Search Climate Insights Directory

The analysis examines the declining value of Uganda's oil reserves in the Albertine Basin, the East African Crude Oil Pipeline, and the Hoima oil refinery. It finds that the value of these reserves has already decreased by over $40 billion since 2013, with further declines expected under a Paris Agreement-aligned low-carbon transition.

The SEI Initiative on Gridless Solutions examines decentralized, modular technologies as complements to grid-based systems for basic services. While innovation has accelerated, the initiative identifies significant barriers to expansion, including regulatory mismatches, lack of financing, and a poor understanding of end-user expectations. The program focuses on mapping value chains, analyzing the politics of decentralized electricity in East Africa, studying off-grid sanitation in Latin America, and exploring disaster risk management in Small Island Development States. Additionally, the sWASH & grow project evaluates success factors for scaling off-grid water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) innovations.

The EARF gender assessment identifies women as primary energy consumers and key agents in the off-grid energy value chain. It proposes loan covenants to ensure companies maintain female employment levels and adopt Gender Empowerment Policies. The report includes detailed gender profiles for Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, highlighting systemic barriers such as cultural norms and limited access to STEM roles.

The document analyzes the conflict between trade liberalisation, supported by developed nations, and food sovereignty, advocated by developing nations. It argues that while trade can increase food availability, it often sidelines smallholder farmers and creates dependencies. The author recommends that the G20 synchronise domestic policies and implement the 2008 L’Aquila Food Security Initiative (AFSI) to support local food systems. For the UN World Food Systems Summit, the brief suggests creating a framework for private sector participation and transforming food systems to be more inclusive and sustainable, particularly in the wake of COVID-19 and the US-China trade war.

The report presents a critique of the capitalist, patriarchal, and colonial systems as the root causes of the Covid-19 pandemic and broader ecological crises. It advocates for a 'transformative economy' that prioritizes the sustainability of life over capital accumulation, emphasizing the central role of care work, food sovereignty, and the decommodification of public services. The authors call for a new internationalism based on solidarity and the payment of ecological debts from the Global North to the Global South, while rejecting corporate 'greenwashing' and 'net-zero' strategies.

The document argues that off-grid solar (OGS) is a critical tool for achieving universal energy access and climate mitigation, particularly by replacing kerosene lamps and reducing black carbon emissions. Despite this, multilateral climate finance institutions have invested only a small fraction of the total capital deployed in the sector. The briefing identifies barriers such as the complexity of projects that combine mitigation, adaptation, and development, as well as a focus on large-scale projects. It recommends strategies including increased concessional financing for early-stage businesses, expanded use of blended finance to attract commercial equity, and the development of a uniform methodology to quantify the climate benefits of OGS, specifically regarding black carbon.

The document analyzes how trade facilitation efforts in East Africa affect women informal cross-border traders, who constitute up to 70% of such trade in Africa. Using the Busia One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) as a case study, it evaluates the effectiveness of 'hard' infrastructure (like border facilities) and 'soft' infrastructure (like Simplified Trade Regimes and capacity building). While the Busia OSBP has reduced customs processing times by 80% and improved relations between traders and officials, significant gaps remain, including inadequate sanitation on the Ugandan side, limited access to formal finance, and the persistence of predatory middlemen. The paper recommends gender-sensitive infrastructure, simplified cross-border banking, and the use of the African Continental Free Trade Area to create continent-wide framework STRs.

The study examines the sustainability of charcoal production in Kitui County, Kenya, to address the growing urban demand for fuel in East Africa. By employing stakeholder workshops, informant interviews, and agent-based modelling, the research integrates local perspectives and data to assess policy performance. The interdisciplinary methodology allowed for the analysis of micro-interactions, financial flows, biomass extraction, and issues related to agency and corruption.

The research paper examines Turkey's efforts to re-assert regional influence through military and economic engagement in North and East Africa. It highlights Turkey's support for the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, its strategic energy interests in the Mediterranean, and its long-term development and diplomatic presence in the Horn of Africa, particularly Somalia. The text notes the complex interplay between Turkey, Russia, and the EU in managing the Libyan crisis, as well as Turkey's rivalry with a bloc including Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

The paper advocates for a systemic shift in peacebuilding and development, moving away from linear causal models toward resilience thinking to address the interconnected risks of the Anthropocene. It highlights how climate change acts as a risk multiplier, potentially triggering violent conflict through forced migration and resource competition. The authors emphasize that systemic risks, such as hydrological teleconnections and global food system dependencies, require anticipatory management tools and a focus on social capital to sustain peace and prevent system collapse.

The document examines Rwanda's engagement with the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA), arguing that Rwanda's 'reform culture capital' makes it an ideal candidate for the initiative. It details Rwanda's transition from a post-genocide foundation stage (1994-2004) to a development stage (2005-2018), leading up to Vision 2050. The brief highlights the CwA's role in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) through public-private partnerships (PPPs) to address infrastructure deficits, such as the $1.3 billion Isaka–Kigali rail project. While noting early successes in tax-to-GDP ratios and FDI, the author warns that the CwA still reflects the interests of developed nations and that Rwanda's small economy limits its ability to drive CwA adoption across East Africa.

The document details how human-induced climate change is altering ocean chemistry and temperature, leading to acidification, oxygen loss, and rising sea levels that threaten African coastal communities and marine biodiversity. It highlights the melting of high-mountain glaciers in East Africa, affecting water security and increasing landslide risks. The guide emphasizes that urgent greenhouse gas emission reductions are the primary way to limit these damages, while early investment in disaster risk reduction and nature-based solutions, such as 'blue carbon' ecosystems, can reduce future costs and enhance resilience.

The report finds that while renewable energy investment reached USD 322 billion in 2018, it must almost triple to USD 800 billion by 2050 to meet climate goals. Investment is heavily concentrated in China, the US, and Western Europe, with a dominance of solar PV and onshore wind. The private sector provides 86% of capital, primarily through project developers. Off-grid renewables, though growing, represent less than 1% of total energy access finance, with Sub-Saharan Africa as the primary destination.

The report identifies a significant gap between the regulatory allowance for private equity investments (up to 20% in some countries) and the actual muted allocation by East African pension funds. Key barriers include a lack of technical knowledge among trustees, a strong bias toward high-yielding government bonds, and a perceived risk associated with the asset class. The study recommends tailored capacity building for trustees and regulators, the development of specialist investment policy statements, and the use of multi-manager models to mitigate risk and governance burdens.

The document serves as a learning tool for non-specialist pension fund trustees in East Africa to navigate the complexities of private equity (PE) as an alternative asset class. It details the distinctions between PE, private debt, and PIPE transactions, while outlining the specific roles of General Partners (GPs) and Limited Partners (LPs). The guide explains the 'J-curve' effect of cash flows, the structure of Limited Partnership Agreements (LPAs), and the mechanics of management fees and carried interest. It also provides frameworks for risk mitigation, such as the use of Limited Partner Advisory Committees (LPACs) and key person insurance, and defines industry-standard performance metrics like Internal Rate of Return (IRR).

The Government of Kenya has integrated its climate adaptation, disaster risk management, and sustainable development goals through a systemic alignment of policy frameworks. Central to this is the National Climate Change Action Plan 2018–2022 (NCCAP), which serves as the implementation vehicle for both the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) 2015–2030 and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The document highlights that while strategic alignment exists in policy documents, further opportunities for enhancement lie in improving coordination mechanisms, sharing climate risk information, harmonizing financing strategies, and coordinating monitoring and evaluation systems.

The document analyzes Kenya's systemic alignment of climate adaptation, disaster risk management, and sustainable development goals. It highlights the role of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), both implemented through the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2018-2022. The study identifies synergies across policy documents and suggests improvements in coordination mechanisms, climate risk information sharing, harmonized financing, and integrated monitoring and evaluation systems.

The report examines the drivers of basic-needs deforestation, such as subsistence farming and woodfuel collection, and evaluates interventions like formalization, clean cooking technology, and REDD+ funding. It highlights the difficulty of measuring progress due to data gaps and emphasizes that successful interventions require social safeguards and good governance to protect livelihoods while reducing forest loss.

The study evaluates the interactions between land policies and energy technology subsidies in eastern Africa, finding that while sustainable biomass production can reduce GHG emissions by 10%, it may delay health and energy access goals. Conversely, an optimized portfolio of technology subsidies could further reduce GHG emissions by 10%, lower air pollution mortality by 20%, and increase energy access by 15%. The analysis highlights the importance of prioritizing biogas, LPG, and ethanol for synergistic benefits, while PV technologies primarily improve energy access.

The policy brief advocates for the adoption of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to protect vulnerable coastlines and livelihoods from climate change. It highlights the potential for 'soft' and 'hybrid' adaptation strategies in Southern and East Africa, while identifying barriers such as lack of political prioritisation, insufficient quantitative data for the private sector, and fragmented institutional governance. The author recommends mainstreaming EbA into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and national budgets, promoting innovative financing like blue bonds and blue carbon credits, and ensuring the active participation of coastal communities and women in project design.