolete munitions earmarked for destruction and is preparing a disposal plan. South Africa continues to engage in international disarmament forums, including the UN General Assembly and the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), while supporting a comprehensive ban on cluster weapons.

The document presents results from a pilot study of 177 armed conflict actors in 20 African countries. It finds that sexual violence is often indiscriminate, frequently committed by state armies, and can persist in post-conflict periods or years with low killing rates. The study emphasizes that sexual violence is not an inevitable part of war, as many actors do not engage in it, and recommends improved reporting mechanisms and targeted interventions to reduce its occurrence.

The report examines South Africa's 2011–2012 tenure on the UN Security Council, highlighting the tension between its aspirations for permanent membership and the rigidities of the Ezulwini Consensus. It analyzes global power shifts, specifically the decline of US omnipotence and the rise of China, and identifies key thematic priorities for South Africa, including the UN-AU relationship on peacebuilding, the 'peace versus justice' debate regarding the ICC and Article 16, holistic counter-terrorism strategies, and nuclear non-proliferation. The document argues that South Africa must balance its identity as a global actor with its leadership role in Africa to effectively influence an anachronistic Council.

The paper challenges the finding that warming is robustly linked to civil war in Sub-Saharan Africa by replicating and testing the model used by Burke et al. (2009). Through influence diagnostics, alternative operationalizations of civil war, and expanded sample periods, the authors find that the reported positive effect of temperature is tenuous and often disappears. The analysis suggests that the original results were driven by a few influential observations involving foreign intervention and that climate variables provide negligible predictive power compared to country-specific fixed effects and time trends.

The report examines the gender gap in the Norwegian Armed Forces (NAF) and other NATO countries, arguing that while national recruitment is a prerequisite for female participation in international missions, it is not sufficient on its own. Despite implementing numerous initiatives, Norway has seen slow growth in female personnel, trailing behind countries like Canada, France, and the United States. The author analyzes NATO's recommended best practices across recruitment, employment, operational planning, and quality of life, noting that many states prioritize equal rights over the instrumental operational value of women. The report specifically highlights Canada's 'employer of choice' strategy as a successful model for Norway to consider, while cautioning that mandatory conscription for women in Norway may be premature without a deeper understanding of female motivation for military service.

The document outlines systemic failures in the IFC's environmental and social due diligence, highlighting an overreliance on unverified client data and inadequate project categorization. It calls for the explicit integration of international human rights standards, including the right to free, prior and informed consent for indigenous peoples, and a strategic shift away from fossil fuel investments toward renewable energy. The authors also criticize the 'loophole' created by financial intermediaries and demand greater transparency in extractive industry contracts.

The document analyzes the African Standby Force (ASF) as a critical component of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). It argues that while the ASF is designed to provide a rapid, multidimensional response to African crises—including the right to intervene in cases of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity—its effectiveness is severely hindered by gaps in funding, logistics, administrative capacity, and political will. The author concludes that the ASF is unlikely to meet its projected 2010 operational capabilities and will likely have a modest impact on complex conflicts in the short to medium term.

The document examines the 'double incarnation' of Libyan foreign policy under Muammar Qaddafi. From 1970 to the mid-1990s, Libya focused on pan-Arabism and frequently destabilized African nations by supporting rebel groups in Chad, Sudan, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Since the late 1990s, Tripoli shifted toward pan-Africanism, playing a central role in the establishment of the African Union (AU) and the Community of Sahel and Saharan States (CEN-SAD). The paper details Libya's efforts to act as a peace broker, specifically in the Chad-Sudan conflict, and its use of 'chequebook diplomacy' through development aid and capital investments via companies like LAAICO and LAFICO.

The document examines the 'resource curse' in Africa, where oil wealth often correlates with poverty, corruption, and conflict. It evaluates the impact of governance initiatives like the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Publish What You Pay (PWYP), and Transparency International (TI) across eight oil-dependent states. The author argues that while these initiatives may be necessary for better governance, they are not sufficient on their own to overcome the systemic issues of rentier states, as evidenced by the continued prevalence of authoritarianism and corruption in several case studies.

The document assesses the role of human rights in African international relations, arguing that while the continent has established significant monitoring bodies and ratified treaties, human rights often remain a "variable concern" subordinated to national interests and geopolitical strategies. It highlights the influence of "African solutions to African problems" in conflict resolution and the impact of China's non-interference policy as an alternative to Western conditionality. The author concludes that for human rights to be central to foreign policy, African states must develop a unified continental approach that harmonizes trade, security, and justice while adhering to agreed-upon democratic standards.

The document examines how human rights are integrated into African international relations, noting a gap between formal commitments to regional and international treaties and the practical application of these norms. It highlights how national interests, historical colonial ties, and the emergence of non-conditional economic partnerships—particularly with China—often supersede human rights considerations. The author analyzes specific cases, such as the African Union's response to the ICC warrant for Omar Al-Bashir and South Africa's diplomatic balancing act, to argue that human rights often remain a "variable concern" rather than a central pillar of foreign policy.

The document analyzes the intractable political crisis in Chad, arguing that international efforts have often prioritized regime stability over long-term peace and democratic institutional building. It examines the roles of President Idriss Déby, armed rebel groups, and external powers like France, the US, and Sudan. The report evaluates specific initiatives, including the 13 August 2007 political accord and the Dakar Agreement, concluding that implementation has been piecemeal and hampered by a lack of political will and coordinated mechanisms.

The document analyzes the risks associated with the International Criminal Court's potential indictment of President Omar Al Bashir, including the possible collapse of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the destabilization of Sudan's internal political dynamics. It highlights tensions within the ruling National Congress Party (NCP) and suggests that the Doha Agreement between the government and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) may be a strategic move to avoid indictment rather than a sustainable peace effort.

The Juba peace process between the government of Uganda (GOU) and the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) has stalled, primarily due to Joseph Kony's refusal to sign the Final Peace Agreement (FPA) over concerns regarding International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments. The conflict has expanded beyond northern Uganda into southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the Central African Republic (CAR), effectively becoming a regional conflict system. While the Juba talks are described as the most comprehensive effort to date, they lack sufficient leverage to coerce parties into an agreement. Consequently, regional military cooperation between Uganda, the DRC, and southern Sudan has increased, including a joint offensive in Garamba (DRC) in December 2008. The document argues that a purely military solution is unlikely to succeed and that a sustainable end-game requires a multi-pronged approach addressing regional rivalries and the tension between peace and international justice.

The briefing examines how the global banking crisis and falling commodity prices threaten African budgets and social expenditure, while analyzing ongoing political instability in countries like the DRC, Sudan, and Somalia, and the prospects for democratic consolidation across the continent.

A declaration by various international organizations opposing the World Bank's role in the UNFCCC climate regime due to its continued financing of fossil fuels, contribution to deforestation, and undemocratic governance.

The document examines the transition of French-African relations from the Gaullist 'Françafrique' model—characterized by personalized ties with authoritarian leaders—toward a more transparent, multilateral approach. It highlights the failures of the 'Baule doctrine' to enforce democratization and the shift in military strategy toward reinforcing African peacekeeping capacities (RECAMP). Economically, it notes a trend of disengagement, with France moving from a primary donor to an intermediary for international financial institutions and introducing conditionality via the 'Abidjan doctrine'. Under Nicolas Sarkozy, the document identifies a contradictory mix of provocative rhetoric and new promises of transparency in defense agreements and co-development funds, while noting that traditional practices of supporting authoritarian regimes persist.

The document details the perspectives of General Martin Luther Agwai on the implementation of the UNAMID mandate in Darfur. It outlines the socio-economic and political origins of the Darfur conflict, the transition from the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) to the hybrid UNAMID operation, and the significant logistical and political hurdles facing the mission. General Agwai argues that while UNAMID has achieved success in civilian protection and humanitarian support, it is severely hampered by a lack of equipment, insufficient troop levels, and a complex security environment where no stable peace exists to be kept.

The report examines China's pivotal role as a major cotton producer, importer, and textile exporter, highlighting the environmental degradation caused by intensive chemical and water use in domestic production. It compares these impacts with those in other regions, noting that rain-fed production in West Africa offers a more sustainable alternative. The document evaluates four future scenarios up to 2020, arguing that internalizing environmental costs and shifting sourcing toward sustainable African production can improve global sustainability. Key recommendations include developing a national information strategy on sustainability, adopting international standards like the Better Cotton Initiative, and eliminating duties on African cotton imports.