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This policy briefing examines the presence and operations of Indian mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically focusing on the copper, cobalt, tin, and tantalum sectors. It highlights the growth of small and medium-sized Indian firms, their reliance on self-funding rather than state or Western capital, and the environmental and political risks they face in the Katanga province.

This research paper examines the governance challenges facing Uganda's Nile perch fishery in Lake Victoria, highlighting a significant gap between regional policies and local implementation. While the fishery is a critical economic resource and foreign-exchange earner, it is threatened by overfishing, illegal gear, and corruption. The author argues that the sustainability of the resource depends on passing stalled legislation, improving funding models, and strengthening community-based management units.

This 2011 briefing by CDKN and ODI defines 'climate compatible development' as an integrated approach that combines climate mitigation, adaptation, and human development. It argues that policymakers must move beyond treating these as separate silos to achieve 'triple win' outcomes. The document outlines a new global development landscape shaped by climate risks and opportunities, providing examples from Guyana and Bolivia to illustrate how low-carbon and resilient strategies can be integrated into national planning.

This policy brief defines 'climate compatible development' as an integrated approach that minimizes climate-related damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emission, resilient future. It argues that policymakers must move beyond treating adaptation, mitigation, and development as separate strategies to achieve 'triple wins'—simultaneous benefits in emissions reduction, climate resilience, and social development.

This research paper examines how the shared history of liberation struggles and personal ties between former liberation movements influence the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) mediation efforts in Zimbabwe. The author argues that these historical linkages create a 'club of brother presidents' that protects ZANU–PF and marginalizes post-liberation political entities like the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

This policy briefing examines the governance challenges facing the forestry sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following a review of logging titles between 2006 and 2010. It highlights systemic issues including corruption, institutional incapacity, and a significant gap between legal policy and practical implementation, particularly regarding the involvement of local communities.

This research paper explores the technical and institutional challenges of establishing Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems for REDD+ in developing countries. It emphasizes the need for clear definitions of 'forest' and 'reference levels' (RL/REL), the utility of nested approaches to scale subnational efforts to national levels, and the critical role of capacity building and stakeholder involvement to ensure the credibility of carbon credits.

The June 2011 PSC Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis on security crises in South Sudan, Uganda, and Madagascar, alongside a retrospective on African border disputes and an examination of drug trafficking in West Africa.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of safeguards and the pursuit of 'multiple benefits' within the REDD+ mechanism established by the Cancun Agreements. It explores how safeguard systems can move beyond a 'do no harm' approach to actively promote sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and biodiversity conservation. The document analyzes various international safeguard standards, reviews how developing countries are integrating these into their Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs), and discusses the institutional and financial challenges of creating a transparent information-sharing system for monitoring compliance.

This report documents a speaker's meeting on April 4, 2011, featuring Rob Davies, the South African Minister of Trade and Industry. The discussion focuses on South Africa's trade strategy, the challenges of the WTO Doha Development Round, and the potential of the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement (T-FTA) to enhance regional integration and economic growth.

This March 2011 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis and country-specific assessments for the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC). It focuses on the democratic transitions in Egypt and Niger, the persistent insecurity in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and an analysis of the 16th AU Assembly summit.

This research paper analyzes how the accounting of international greenhouse gas (GHG) offsets affects the integrity of global climate mitigation pledges. Using a spreadsheet model based on marginal abatement costs, the authors examine scenarios where offsets are either double-counted (credited to both the buyer and seller) or counted only for the buyer. The study finds that double-counting could significantly dilute the ambition of current pledges, potentially reducing global abatement by up to 1.6 billion tons of CO2e by 2020, thereby increasing the gap to meet 2°C warming targets.

This research paper by Ruchita Beri for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the evolution of India's relations with African nations. It analyzes the transition from an early policy based on ideological support for decolonization and non-alignment to a more pragmatic approach centered on economic diplomacy, energy security, and capacity building. The document details trade growth, diverse investment patterns across various sectors, and technical cooperation initiatives, while discussing the geopolitical drivers and challenges India faces in its engagement with the continent.

This research paper analyzes the geopolitical and economic complexities surrounding the potential independence of Southern Sudan following its 2011 referendum. It highlights the critical interdependence between Juba and Khartoum, particularly regarding oil infrastructure, border demarcation, and regional stability in the Nile Basin.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the security challenges and potential scenarios surrounding the January 9, 2011, referendum on South Sudan's right to secede from Sudan. It examines the political dynamics between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM), the risks of a return to war, and the roles of regional and international actors in maintaining stability during the transition.

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2011, provides a framework for conservation professionals and NGOs to integrate conflict sensitivity into their work. It outlines how conservation activities can inadvertently trigger or exacerbate conflicts, how they are affected by violent conflict, and how they can be leveraged to support peacebuilding. The manual offers a three-step process for organizational adoption and a practical methodology for analyzing and responding to conflicts in the field.

This report documents a capacity-building workshop held in Douala, Cameroon, from May 10–12, 2011, focused on transitioning REDD+ from international negotiation to national implementation. The event, delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins at the World Agroforestry Centre (ASB-ICRAF), brought together over 55 participants from 17 African countries to discuss safeguards, measurement, reporting and verification (MRV), the role of agriculture as a driver of deforestation, and financing mechanisms.

This report summarizes a capacity-building workshop held in Hanoi, Vietnam, from May 18–20, 2011, focused on transitioning REDD+ from international negotiation to national implementation. The workshop, delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins, brought together negotiators and stakeholders from 13 Asian countries to discuss safeguards, measurement reporting and verification (MRV), the role of agriculture as a driver of deforestation, and financing mechanisms following the Cancun Agreements.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies discusses the status of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BTWC) in Africa during the Seventh Review Conference in December 2011. It advocates for the universalisation of the treaty across the continent, the strengthening of the BTWC's Implementation Support Unit (ISU), and the alignment of the convention with Africa's specific developmental and public health needs.

This workshop report, compiled by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the SADC Gender Alliance, documents a seminar held in November 2010 in Pretoria, South Africa. The event focused on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, examining the gendered dimensions of peace, security, and peacekeeping across Southern and East Africa.