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The document argues that increasing Africa's education spending from 4% to 4.8% of GDP could lead to universal primary education by 2030 and universal basic education by 2035. Using the International Futures (IFs) model, the authors project that this investment would add US$ 2.5 trillion to Africa's GDP by 2050, while significantly reducing child malnutrition, extreme poverty, and the probability of state failure. However, the report notes that these gains require a long-term horizon and a reallocation of government funds away from other sectors like health and the military.

The research paper analyzes the similarities and differences between al-Shabaab and the LRA, noting that while both utilize religious frameworks to justify violence and mobilize support, they differ significantly in their leadership structures and goals. Al-Shabaab maintains a decentralized, community-based network with international links and territorial control in parts of Somalia, whereas the LRA has evolved into a small, mobile force focused on survival through pillaging in border zones of Central Africa. The author argues that military-only responses to these groups are ineffective because they fail to address the underlying structural grievances and social marginalization that drive recruitment.

The document argues that African agriculture must transition to 'climate-smart' models to combat projected yield losses of up to 50% by 2020. Using Kenya as a case study, it highlights several low-cost innovations: greenhouse agriculture combined with drip irrigation to reduce water use; rainwater harvesting from rock outcrops; the adoption of drought-resistant cassava varieties; the use of alternative indigenous fodders like acacia pods and tubers for livestock; and the implementation of Plastic Tubular Digester (PTD) biogas technology to reduce deforestation and energy costs. The briefing emphasizes that scaling these innovations requires moving beyond pilot projects through 'bankable projects' that attract microfinance, promoting participatory action research via National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), and leveraging farmers' groups for capacity building.

The document examines the adoption of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) in Niger, where between a quarter and one half of farmers have adopted the practice across approximately five million hectares. FMNR involves managing tree sprouts from existing stumps rather than planting new seedlings, which reduces implementation costs to approximately $10 per hectare compared to $200 or more for planting schemes. The practice has increased crop yields, food security, and income, with some households in the Zinder Region earning $2,000–3,000 per year from baobab products. Key drivers of success include secure land tenure, the role of farmers as innovators, and the shift from exclusion-based forestry laws to community-based management. The brief also notes potential climate mitigation benefits, estimating carbon storage in Niger's regenerated parklands at 60 million tons.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon argues that sustainable energy is essential to defeating poverty and combating climate change. He proposes three linked objectives for 2030: universal access to modern energy, doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement, and doubling the share of renewable energy in the global mix. The document identifies financial, regulatory, and infrastructural barriers to this transition and calls for a global 'clean energy revolution' supported by the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.

The document outlines the use of human urine as a nutrient-rich, low-cost alternative to chemical fertilizers. It details the composition of urine, application strategies to maximize crop yields while minimizing ammonia loss, and a multi-barrier risk management approach based on WHO guidelines to ensure health safety. The guide also addresses the economic value of urine, institutional frameworks for implementation, and provides case studies from Sweden, Burkina Faso, and Niger.

The briefing examines Kenya's 2011 military intervention in Somalia, 'Operation Linda Nchi', which aims to create a 100 km buffer zone to prevent Al-Shabaab incursions and protect the tourism industry. It warns that the move shifts Kenya from a victim to a target of Al-Shabaab, potentially increasing the risk of reprisal attacks and sleeper cell activity within Kenya. The author notes that while the operation responds to kidnappings and territorial threats, it faces challenges including rising economic costs, potential civilian casualties that could alienate Somalis, and the risk of the mission becoming protracted and overextending beyond its limited buffer zone goal.

The document argues that the current international environmental governance (IEG) regime is fragmented and fails Africa by prioritizing negotiations over implementation and accountability. It proposes a shift toward a 'green economy' supported by four guiding principles: sustainable development, equity, accountability, and implementation. Key recommendations include establishing a 'sustainability risk assessment' for macroeconomic policies, creating a global mechanism to track sustainable development finance, and transforming UNEP into a more powerful international specialized institution. The report emphasizes that reform must move beyond institutional naming to include specific mandates for operational capacity, stable funding, and a stronger link between international promises and on-the-ground results in Africa.

The report examines the surge of foreign direct investment in African farmland and water, often termed "land grabs," and its negative impacts on local communities, human rights, and food security. It identifies three main types of investors: food-insecure states, western agribusinesses, and financial sector actors. The document highlights systemic failures, including lack of transparency, weak land tenure laws, and the marginalization of women. It proposes a role for parliamentarians as watchdogs and legislators to ensure free, prior and informed consent and transparency. Key recommendations include land tenure reform, the potential for a moratorium on large-scale land acquisitions, and the adoption of inclusive business models to align investment with national development strategies and the Maputo Declaration.

The document details the consequences of a surge in foreign land acquisitions in Africa, driven by global food and energy demands. It highlights the erosion of local land rights, lack of transparency in contracts, and the marginalization of women. It proposes a parliamentary roadmap including land reform, mandatory community consent, and a potential moratorium on large-scale land acquisitions to ensure investments benefit local populations.

The document analyzes the surge of foreign direct investment in African farmland and water, often termed 'land grabbing', highlighting the systemic lack of transparency and the violation of local land rights. It identifies three types of investors—food-insecure states, agribusinesses, and financial speculators—and examines the legal frameworks that often prioritize investor protections over community rights. The report advocates for a parliamentary role in ensuring social inclusion, promoting inclusive business models, and implementing the Maputo Declaration's agricultural goals. It concludes with a draft resolution calling for a moratorium on large-scale land acquisitions until a proper governance framework is established.

The document details the outcomes of a July 2011 seminar on foreign investment in African arable land and water. It identifies the drivers of 'land grabbing'—including biofuel demand and food insecurity in Gulf and Asian states—and analyzes the negative impacts on rural populations, particularly women. The report highlights a systemic lack of transparency in investment contracts and the weakness of national land laws, which often allow governments to allocate land despite existing community use. It proposes a parliamentary roadmap focusing on legislative oversight, the requirement of free, prior, and informed consent, and the potential for a moratorium on large-scale land acquisitions until robust governance frameworks are established.

The report examines how ecosystem services—provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting—directly impact human well-being, particularly for poor and indigenous communities. It highlights that poverty is a multidimensional issue often tied to environmental degradation and lack of resource access. Using frameworks like the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the document argues for integrating ecosystem-based policies with poverty-alleviation measures to build resilience against climate change and environmental shocks. It emphasizes that without such integration, environmental protection policies can inadvertently increase poverty through maladaptation or by restricting essential livelihood access.

The document details the outcomes of a July 2011 seminar on 'land grabs' in Africa, highlighting how large-scale foreign investments often undermine local land rights, water access, and gender equality. It argues that current investment models frequently lack transparency and fail to deliver promised socio-economic benefits. The report calls for a temporary moratorium on large-scale land acquisitions, the adoption of the Maputo Declaration's 10% budget allocation for agriculture, and a stronger role for parliamentarians in overseeing contracts and protecting community rights.

The paper examines the shift away from agriculture in rural sub-Saharan Africa, driven by Structural Adjustment Programmes, and recommends policies to support occupational diversification and human capital development.

The document examines the intersection of climate change and poverty, highlighting how climate variability makes it harder for the poor to escape poverty. It advocates for a shift toward 'climate-resilient development' by integrating adaptation into national poverty reduction strategies, investing in evidence-based data, and ensuring inclusive processes that involve climate-vulnerable poor populations. The brief notes that while 'triple win' solutions (combining mitigation, adaptation, and poverty reduction) are desirable, they are difficult to implement and often fail to reach the poorest populations. It emphasizes that public investment is essential, as private sector investment alone cannot meet the needs of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and adaptation requirements, particularly in Africa.

The document highlights how climate variability makes it harder for poor populations to escape poverty and threatens the achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It calls for a shift from treating adaptation and development as separate entities toward a unified approach of 'climate-resilient development'. Key recommendations include investing in evidence-based data on climate-poverty links, ensuring national ownership of strategies, and prioritizing mitigation only when it offers clear co-benefits for poverty reduction and adaptation.

The document analyzes the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water, driven by global food and biofuel demand. It highlights systemic issues including the neglect of existing land rights, lack of community consultation, and failure to conduct environmental impact assessments. The author argues that parliamentarians must actively oversee investment contracts and treaties to prevent the prioritization of investor interests over local food security and environmental protection.

The document examines the surge of foreign investment in African agricultural land and water, driven by demand for food and biofuels. It highlights systemic failures in governance, including the disregard for local land rights, lack of community consultation, and the absence of environmental impact assessments. It argues that the current legal landscape—dominated by investor-centric international treaties and contracts—often undermines local food security and environmental protection. The briefing urges parliamentarians to demand transparency, access to investment contracts, and a role in the ratification and monitoring of these deals to ensure sustainable development and the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly women.

The report assesses critical security and political risks across several African nations. In Libya, it highlights the challenges of the National Transitional Council (NTC) in establishing law and order and an inclusive government post-Gaddafi. In Egypt, it examines the volatile transition under the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCOAF) and the rising influence of Islamist groups. In Guinea, it analyzes the fragility of democracy following an attempted coup in July 2011. In Malawi, it details the economic and political crisis resulting from the suspension of UK budget support and violent protests. Finally, it reviews the AU's response to the severe drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, specifically Somalia, under the principle of non-indifference.