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This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes major demographic, economic, technological, urban, and socio-political transitions in Africa through 2035. Using the International Futures forecasting system, the authors highlight a general positive trend but warn that rapid population growth, fragile democratic foundations, and infrastructure gaps may compound poverty and instability if not addressed by strategic governance and investment.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the fragile peace process in Burundi as of February 2009, focusing on the implementation of the 2006 ceasefire agreement between the government and the PALIPEHUTU-FNL rebels.

This 2012 case study examines the operational challenges faced by Aluminium Africa Limited (ALAF), a Tanzania-based aluminium and steel manufacturer. ALAF reports significant barriers to regional trade within the SADC area, including inadequate energy infrastructure (marked by power rationing and cost increases), inefficient border controls and port services in Tanzania, and regulatory uncertainty. The company also highlights difficulties in accessing skilled labour and foreign currency in markets like Malawi. While ALAF has invested in backup power and lobbied via the Confederation of Tanzania Industries, it notes a lack of tangible government action to resolve these systemic constraints.

This policy brief examines the impact of Chinese investments in Tanzania's plastic recycling industry and the subsequent effects of China's 2018 import ban on waste materials. It highlights how Chinese firms have facilitated technology transfer and local business growth, while also noting significant environmental and health risks and a potential decline in local waste sourcing due to the import of cleaner waste from Europe and the US.

This policy briefing examines the ecological importance and governance challenges of the Eastern Arc Mountains in Tanzania and Kenya. It highlights that approximately 70% of the original forest cover has been lost due to deforestation and degradation, driven largely by population growth and a heavy reliance on biomass for energy. Despite a comprehensive policy framework and significant donor funding—including REDD+ initiatives—the document argues that governance failures, lack of state funding, and poor enforcement of local by-laws have hindered conservation efforts.

This research paper evaluates the alignment of Uganda's post-COVID-19 economic recovery strategy with its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It finds that while Uganda has increased its climate ambition in its updated NDC, the actual economic stimulus packages have largely prioritised immediate health and economic rescue over green recovery, leaving climate action underfunded and sidelined in the budget process.

This case study, commissioned by the African Development Bank and conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute, examines the complex linkages between water management and poverty reduction in Tanzania. It analyzes the country's progress toward Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the impact of water on agriculture and ecosystems, and the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Pangani and Rufiji basins.

The CHAPOSA project investigated charcoal production and forest depletion in the supply areas of Lusaka (Zambia), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), and Maputo (Mozambique) between 1989 and 1998. The report finds that woodland cover is reducing in all three regions due to charcoal production and agricultural expansion, with the most severe depletion occurring around Maputo. While charcoal provides a critical income source for the rural poor and an affordable energy source for the urban poor, the current system is largely unregulated, with state licensing and fee collection being highly ineffective. The report recommends a coordinated policy approach: enforcing fiscal systems to fund forest management, while simultaneously providing rural agricultural support and expanding urban electricity access to reduce dependence on charcoal.

This policy brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the public health and environmental crises caused by the reliance of over three billion people on traditional biomass for household energy, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

This report introduces an updated geospatial database for clean energy solution providers in Tanzania, delivered via the Energy Access Explorer (EAE) software. The publication demonstrates how standardized, open-access data and multi-criteria analysis (MCA) can be used to identify market expansion opportunities and target investments for mini-grids and other off-grid energy solutions in rural and last-mile communities.