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The document examines Germany's engagement with African agrifood systems through the BMEL, BMZ, and GIZ, finding that while funding has grown, it remains primarily aid-driven and insufficient for systemic transformation. It recommends transitioning toward market-oriented partnerships, leveraging the AfCFTA and the CAADP Kampala Declaration to promote value addition and private sector investment.

Turkey is aggressively expanding its presence in Africa's critical minerals sector to support its domestic defence, electric vehicle, and renewable energy industries. While Turkey employs a pragmatic, commercially driven approach—often coupling mining with defence cooperation in volatile regions like the Sahel—the paper argues that aligning Turkish commercial agility with EU financial instruments and ESG standards through the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) could create more sustainable, trilateral value chains that benefit African host nations.

The document examines the integration of climate-resilient budgeting (CRB) and green budgeting (GB) into Nigeria's national financial frameworks, specifically focusing on the role of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP). It analyzes the impact of Nigeria's 2023 ministerial restructuring, identifies gaps in current policy implementation, and compares Nigeria's approach with other developing nations like Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Nepal.

The document argues that while African governments have set ambitious climate adaptation targets, governance and financial barriers hinder the effectiveness of locally led adaptation (LLA). It highlights the severe economic impact of climate change on Africa's GDP and food systems, noting that LLA can enhance resilience by centering decision-making at the community level and leveraging Indigenous knowledge. The brief identifies gaps in national policies, such as the lack of substantive gender analysis in NDCs and the disconnect between identified needs and available funding. It recommends integrating LLA principles into national policies, expanding direct access to climate finance for local actors, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure accountability and inclusivity.

The report examines the integration of finance within National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) across 59 developing countries. It finds that while most NAPs include dedicated finance sections and rely heavily on international public funding, there is a significant gap in detailed costing and the mobilization of private-sector finance. The authors recommend that countries move toward more investment-oriented NAP documents, implement climate-resilient fiscal planning, and adopt tailored financing strategies—particularly for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)—to bridge the adaptation finance gap.

The study analyzes 320 adaptation investments totaling $133 billion across 12 countries, finding an average economic internal rate of return (EIRR) of 26.7%. Using the Triple Dividend of Resilience (TDR) framework, the authors demonstrate that benefits from induced economic development and social/environmental gains often double the value of avoided losses, meaning many investments are viable regardless of whether a climate disaster occurs. The paper highlights significant synergies between adaptation and mitigation, noting that nearly half of the evaluated projects yield GHG emission reductions. It recommends that multilateral development banks and governments adopt common reporting frameworks and disaggregate benefits to attract private capital.

Saglan Wajee General Hospital has introduced Efoy, a micro-health insurance product designed for underserved communities in Ethiopia. Supported by FSD Africa's BimaLab Insurtech Accelerator Program, the hospital secured a license from the National Bank of Ethiopia to launch Efoy 1.0, which attracted over 1,200 customers in its first year with annual premiums starting at 400 birr (4 USD) per child and 800 birr (8 USD) per adult. The subsequent Efoy 2.0 version expanded coverage to include chronic patients and services like MRI and medication, reaching an additional 900 clients. The hospital plans to expand its network to 130 health facilities and open a branch in Addis Ababa.

Kacha Digital Financial Services, Ethiopia's first private mobile money operator, is addressing the low insurance penetration rate in Ethiopia by introducing digital premium financing. In partnership with Lucy Insurance S.C. and Global Bank of Ethiopia, and supported by FSD Africa's BimaLab Insurtech Accelerator Programme, Kacha allows users to pay for motor vehicle and other insurance premiums via manageable instalments on a mobile platform. This initiative aims to support underserved groups such as MSMEs, farmers, and self-employed individuals who previously faced high upfront cost barriers.

The Council on Strategic Risks argues that the Trump Administration's proposed FY2026 budget for the State Department and USAID would undermine US national security by eliminating programs that build climate resilience, food security, and disaster preparedness. The document highlights how these cuts create strategic openings for China, particularly in Asia and the Pacific, and increase the risk of global instability and migration. It specifically calls for clarity on the implementation of the Global Fragility Act and the balance between the administration's goal of seabed mineral extraction and the simultaneous cutting of scientific funding for ocean exploration.

Global climate finance for agrifood systems reached USD 94.9 billion in 2021/22, representing 7.2% of total global climate finance. While flows have increased since 2019/20, the report finds that investment is critically misaligned, with a massive funding gap of USD 1.1 trillion annually required through 2030 to align the sector with climate goals. Growth is heavily concentrated in domestic public investment in China and Europe, while private capital remains largely absent in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. Mitigation finance is dominated by energy-related projects like agrivoltaics, while adaptation finance remains heavily reliant on public grants. The report calls for a strategic mix of financial instruments and policy reforms to unlock capital for high-impact solutions such as soil carbon management and nature-based solutions.

The report finds that while carbon markets have the potential to generate social and economic benefits for LMIC communities, current impacts are often suboptimal or negative due to poor project design and governance. Agricultural and energy efficiency projects generally show higher potential for positive community impact than pure forest conservation projects, which often restrict access to vital resources. Key barriers include low carbon prices in voluntary markets, delayed payments, and the exclusion of women due to land tenure structures. Positive outcomes are linked to pro-poor design, inclusive governance, higher carbon prices for co-benefits, and adherence to stringent standards like the CCB Standard.

The document outlines a methodological framework for gender mainstreaming within Senegal's climate adaptation planning. It identifies specific entry points across 14 process steps—from launch to notification—and provides seven key tools, including gender analysis and gender-responsive budgeting. It highlights the disproportionate impact of climate change on women in Senegal and offers a series of national and international best practices to ensure equitable benefits from adaptation measures.

The paper analyzes the civil war between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), arguing that the conflict has become a proxy war for Middle Eastern powers. It details how external military support from countries like the UAE, Egypt, and Iran sustains the fighting and how a proliferation of uncoordinated, ad hoc mediation initiatives—often led by these same regional actors—has marginalized civilian political actors and hindered a comprehensive peace agreement.

The document argues that while African governments have set ambitious adaptation targets, governance and financial constraints hinder the effectiveness of these efforts. It advocates for locally led adaptation (LLA) as a participatory strategy to ensure resilience is context-specific and inclusive. Key barriers identified include a disconnect between national policies and local needs, limited direct access to climate finance for local actors, and weak monitoring systems. The brief recommends integrating Indigenous knowledge, devolving decision-making, and expanding decentralized finance to empower local communities.

Malawi is leveraging carbon markets to attract climate finance, protect ecosystems, and support its 2063 Vision. While the country has historically faced transparency issues and a lack of regulation, the government is now implementing a Carbon Trading Regulatory Framework and the Malawi Carbon Markets Initiative to oversee trade and ensure benefit-sharing. The Kulera Landscape REDD+ Program serves as a model for integrating local communities as partners rather than just beneficiaries. However, significant barriers remain, including technical capacity gaps in government, limited finance for smallholder farmers, and gender inequality in leadership.

In 2024, fossil-powered capacity fell below half of the total electricity mix for the BRICS group, driven by renewable growth in China, India, and Brazil. However, new BRICS members—including Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Nigeria—show a stark gap between net-zero pledges and action, currently constructing ten times more fossil fuel capacity (25 GW) than wind and utility-scale solar (2.3 GW). Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are central to this expansion, backing 62% of all power capacity under construction in new member geographies, with particularly high involvement in hydropower (93%) and coal (88%).

The document examines the 'climate-debt trap' facing low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where escalating external debt—reaching nearly US$6.5 trillion in 2023—crowds out climate investment. It analyzes existing financial mechanisms such as Climate Resilient Debt Clauses (CRDCs), Catastrophe (CAT) bonds, and debt swaps, while critiquing the G20 Common Framework for its inadequacy. The authors advocate for the cancellation of 'odious debt' linked to fossil fuel projects and propose that a Fossil Fuel Treaty could establish a Debt Resolution Facility to help member nations renegotiate debts in exchange for phasing out fossil fuels.

The document analyzes sovereign debt in the Global South as a tool of neocolonial control that perpetuates structural dependencies in food, energy, and manufacturing. It critiques existing G20 restructuring mechanisms for treating debt as a liquidity issue rather than a structural one. Drawing on the failure of the 1980s Cartagena Initiative, the authors advocate for a Global South Debtors’ Coalition to leverage collective bargaining power. This coalition would pursue 'The Bargain of the Century,' proposing that Global South nations use their strategic mineral wealth and market size to secure technology transfers from major powers like China, the US, and the EU. The paper specifically urges South Africa to use its G20 Presidency to advance this framework, linking debt justice to food sovereignty, renewable energy independence, and regional industrial policies.

The document analyzes pandemic preparedness in Africa, categorizing nations into scientifically advanced, policy-advanced, and fragile states. It argues that while global actors like the WHO promote standardized frameworks and securitization, these often clash with local needs for long-term health system strengthening. The author highlights a disconnect where funding is directed toward reactionary measures and 'pre-approved studies' rather than sustainable infrastructure, particularly in authoritarian or fragile states.

The document is a formal agreement between the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to facilitate the delivery of Readiness and Preparatory Support. It outlines the processes for grant approval, disbursement, and financial management, while establishing strict requirements for procurement, monitoring, and the prevention of prohibited practices. The agreement specifies that UNECA will manage these grants on behalf of National Designated Authorities (NDAs) in developing countries, ensuring compliance with GCF's environmental, social, and gender policies.