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This policy brief examines the development and implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury, a legally binding global treaty designed to protect human health and the environment from mercury emissions and releases. It details the transition from regional marine protections to a comprehensive global framework, the specific challenges posed by artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), and the reasons why mercury was addressed separately from other toxic heavy metals like lead and cadmium.

This policy brief analyzes the relationship between Russia and the three elected African member states (A3) in the UN Security Council (UNSC) from 2014 to 2020. Using statistical voting data, the authors argue that Russia's influence over the A3 is often exaggerated, as African states remain more aligned with the P3 (US, UK, and France) and act largely independently of Russian vetoes and abstentions.

This fact sheet provides a summary of the Zero Hunger Private Sector Pledge as of May 24, 2022, listing the financial commitments and geographic focus of 43 participating companies.

The Subnational Climate Fund (SnCF) is a financial instrument designed to overcome barriers to private capital mobilization for climate-resilient infrastructure at the subnational level, combining a Technical Assistance Facility with a private equity fund.

The Adaptation Benefits Mechanism (ABM) is a results-based financing instrument that uses grants to repay commercial investors based on third-party valuations of adaptation benefits, specifically targeting private investment in projects such as land use and forestry.

The West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA 2) is a regional initiative designed to strengthen coastal resilience in six West African countries through a portfolio of investments that mainstream climate risks into national policies and target vulnerable sectors including transport, urban, and natural resources.

This case study describes AgDevCo, a subsidized impact investor and project developer targeting early-stage small and medium agri-businesses in Sub Saharan Africa to improve food security, employment, and climate resilience for smallholder farmers.

This case study describes the African Risk Capacity (ARC), a sovereign risk pool and early response mechanism that provides drought insurance to African Union member states to protect food security for vulnerable populations.

This case study describes TCX, a currency hedging solution designed to reduce currency and interest risk for energy and climate investments in developing countries by enabling long-term finance in local currencies.

The Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise (ACRE) is a mobile-enabled index insurance program in Africa that links smallholder farmers to insurance through the purchase of agricultural inputs. The program utilizes solar-powered weather stations and mobile money platforms to trigger immediate compensation for yield losses caused by drought, excess rain, and storms.

This policy brief examines the impact of the G7's proposal on the taxation of the digitalised economy on African countries, arguing that the US-led amendments to the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework (IF) favor developed nations and risk reducing tax revenues for developing economies.

The ARM-Harith Cities & Climate Transition Fund (The ACT Fund) is a mid-market greenfield infrastructure fund designed to expand sustainable infrastructure in West Africa. It utilizes a blended-currency mechanism to reduce financing friction at early project stages and mobilize local institutional investment through structured exit solutions.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the strategic position of African states within the World Trade Organization (WTO). It argues that African nations must shift from a strategy of blocking new negotiations to one of active participation, particularly regarding the COVID-19 vaccine TRIPS waiver, the stalled Doha Round, and Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs) on digital trade and investment.

This research paper by Chux Daniels and Mafini Dosso examines the limitations of current science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies in Africa and proposes the adoption of Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) and Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) to achieve broader societal and economic transformations, using Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria as case studies.

This policy brief analyzes the services market access negotiations under the WTO E-commerce Joint Statement Initiative (JSI). It highlights a significant trade imbalance, where developed nations are net exporters of the targeted digital services while developing nations are net importers. The brief identifies key challenges, including the 'technological neutrality' of GATS, the undecided legal architecture of the JSI, and a lack of gender and social inclusion considerations. It recommends that developing countries pursue a 'built-in development dimension' through progressive liberalization and multi-stakeholder national assessments.

This policy brief examines the role of nuclear science and technology in advancing Africa's sustainable development, specifically aligning with the AU's Agenda 2063 and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights applications in healthcare and agriculture, the existing infrastructure of research reactors, and the legal frameworks ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy on the continent.

The April 2021 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the operational challenges of the newly merged African Union Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) department, the diplomatic deadlock over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and governance crises in Senegal, Benin, Cameroon, and Chad.

This report provides a conceptual overview of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) frameworks and systems, specifically as a foundational component for developing a national MRV architecture for the waste sector in Senegal. It defines the core principles of GHG accounting and the various components required to build and manage an effective MRV system to support Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This guide by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) outlines a four-step process for government officials and practitioners to develop a national landscape of climate finance, drawing on CPI's experience since 2011 in tracking investments for low carbon and climate resilient actions.

This fact sheet outlines the milestones achieved by Côte d'Ivoire between 2018 and 2020 to integrate gender into climate action. Key achievements include the National Gender and Climate Change Strategy 2020–2024, the creation of a National Gender and Climate Change Platform, the integration of gender into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and securing Green Climate Fund (GCF) financing for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.