Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief examines the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) established under the Paris Agreement, focusing on the reporting requirements for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the challenges faced by developing countries, particularly in Africa, in meeting these standards by the 2024 deadline.

This introduction to a special report by the Institute for Security Studies outlines the socio-economic and ecological challenges facing the Horn of Africa—comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and South Sudan—and describes the use of the International Futures (IFs) modelling platform to forecast development pathways to 2040.

This background report from the Institute for Security Studies examines the historical, political, and geostrategic context of the Horn of Africa. It details the region's prevalence of inter-state and intra-state conflicts, the impact of forced displacement, and the significant influence of foreign military and economic interests from global powers and Gulf states on regional stability and development.

The report concludes that the Horn of Africa's development is severely hindered by chronic instability, poor governance, and a reliance on primary exports. It argues that while the current trajectory is grim—with high poverty rates in Somalia and South Sudan and fragility in Ethiopia—an 'Integrated Development Push' involving climate-smart agriculture, economic diversification, and regional integration could lead to inclusive growth by 2040.

The report estimates that implementing Africa's NDCs from 2020 to 2030 will cost USD 2.8 trillion, with a funding gap of USD 2.5 trillion. Current annual flows of USD 30 billion meet only 12% of the required USD 250 billion annual need. Mitigation accounts for 66% of needs, while adaptation accounts for 24%, though the latter is likely underestimated.

This report by FSD Africa and Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the climate finance needs of African countries based on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It estimates that implementing these NDCs between 2020 and 2030 will cost USD 2.8 trillion, with a funding gap of USD 2.5 trillion that must be met by international and private sources. The report highlights significant data gaps in adaptation needs and sectoral disaggregation, and recommends that the UNFCCC provide standardized guidance to help countries develop robust, bottom-up financing roadmaps.

This report by FSD Africa provides a first quantitative risk assessment and stress-testing framework for financial institutions in Africa to evaluate nature-related opportunities and risks. Using the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) LEAP approach, the study analyzes the impact of nature loss and nature-positive transitions on equity and lending portfolios across several African countries and private banks. It highlights that while aggregate portfolio impacts may appear small due to limited direct exposure, the risks are material for nature-intensive sectors like agriculture and extractives, where nature-related risks could double expected credit losses by 2030.

This policy brief examines the deployment and regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa, highlighting the tension between the dominance of foreign Big Tech companies and the need for local AI capacities that align with national development priorities. It analyzes risks associated with biometric identification, the gig economy, and 'click work,' while reviewing emerging national AI strategies in countries like Egypt, Mauritius, and Rwanda. The document argues that for AI to benefit local economies, African states must prioritize inclusive digital infrastructure, data governance, and the protection of human rights, while cautioning that regulatory frameworks from the EU (such as the AI Act and GDPR) may not fully address the structural and socio-economic realities of the African context.

This policy brief, based on a study of Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya, examines the alignment between Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and national development plans. It finds that DFIs generally do not use national development plans to shape investment decisions, leading to funding gaps in strategic sectors. The brief proposes a four-step framework—Identify, Compare, Engage, and Invest—to help DFIs better align their portfolios with country-level priorities to enhance development impact.

This report details a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of a tree-planting initiative in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, concluding that nature-based infrastructure (NBI) provides greater societal value and climate resilience than grey infrastructure alternatives.

The April 2022 Peace & Security Council Report examines the security crisis in Burkina Faso, the implementation of the African Union's (AU) youth, peace and security agenda, the appointment of the fifth Panel of the Wise, and Senegal's priorities as AU chair.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews 15 multisectoral National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to assess the integration of human rights principles. The analysis finds that human rights are not systematically referenced or used to guide the planning and implementation processes in the majority of the reviewed documents, despite the obligations outlined in the Paris Agreement.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the evolving nature of sovereign debt in Africa, highlighting a shift from traditional multilateral creditors to private bondholders and emerging economies like China. It argues that current debt relief mechanisms are insufficient because they lack statutory, human rights-based frameworks and fail to compel the participation of private creditors, leaving African nations vulnerable to economic shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development discusses the necessity of transitioning from GDP to comprehensive/inclusive wealth (C/IW) measures to better assess national progress and long-term well-being.

This February 2022 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the composition and challenges of the newly elected African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC), the outcomes of the February 2022 AU Summit regarding governance and conflict prevention, and the ongoing debate over equitable regional representation within the Council. It also examines the tensions between the African Union and the European Union regarding the green energy transition and critiques the application of the principle of subsidiarity in the relationship between the AU and Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute assesses the alignment between Development Finance Institution (DFI) investments and the national development plans of Ethiopia, Ghana, and Kenya. It examines how DFIs can better support strategic sectors to enhance development impacts and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This report presents a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of planned reforestation and water retention wells in Indonesia's Brantas River basin, demonstrating that nature-based infrastructure is more cost-effective than traditional reservoirs and provides significant societal benefits.

This fact sheet, based on the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report, details the current and future climate risks for East Africa. It highlights that the region has warmed faster than the global average, leading to increased drought frequency, glacier loss, and severe impacts on food systems, human health, and economic growth. The document outlines adaptation strategies, such as ecosystem-based solutions and climate-smart agriculture, while emphasizing the critical need for increased finance, improved climate literacy, and robust governance to build regional resilience.

This fact sheet outlines the goals and approach of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) for the period 2022–27. CDKN is a global Southern-led network that aims to advance gender-equitable and socially-inclusive climate-resilient development by mobilizing knowledge, capacity, and Southern leadership to support locally-led climate action.

The Ethiopia Industrial Parks Jobs Protection Facility was an emergency funding initiative managed by FSD Africa to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Ethiopia's textile and garment manufacturing sector. The facility provided wage and innovation incentives to 24 factories, supporting over 31,000 workers and encouraging business pivots, such as the production of PPE, to maintain operational viability and workforce retention.