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This research paper analyzes the impact of currency risk on infrastructure projects in developing markets, arguing that hard currency loans from International Financing Institutions (IFIs) create dangerous asset-liability mismatches. The authors propose that IFIs shift their strategy from direct lending to developing local capital markets and providing credit guarantees. This approach aims to leverage private commercial capital and reduce the financial burden on host governments and end-users.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's engagement with the BRICS bloc ahead of the Ufa summit, highlighting the lack of a concrete strategy to translate the grouping's general economic goals into tangible benefits for South African business and infrastructure.

This executive summary explores the potential for a government-sponsored foreign exchange (FX) hedging facility to reduce the cost of renewable energy in India. It argues that high market-based currency hedging costs currently make foreign debt nearly as expensive as domestic debt, hindering the achievement of 2022 renewable energy targets. The document analyzes a proposed facility that would cover debt payments for USD loans, estimating its expected cost and the potential reductions in government support and energy costs.

The Climate Bonds Initiative reports that the global green bond market in Q1 2015 saw 44 issuances totaling $7.2 billion. While the quarter started slowly, the market showed signs of maturation through diversification in currencies and credit ratings, alongside significant growth in emerging markets and US municipal bonds.

This briefing by RMI argues that decentralized solar energy is the most viable path to providing electricity access to the 1.3 billion people currently without it, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa and India, while avoiding a projected 141-percent increase in carbon emissions by 2040 that would result from coal-fired power plants.

This executive summary examines the effectiveness of auctions versus feed-in tariffs as project allocation mechanisms for achieving India's 2022 renewable energy targets, concluding that while auctions are generally cost-effective, they have not yet resulted in adequate deployment.

This report, produced by PBL, NewClimate Institute, IIASA, and Ecofys, analyzes projected greenhouse gas emissions for seven major emitting countries through 2030. It evaluates the impact of current, planned, and enhanced mitigation policies to determine their potential to narrow the gap between expected emission levels and those required to meet the 2°C climate target.

This report examines India's diesel subsidy reform from 2012 to 2014, highlighting how a phased approach of incremental price increases successfully achieved formal decontrol by October 2014. While the reform reduced diesel demand and stabilized external deficits, the report notes that the benefits of the previous subsidies were regressive, primarily aiding wealthy households and states. It concludes that the political cost of delaying reform was high, and that the government's failure to link savings to social spending damaged its public standing.

This report analyzes Energy Savings Insurance (ESI), a financial instrument developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and BASE to mitigate the risk of underperformance in energy efficiency projects for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in developing countries.

This executive summary by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the costs associated with India's goals to install 60 GW of wind and 100 GW of solar power capacity by 2022. It compares the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of these renewables against imported coal, evaluates the cost of current support mechanisms like accelerated depreciation, and proposes alternative financing models to reduce government expenditure.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) defines foreign direct investment (FDI), outlines its types and general economic impacts, and details the evolution of South Africa's economic strategies and approach to attracting and regulating inward FDI.

This research paper evaluates the 2010 residential tiered electricity pricing (TEP) reform in China, focusing on its effects on equity, efficiency, and subsidy expenditure.

The report details the design and pilot of the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument, aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk of underperformance. It focuses on a 2015 pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector and outlines a replication strategy for Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

This policy brief analyzes the BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA), arguing that while it is currently more symbolic than a substantive challenge to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it has the potential to evolve into a more independent and comprehensive financial safety net for emerging economies.

This policy brief outlines the necessity and implementation of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory management systems for economic zones in China to support the transition to low-carbon operations. It emphasizes a collaborative approach between managing authorities and companies to establish reporting systems that support carbon trading, absolute caps, and performance standards.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the policy landscape for low-carbon development in China's industrial zones, highlighting the transition from national targets to local implementation and the resulting regulatory complexities. It also references a separate IISD study on the fiscal risks facing BRIICS nations due to the global transition away from fossil fuels.

This report documents the proceedings of a multi-stakeholder policy dialogue hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and Oxfam South Africa on March 3, 2015. The event focused on the impact, monitoring, and accountability of South–South Co-operation (SSC), specifically regarding emerging partners' engagement in Africa's development.

This research paper describes the development and implementation of the Heat Action Plan in Ahmedabad, India, the first such comprehensive effort in South Asia. The plan focuses on reducing heat-related morbidity and mortality through an early warning system, public awareness campaigns, and capacity building for healthcare professionals, driven by a coalition of local government, academic, and international partners.

This executive summary reviews international fuel pricing experiences to provide recommendations for Indonesia's 2015 fuel price system reforms. It analyzes how other emerging economies manage price volatility and suggests improvements in pricing formulas, regulatory functions, and non-pricing interventions to maintain fiscal savings while protecting vulnerable consumers.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the potential of bond markets as an alternative to bank loans for financing large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa. It details various bond types—including municipal, corporate, sovereign, diaspora, and Islamic bonds—and analyzes the current state of bond markets in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. The author argues that while bonds offer lower borrowing costs and avoid equity dilution, their growth in Africa is hindered by underdeveloped secondary markets, weak regulatory frameworks, and a lack of institutional investors.