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The report examines the failure of South Africa's electrification policies to translate physical infrastructure into socio-economic development due to a lack of affordability. It introduces the concept of 'enabling access' and the 'Minimum Threshold Level of Consumption' (MTLC), arguing that current policies like Free Basic Electricity (FBE) are insufficient. The authors propose a 'Food First Approach' where households below the upper poverty line receive 350 kWh of free electricity monthly to prevent them from sacrificing nutrition for energy.

The study finds that rural-urban migration itself does not cause urban violence. Instead, lethal urban political violence is associated with the socioeconomic marginalization of rural-urban migrants—specifically relative deprivation in terms of household assets and access to public services—as well as unequal access to education within the city population.

The document details a roundtable on restoring multilateral trade cooperation, focusing on the impact of mega-regional agreements (TPP, TTIP) and Global Value Chains (GVCs) on Africa. It assesses the Trade Facilitation Agreement's (TFA) new approach to Special and Differential Treatment (SDT), argues that the Doha Round's 'single undertaking' approach is a structural failure—particularly in agriculture—and suggests a 'critical mass' plurilateral approach as an alternative. The discussions emphasize that African countries must move beyond raw material exports by proactively engaging in GVCs and regional integration while navigating the shift from market-access negotiations to rule-based trade frameworks.

This policy brief analyzes the barriers to technology transfer from Chinese telecommunications equipment providers, specifically Huawei and ZTE, to South African companies. Based on fieldwork conducted in 2015, the author identifies three primary obstacles: the rise of managed services contracts, challenges regarding the legitimacy and professionalism of Chinese firms, and a weak institutional and regulatory framework in South Africa.

The 'Air Aware' youth statement highlights the severe impact of air pollution on young people in Johannesburg, particularly in low-income areas like Alexandra, Soweto, and Diepsloot. It identifies waste burning, household fuel use, transport emissions, and industrial pollution as primary sources of contamination that lead to respiratory illnesses and cardiovascular strain. The document demands a transition toward health-centered air quality management, reliable waste collection to end illegal burning, clean mobility infrastructure, and the formal inclusion of youth in environmental governance to achieve a 'Vision 2030' of cleaner skies and green jobs.

The paper assesses the South African TVET system's capacity to support a green transition, specifically focusing on the Green Hydrogen Economy. It evaluates the existing Centres of Specialisation (CoS) model and pilot programmes from Bambili Advisory and the National Business Initiative (NBI) to recommend a flexible, demand-led approach to green skills development. The authors argue for a 'capabilities approach' over narrow occupational competencies to ensure a just transition for youth.

South Africa has increased its climate ambition by lowering its 2030 emission target upper limit from 614 Mt CO2-eq to 420 Mt CO2-eq. While the country leads Africa in green finance and has established a carbon tax, implementation of climate strategies remains slow. The COVID-19 pandemic initially diverted focus toward immediate socioeconomic needs, but later spurred the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan. Conversely, the Ukraine war has increased global demand for South African coal, potentially incentivizing a rollback of decarbonization. The Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) provides critical financial support, but the transition is hindered by ongoing power shortages, reliance on new coal plants like Medupi and Kusile, and political sensitivity regarding job losses in the coal sector.

The document examines South Africa's nascent green hydrogen economy, positioning the country in the 'technological readiness' phase of market development. It argues that while some input manufacturing is emerging, there is a critical need for coordinated industrial and energy policies—including capital grants and electricity tax exemptions—to drive commercial production. A central focus is the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, where the author identifies a 'wide chasm' between graduates and employment. The paper advocates for a shift toward 'anticipatory governance' and 'skills foresight' to better align vocational training with the evolving demands of the green hydrogen value chain, ensuring a just transition for workers displaced from the coal industry.

The report examines Zimbabwe's stalled transition following the 2017 ousting of Robert Mugabe and the 2018 elections. It argues that while President Emmerson Mnangagwa has adopted an 'open for business' slogan, genuine international re-engagement is blocked by a profound deficit of trust, persistent economic instability, and a lack of substantive political reform. The document highlights the role of targeted sanctions, the influence of China, and the critical importance of national dialogue and legislative reform in restoring Zimbabwe's global standing.

The document argues for prioritizing public transport in South African cities to reduce carbon emissions, which currently account for 25% of city emissions, and energy consumption, which accounts for 50%. It identifies barriers such as fragmented management, safety concerns, and apartheid-era urban planning. Proposed solutions include the creation of Transport Authorities, the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and travel demand management strategies like congestion charging and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. A case study of Cape Town suggests that a 10% shift in commuters from private to public transport by 2020 could save 148 million gigajoules of energy and 9 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2024.

The African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund) aims to leverage $5 billion by 2032 to implement urban water resilience projects in 100 African cities. The fund employs a blended finance model—combining grants, concessional loans, equity, and debt—to support the full project lifecycle, from risk-based city water plans to the creation of standardized toolkits for scalable solutions. It focuses on an 'investment menu' of low-cost, replicable solutions such as nature-based solutions for flood and wastewater management, rainwater harvesting, and on-site sanitation.

The ACWA Platform is a pan-African coalition led by WRI and various partners to address projected tripling of water demand and extreme climate risks in African cities by 2050. It operates alongside the ACWA Fund, a blended finance instrument providing grants and investments to transform strategic plans into investment-ready projects. The platform focuses on nine strategic priorities, including prioritizing vulnerable communities and leveraging emerging technology, with a goal to increase water resilience in 100 city-regions by 2032.

The document argues that over 1.2 billion city dwellers lack reliable access to basic services, creating an "urban services divide" that hinders economic development and climate goals. It proposes seven transformations—ranging from partnering with alternative service providers to supporting informal workers—to improve equity, prosperity, and sustainability in rapidly growing cities.

The report argues that over 1.2 billion city dwellers lack reliable access to basic services like water, sanitation, electricity, housing, and transport, creating an "urban services divide" that hinders economic development and climate goals. To address this, the World Resources Institute proposes seven transformations: partnering with alternative service providers, improving local data through community engagement, prioritizing the vulnerable in infrastructure design, promoting transparent land management, creating diverse governance coalitions, innovating financing and subsidies, and supporting informal workers. The report highlights that investing in water and sanitation can yield returns of US$4–34 for every US$1 invested, while unsafe sanitation costs the global economy US$223 billion annually.

The document outlines job creation potential for coal truckers transitioning to biomass supply chains in South Africa, highlighting that lignocellulosic biomass offers the highest employment potential, with 3,076 driver jobs possible in coal regions alone.

The document offers a 'travellers’ kit' of practical advice for sustainable tourism in South Africa, focusing on green planning, responsible behavior, sustainable shopping, and waste reduction. It highlights specific WWF tools, such as the Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative (SASSI) and the Conservation Champion Wine Farm Guide, to help consumers make eco-friendly choices.