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This case study examines the Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA), a non-profit entity that markets and sells sugarcane products from Swaziland to the SACU region and Europe. The document details the operational constraints facing the SSA, specifically regarding financial access, infrastructure deficits, and regional trade barriers.

This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Palfridge Limited, a manufacturer of camping, domestic, commercial, and solar refrigerators. The company struggles with customs inefficiencies at the border between South Africa and Swaziland, high electricity costs and instability, trade policy barriers regarding EU imports and Zimbabwean exports, and the loss of skilled local labor to the South African market.

This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Coca-Cola Swaziland (CONCO LTD), a food manufacturing group producing soft drink concentrate for 60 bottling companies across 20 African countries. The document details systemic barriers in transport, customs, and regulatory compliance that hinder the company's efficiency and trade.

This research paper by Trudi Hartzenberg for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the intersection of trade, investment, and competition policy in South Africa. It analyzes how South Africa balances the need for foreign direct investment (FDI) and global trade integration with domestic development goals, particularly employment creation. The paper details the evolution of South Africa's competition regime, the role of the Competition Act of 1998, and the complexities of managing cross-border mergers, using the Walmart-Massmart transaction as a primary case study.

This report, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat and GIZ, identifies the primary business and investment constraints within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. By analyzing multiple business climate surveys, indices, and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the study establishes a list of the top ten barriers to investment and development to facilitate public-private dialogue and the creation of practical policy solutions.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the potential socio-economic impacts of increasing investment in basic education across Africa. Using the International Futures (IFs) modelling system, the authors simulate a scenario where African nations adopt the enrolment and completion growth rates of the continent's best-performing countries. The analysis suggests that a modest increase in GDP allocation to education could lead to significant long-term gains in GDP, poverty reduction, and public health, although these benefits would be realized over several decades.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the sustainable development (SD) potential of 12 different bioenergy project types by analyzing the project design documents of 76 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in India, Brazil, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The study finds that the potential for SD benefits varies significantly by project type, with on-farm residue projects claiming the most benefits and industrial forestry residue projects claiming the fewest.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) examines the intersection of climate change and poverty reduction. It argues that climate variability hinders the ability of poor populations to escape poverty and threatens the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The document advocates for integrating climate adaptation into national poverty reduction strategies, investing in evidence-based data, and ensuring that emission mitigation efforts provide tangible co-benefits for the poor.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the intersection of climate change and poverty reduction. It argues that climate variability hinders the ability of poor populations to escape poverty and threatens the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly in Africa. The document advocates for the integration of climate adaptation into national development strategies, the collection of more conclusive data on climate-poverty links, and a cautious approach to mitigation projects to ensure they provide tangible co-benefits for the poor.

This discussion note, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Pan African Parliament, examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to food security, land rights, and the environment, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

This briefing note, prepared for a July 2011 seminar organized by the Pan-African Parliament and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water. It highlights the risks to local food security, gender equality, and environmental standards, while outlining the legal frameworks governing these deals and the critical oversight role that parliamentarians should play to ensure sustainable development.

This policy brief argues that climate change hinders the achievement of development goals by disproportionately affecting the 'climate-vulnerable poor'. It calls for the integration of poverty reduction and adaptation strategies, a stronger evidence base on climate-poverty links, and a cautious approach to mitigation that prioritizes developmental co-benefits.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the intersection of climate change and poverty reduction, arguing that climate instability hinders the achievement of development goals. It advocates for integrating adaptation strategies into national poverty reduction policies and calls for more robust evidence to understand how climate impacts interact with other drivers of poverty.

In a statement delivered on 20 June 2011, Dame Nicola Brewer, the British High Commissioner to South Africa, outlines the evolving relationship between the United Kingdom and South Africa. She emphasizes a shift in the UK's perception of Africa from a 'problem' to a 'partner,' highlighting shared democratic values, economic opportunities, and a commitment to mutual growth and regional integration.

This briefing from the South African Institute of International Affairs addresses misconceptions regarding the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), specifically countering claims that South Africa acts as a regional bully or unilaterally controls revenue distribution. It explains the mechanics of the 2006 revenue sharing formula and argues that South Africa provides significant financial transfers to smaller member states while remaining committed to the union's stability.

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 report documents the proceedings of the Fifth Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators, held in Kampala, Uganda, from October 17–19, 2011. The event, co-organized by the Government of Uganda, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the South Centre, brought together 79 participants from 40 countries to discuss how developing nations can align foreign direct investment (FDI) with sustainable development goals. The forum focused on the risks of existing bilateral investment treaties (BITs), the importance of regulatory space for host states, and regional cooperation in investment policy.

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.

This report summarizes a conference held on May 31, 2011, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). The event brought together experts, diplomats, and academics to analyze the causes and implications of the 2011 popular revolutions in North Africa, specifically in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, while also examining the situations in Algeria and Morocco and the potential for similar unrest in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This report by Friends of the Earth International argues that Jatropha is neither a profitable nor a sustainable investment for biofuel production. It challenges the 'miracle crop' narrative, providing evidence that the plant requires significant inputs to be viable, often competes with food production, and leads to the displacement of local communities and the destruction of biodiversity.