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This policy brief outlines how integrating a gender perspective into low-carbon and climate-resilient small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries enhances economic sustainability, productivity, and climate impact. Drawing on the Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World (GLOW) program (2021-24), the document demonstrates that addressing gender barriers in sectors like agriculture and aquaculture is a strategic success factor for climate-smart businesses.

This policy brief describes how integrating a gender perspective into low-carbon and climate-resilient business models enhances economic sustainability and climate impact for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Drawing on the GLOW (Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World) program (2021–2024), the document outlines strategies for women's empowerment in sectors such as agriculture and aquaculture, demonstrating that addressing gender-specific barriers leads to higher productivity, better market access, and increased attractiveness to impact investors.

This briefing by Trend Asia argues that the UN Secretary-General's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals lacks representation from communities directly impacted by the mining and processing of transition minerals. The document highlights the negative environmental and social consequences of 'green extractivism' in Argentina, Indonesia, and Guinea, and provides a set of recommendations for governments and companies to safeguard human rights and environmental standards.

The December 2023/January 2024 edition of the Peace & Security Council Report evaluates the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) performance in 2023, highlighting a trend toward discussing thematic issues over sensitive country crises. It examines the challenges of consensus-based decision-making, the upcoming 2024 AU chairship and PSC membership elections, and the potential impact of the UN's New Agenda for Peace on African security architecture.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) describes a new PlugIn for the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software, developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The tool calculates water stress disaggregated by catchment area and sub-basin, assisting countries in meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 6.4.2.

This special edition of the Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the resurgence of military coups and unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs) in Africa, specifically focusing on a 'third wave' since 2019. The report analyzes the drivers of these coups, the role of 'constitutional coups' (manipulating term limits), the impact of civil-military relations, and the effectiveness of African Union (AU) and regional sanctions.

This research paper examines illicit financial flows (IFFs) stemming from migrant smuggling in Senegal and Sierra Leone. It analyzes how smuggling proceeds are generated, moved through formal and informal channels, and laundered into legitimate sectors. The report highlights a significant gap between the existence of anti-money laundering policies and their practical implementation, noting that financial intelligence units in both countries lack the resources and expertise to effectively 'follow the money' in smuggling cases.

The July 2023 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the outcomes of the fifth mid-year coordination meeting between the African Union (AU) and regional economic communities (RECs). It highlights systemic coordination failures in peace-making, the challenges of AU institutional reforms, and the potential of new initiatives like the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT) to deter unconstitutional changes of government. The report also discusses the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of the UN mission (MINUSMA) from Mali.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the health cooperation between Germany and African states, arguing that current partnerships are rooted in colonial legacies and lack genuine reciprocity. The author contends that recent shifts toward 'securitization' of health—prioritizing global health security and economic interests—often override the needs of marginalized populations and the goal of strengthening local health systems.

This research paper examines the historical and contemporary health cooperation between Germany and African nations, arguing that these relations remain unequal and lack reciprocity. The author contends that while Germany promotes multilateralism and health security, its actions often prioritize economic interests and security over the public health needs and autonomy of African partners, calling for a decolonial shift toward health and climate justice.

The May 2023 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) responses to crises in Sudan and Chad, the slow adoption of structural vulnerability assessments, the complexities of the AU-EU partnership, and the challenges facing the 'Silencing the Guns' initiative.

This meeting report describes a remote training workshop held on November 23–24, 2022, by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) for members of Women in Mining of West Africa (WIMOWA). The workshop focused on gender equality and local content in the mining sector, specifically addressing women's participation in direct employment and local procurement.

This community audit, published by Natural Justice in February 2023, documents the environmental and social impacts of bauxite mining operations by the Société Minière de Boké (SMB) in the Boké region of Guinea. Based on consultations across 24 villages, the report identifies systemic violations of rights to a healthy environment, land ownership, water access, and health, while calling for a Livelihoods Restoration Plan and the abandonment of a proposed coal-fired power plant.

A 2023 community audit by Natural Justice reports that the Société Minière de Boké (SMB) has caused severe environmental degradation, including water and air pollution and loss of agricultural land, in the Boké region of Guinea. The report documents systemic violations of Guinean constitutional and environmental laws, a lack of transparent community consultation regarding impact assessments, and demands the abandonment of a proposed coal-fired power plant.

This summary booklet outlines a community audit conducted between 2018 and 2023 regarding the environmental and social impacts of bauxite mining by Société Minière de Boké (SMB) in the Boké region of Guinea. The audit, supported by several NGOs, identifies widespread violations of rights to a healthy environment, land, water, health, food, and information across 24 villages.

This guide, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the OECD, provides a transfer pricing framework to help tax administrations in resource-rich developing countries accurately value mineral sales between related parties. It focuses on the application of the Comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP) method to ensure that minerals are priced on an arm's length basis, thereby reducing base erosion and profit-shifting risks.

This guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the OECD, provides a framework for tax administrations in resource-rich developing countries to determine the arm's length price of minerals sold between related parties. It focuses on the application of the Comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP) method to mitigate the risk of base erosion and profit shifting in the mining sector.

This guide, published by the IISD and OECD, provides a framework for tax administrations in developing countries to determine the arm's length price of minerals sold between related parties. It focuses on the application of the Comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP) method to prevent tax base erosion and profit shifting in the mining sector.

The November 2022 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines political instability in Tunisia, counter-terrorism strategies in the Sahel, and the security risks posed by acute food insecurity across Africa.

The 2022 Forest Declaration Assessment Theme 4 report evaluates global forest governance systems and their capacity to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030. It finds that while some countries have implemented effective legal tools like moratoria and inclusive policies, overall progress is insufficient, with persistent issues including widespread corruption, tenure insecurity for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and the rollback of environmental protections in several major tropical forest nations.