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This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolving relationship between the Republic of Korea and Africa, focusing on opportunities for collaboration in climate change and energy transition. It analyzes Korea's carbon-neutrality goals and the African Union's Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy (2022–2032) to identify synergies in renewable energy, green minerals, smart cities, and sustainable agriculture.

This research paper analyzes the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and identifies strategic opportunities for Korean investors and the Korean government to reverse a decline in trade with Africa. It highlights the potential for Korea to leverage its expertise in capital goods, automotive manufacturing, and clean energy to integrate into emerging African regional value chains.

This SEI briefing discusses the necessity of integrated planning to align the Paris Agreement's climate goals with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It evaluates existing software tools for this purpose and highlights the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) as a unique open-access, quantitative, and prospective tool capable of analyzing both Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This research paper examines the diverse responses of African nations to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and proposes four strategic options for the continent to advance its political, economic, and social interests amid the shifting geopolitical landscape.

The report describes the outcomes of Ashden's Fair Cooling Fund, a grant-making initiative supported by the Clean Cooling Collaborative. The fund provided USD 600,000 to seven organizations to develop sustainable cooling solutions for marginalized communities, focusing on cold chain access and cooling for homes and streets.

This research paper by the Green Economy Coalition proposes a structural agenda for a green economic recovery from COVID-19. It defines green structural reforms as systemic, long-lasting, and general-purpose interventions, contrasting them with short-term stimulus measures. The document provides a nested framework of ten high-level reform measures and a comprehensive set of prioritisation criteria (conventional, advanced, and systemic/political) to help governments move beyond emergency triage toward long-term socio-ecological transformation.

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 policy brief examines how Aid for Trade (AfT) and Official Development Assistance (ODA) can be leveraged to help developing and least developed countries transition to sustainable trade and circular economies to combat plastic pollution. It highlights a significant mismatch between the limited funding for plastic pollution mitigation and the massive financial flows supporting the petrochemical sector, while proposing specific short- and medium-term deliverables for WTO members through the Informal Dialogue on Plastic Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade (IDP).

This research paper examines the drivers and consequences of increased Eurobond issuance and sovereign credit ratings in Africa over the last decade, arguing that the 'big three' rating agencies exert significant influence over African debt costs while lacking accountability and local context.

This research paper examines the drivers and consequences of the increased issuance of Eurobonds and sovereign credit ratings in Africa. It argues that while Eurobonds were intended to reduce reliance on aid, the dominance of the 'big three' rating agencies—Moody's, Fitch, and Standard & Poor's—has often led to deteriorating credit ratings, higher borrowing costs, and constrained policy space for African governments, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 policy brief examines the use of end-user subsidies to bridge the affordability gap for electricity access, specifically focusing on solar home systems (SHSs) in high-impact countries. It analyzes methodologies for calculating affordability gaps, outlines key design attributes for subsidy programs, and evaluates case studies from Ghana, Uganda, and Togo to identify factors contributing to program success or failure.

This report by Cenfri and FSD Africa analyzes how insurance regulators across 31 sub-Saharan African countries responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. It proposes a four-phase regulatory response framework—Identify, Determine/Implement, Monitor, and Adapt—to help supervisors manage future systemic risks such as climate change and cyber-security threats.

This policy brief by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) examines the use of end-user subsidies to bridge the affordability gap for electricity access, specifically focusing on solar home systems (SHSs). It analyzes methodologies for calculating affordability gaps, outlines key design attributes for subsidy programs, and compares case studies from Ghana, Uganda, and Togo to identify best practices and data requirements for improving energy access in high-impact countries.

This policy brief examines the polluter-pays principle (PPP), which requires pollution producers to bear the costs of managing and preventing environmental and human health damage. While established in European Union and OECD frameworks, the PPP faces challenges in universal international application due to ambiguities in defining 'the polluter' and differing national legal systems. The document explores the PPP's intersection with international climate change law, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), and efforts by global financial institutions to implement carbon pricing.

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 policy brief examines the evolution, effectiveness, and challenges of science-policy interfaces (SPIs) in global environmental governance since 1972. It analyzes existing models like the IPCC and IPBES, evaluates proposals for new SPIs focused on chemicals, waste, and food systems, and provides a three-pronged design framework to ensure future interfaces are credible, inclusive, and policy-relevant.

This fact sheet evaluates progress toward Goal 10 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on strengthening forest governance, transparency, and the rule of law while empowering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs). The document reports that while some legal frameworks and demand-side regulations have improved, overall progress is too slow to measurably reduce deforestation, with illegal deforestation increasing from 49% to 69% over a seven-year period.

This research paper assesses the demand for remittance-linked insurance products (RLIPs) among migrants in South Africa sending money to Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. It finds that while senders are highly concerned about health, death, and education costs for themselves and their families, they rely almost exclusively on informal coping mechanisms and savings. The study highlights a significant trust gap in formal financial services, particularly among Ghanaian senders, and recommends that RLIPs be designed with small, discretionary premiums, clear terms, and a strong link to the wellbeing of the receivers.

This fact sheet, based on the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, details the observed and projected impacts of climate change in West Africa. It highlights significant increases in temperature, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise, which threaten human health, food security, biodiversity, and economic stability. The document emphasizes the region's high vulnerability despite its low contribution to global emissions and calls for transformative adaptation and increased financial and research investment.