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This case study examines Tanzania's difficulties in establishing horizontal linkages within its mining sector, focusing on the failures of its National System of Innovation (NSI) and the complexities of the Central Development Corridor (CDC) infrastructure project.

This report details a regional training workshop on the management of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from February 26 to March 1, 2018. Organized by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event gathered over 50 public and private sector officials from 17 French-speaking African countries to implement the 'IGF Guide for Governments: Managing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining'.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the disconnect between the African Union's (AU) African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA). It argues that while poor governance is a primary driver of instability in Africa, the AU's responses remain reactive and fragmented due to institutional differences between these two frameworks. The author proposes several options to integrate governance and security, ranging from amending the Peace and Security Council (PSC) protocol to creating a unified 'Architecture for Stability in Africa' (ASA).

This research paper examines the history and systemic challenges of sexual abuse and exploitation perpetrated by United Nations peacekeepers. It details the 'food-for-sex' scandals, the legal hurdles preventing the UN from prosecuting troops due to national jurisdiction, and the policy responses implemented to combat these crimes, including Resolution 2272.

The report by NewClimate Institute, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, and IIASA analyzes greenhouse gas emission projections for 25 major emitting countries and regions up to 2030. It assesses whether current policies are sufficient to meet their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) and nationally determined contributions (NDCs).

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) use of mediation as a conflict-prevention tool. It analyzes the institutional gaps, the tension between formal and informal approaches, and the need for a more structured, long-term strategy to address the root causes of conflict in Africa.

This report details a September 2017 training workshop on conflict-sensitive conservation (CSC) held in Bukavu, South Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Organized by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the workshop aimed to train staff from the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) and community forest representatives on identifying and analyzing conservation conflicts within the Maiko-Tayna-Kahuzi-Biega (MTKB) landscape to minimize risks and maximize peace-building opportunities.

The October 2017 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes several African security crises, including the transition of AMISOM in Somalia, the resurgence of violence in the Central African Republic, the pro-Biafra movement in Nigeria, and the African Union's initiative to combat illegal weapons. It also details the ongoing funding disputes between the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC) regarding AU-led peace operations.

This research paper analyzes the strategic relationship between Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during a period of political transition in Angola. It argues that ensuring a stable and predictable DRC is Angola's primary foreign policy objective, though Luanda's support for President Joseph Kabila has diminished due to electoral delays and regional instability.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the emergence of agricultural growth poles (agropoles) and corridors in Africa. It describes these as coordinated investments in infrastructure and industry designed to transition African agriculture from subsistence to commercial systems. The document outlines the operational challenges facing these projects, the necessity of robust legal frameworks to avoid creating 'enclaves', and a three-step model (vision, design, and implementation) for ensuring responsible and sustainable development.

This research paper examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) act as both barriers and enablers for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) attempting to enter global value chains (GVCs) coordinated by multinational corporations (MNCs), with a specific focus on South Africa and Kenya as regional economic gateways.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes South Africa's immigration regime and its impact on African economic migrants. It examines the tension between the government's desire to attract highly skilled talent and its efforts to deter irregular, semi-skilled migration. The paper evaluates the 2016 Green Paper on International Migration, noting its potential to streamline some processes while criticizing its regressive proposals for asylum seekers. It also compares South African policies with those of the European Union and discusses the role of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in regional migration governance.

This research paper analyzes the political instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused by President Joseph Kabila's efforts to delay elections, a phenomenon termed 'le glissement' (slippage). The author argues that the UN and South Africa, both key historical peacebuilding partners, are currently failing to provide the necessary support to prevent a return to civil war and ensure the implementation of the December 2016 political agreement.

A speech delivered by IISD President and CEO Scott Vaughan at the World Circular Economy Forum 2017 in Helsinki, discussing the need for macroeconomic indicators beyond GDP to properly value the circular economy, the potential for job growth, and the necessity of reforming fiscal incentives.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the agenda for the 29th African Union (AU) Summit, the operational challenges of the African Standby Force (ASF), and the Peace and Security Council's (PSC) decision-making trends. It specifically examines the political crises in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, as well as counter-terrorism efforts in the Sahel and Somalia.

This research paper discusses the restorative justice mandate of the International Criminal Court (ICC), specifically focusing on the role of the Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) in providing reparations and assistance to victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This report analyzes the political and economic instability facing Angola during the transition from President José Eduardo dos Santos to his chosen successor, Joao Lourenco, ahead of the August 2017 elections. It identifies critical fault lines, including a severe liquidity crisis, systemic corruption, and a securitized state apparatus, arguing that genuine reform is necessary to prevent the country from unraveling.

This policy brief examines the relationship between natural resource extraction and the funding of four violent extremist groups in Africa: al-Shabaab, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), the Janjaweed militia, and Boko Haram. It finds that while some groups rely heavily on illicit trade in charcoal, ivory, or gold, others have little to no connection to resource extraction.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) criticizes the development of the Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) statistic. The author argues that the measure, driven by the OECD, lacks transparency, excludes the perspectives of developing countries, and risks undermining existing Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitments by allowing donors to inflate their contributions through the inclusion of non-concessional loans and in-donor costs.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines climate adaptation readiness in Southern Africa by analyzing the region's response to the severe 2015/16 El Niño-induced drought. The author argues that while the El Niño cycle is a natural phenomenon, the resulting drought serves as a critical test of the region's institutional and policy capacity to handle severe environmental stress. The paper identifies significant gaps in national and regional response capacities, highlighting the need for a shift from reactive 'response' to proactive 'prevention' and the scaling of successful local and regional adaptation strategies.