Search Climate Insights Directory

The Healthy NDC Scorecard is a visual tool designed to evaluate whether national climate commitments (NDCs) are sufficient to protect human health, measuring them against the Paris Agreement and science-aligned targets.

This report by Friends of the Earth International critiques the industrial agribusiness investment model, arguing that current trade and investment agreements prioritize corporate profits over food sovereignty and human rights. It advocates for a shift toward agroecology and the support of small-scale food producers to combat hunger and environmental degradation.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines how international trade and investment agreements prioritize agro-industrial profits over food sovereignty and environmental health. It argues that these frameworks restrict the ability of states to protect their populations and ecosystems, while advocating for a shift in investment toward small-scale agroecology to combat hunger and climate change.

This case study describes SolarTaxi, a Ghana-based electric vehicle manufacturer supported by Persistent Energy Capital (an FSDAi investee). SolarTaxi designs, assembles, and leases low-cost solar-powered two-wheel and four-wheel vehicles to address urban transportation inefficiencies and fossil fuel dependence in Ghana and broader Africa.

The Venture Finance Portfolio document provides a detailed overview of various investment funds and venture-building platforms supported by FSD Africa and FSDAi. These entities focus on scaling climate-tech, gender-lens investing, and financial inclusion across Africa, utilizing a mix of equity, grants, and debt to catalyze private capital and drive sustainable economic growth.

This fact sheet describes the partnership between FSD Africa and the Digital Frontiers Institute (DFI) from 2016 to 2021, aimed at closing the digital finance skills gap in low-middle income countries to improve the scale and sustainability of digital payment systems.

The Green Outcomes Fund (GOF) is a pioneering climate finance instrument launched in January 2020 to incentivise investment in South Africa's green small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs). By using an outcomes-based payment model, the GOF provides grant funding to Catalytic Finance Partners (CFPs) who deploy private capital into green SMMEs, with reimbursements triggered by the creation of verified green outcomes, primarily permanent direct jobs.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the agricultural negotiation priorities for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It emphasizes that while food security is a central goal, success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments, particularly regarding export restrictions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), domestic support, and public stockholding.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14). It identifies persistent deadlocks regarding domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while highlighting three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: reducing cotton subsidies, improving market access for cotton products, and securing exemptions from export restrictions.

This research paper analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It details persistent disagreements over domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while identifying three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: the reduction of trade-distorting cotton subsidies, improved market access for cotton products, and exemptions from export restrictions.

This briefing analyzes the agricultural negotiations for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), focusing on food security, domestic support, and the specific needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). It argues that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments to regulate food and agricultural trade.

This briefing note, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and CUTS International, Geneva, examines the challenges faced by developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide and capacity gaps that hinder these nations' ability to participate in negotiations and implement future agreements. The document proposes shifting from a narrow focus on regulatory cooperation toward a comprehensive approach that includes 'enabling issues' such as infrastructure and technical assistance, and suggests adopting a hybrid Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) model based on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to ensure capacity-building commitments are enforceable.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines agricultural cooperatives as a model for inclusive investment. It details the different types of cooperatives, their benefits for smallholder farmers, the role of foreign investment in these structures, and the necessary legal and governmental frameworks to support their success.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the emergence of agricultural growth poles (agropoles) and corridors in Africa. It analyzes these tools as strategies to attract private investment and transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture, while highlighting the legal, financial, and operational risks associated with their implementation.

This fact sheet lists the top 15 cocoa-producing countries as of 2016, referencing data on harvest area and Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) compliance.

A fact sheet from the International Institute for Sustainable Development mapping the distribution of coffee production across the top 15 producing countries in 2016, focusing on harvest area, production volume, and Voluntary Sustainability Standard (VSS) compliance.

This briefing by Festus B Aboagye of the Institute for Security Studies questions the efficacy of humanitarian interventions in Africa, arguing that they often fail to address root causes of conflict and may inadvertently prolong violence. The author suggests that non-intervention, allowing conflicts to reach a military conclusion, could be a more durable alternative in certain contexts.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the doctrinal differences between United Nations (UN) peacekeeping and African Union (AU) peace support operations, using these distinctions to propose strategies for stabilising northern Mali.

This research paper examines the drivers of conflict and the peacekeeping efforts in the Mano River Basin, highlighting the roles of displaced populations, illicit trade, and international security concerns.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies provides updated scenarios regarding the deteriorating security situation in Angola, focusing on the failure of the Lusaka Peace Accords and the economic instability caused by falling oil prices.