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The document examines the evolution of humanitarian communication, focusing on the tension between emotional storytelling and technical data. It analyzes the impact of generative AI on the authenticity of testimonies and images, the risks of 'infoglut' and fake news in conflict zones, and the intersectional vulnerabilities of women and LGBTQIA+ individuals facing climate change, specifically in Kenya.

The report examines how unreliable electricity and the use of medical equipment designed for high-income countries undermine healthcare in Sub-Saharan Africa. Based on data from 29 facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya, it finds that many essential devices are underutilized or non-functional due to power instability, high energy consumption, and a lack of maintenance. It argues for the adoption of energy-efficient, context-aware medical appliances and decentralized renewable energy systems to improve health outcomes and reduce operational costs.

The document examines the intersection of trade and the bioeconomy, arguing that while international trade can exacerbate biodiversity loss, it can also be leveraged through price-based, support, and regulatory measures to promote sustainability. It highlights the economic significance of biodiversity-based trade and calls for enhanced international cooperation, particularly through the G20, to align policies, remove harmful subsidies, and support low- and middle-income countries in their transition.

The report analyzes the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of climate-vulnerable countries—specifically the Maldives, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Saint Lucia—to provide a blueprint for G20 nations. It highlights best practices such as integrating mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage into single strategies, and prioritizing climate-resilient development over short-term fossil fuel gains. The document urges G20 members to submit updated NDCs by September 2025 that target at least a 43% emissions reduction by 2030 and 60% by 2035, while scaling up financial support to close a $5.8–5.9 trillion financing gap for developing countries.

The document argues that while Africa possesses immense renewable energy potential, over 600 million people lack electricity, and only 2% of global renewable energy investments in the last two decades have gone to the continent. It identifies critical barriers to private sector engagement, including currency mismatch, regulatory instability, and inadequate grid infrastructure. Using Nigeria as a case study, the report highlights the success of off-grid solar solutions compared to the struggling privatised on-grid sector. It recommends institutionalising predictable policies, expanding innovative finance like green bonds and blended finance, and investing in grid-compatible infrastructure and local technical capacity to accelerate the energy transition.

The document examines Germany's engagement with African agrifood systems through the BMEL, BMZ, and GIZ, finding that while funding has grown, it remains primarily aid-driven and insufficient for systemic transformation. It recommends transitioning toward market-oriented partnerships, leveraging the AfCFTA and the CAADP Kampala Declaration to promote value addition and private sector investment.

The report confirms that the FP211 Hardest-to-Reach programme is classified as ESS Category I-2 and has established an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). This system, which includes a Land Acquisition and Resettlement Policy and Guidance on Indigenous Peoples, is disclosed in English, French, Portuguese, and Arabic. The ESMS is available at Acumen's offices in Kenya and Nigeria, as well as at the Nationally Designated Authority offices in the target countries. An updated version of the ESMS was released on June 30, 2025, to provide more detail on investing strategy and safeguarding roles, and to include Liberia in the programme scope.

The paper argues that Kenya's current e-mobility policies, which favor importing electric vehicles, overlook the value of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). By leveraging IKS in the design, assembly, and maintenance of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, Kenya can increase local content, create jobs for youth and women, and better achieve its climate goals. The author highlights successful local innovations, such as the 'eMkoko' cargo cart, and calls for policy reforms, including tax incentives for local manufacturers and the integration of IKS into formal technical education.

Kiri EV, founded in 2020 by Chris Maara, develops electric motorcycles and tuk-tuks tailored for African roads, aiming to reduce fuel and operational costs by 40% to 60%. The company overcame early challenges including unsuitable imports from India and China, a lack of skilled local talent, and regulatory gaps in Kenya where EVs were sometimes classified as toys. Funding was secured through personal savings, grants from the Siemens Foundation and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center, and support from develoPPP Ventures and DEG Impulse. Kiri EV focuses on youth empowerment, recruiting fresh graduates and T-VET students to bridge the skills gap and providing training to 1,600 individuals. The founder advocates for industry-friendly regulations, increased local African investment, and structural protections for local entrepreneurs against foreign competition.

Turkey is aggressively expanding its presence in Africa's critical minerals sector to support its domestic defence, electric vehicle, and renewable energy industries. While Turkey employs a pragmatic, commercially driven approach—often coupling mining with defence cooperation in volatile regions like the Sahel—the paper argues that aligning Turkish commercial agility with EU financial instruments and ESG standards through the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) could create more sustainable, trilateral value chains that benefit African host nations.

The document examines the integration of climate-resilient budgeting (CRB) and green budgeting (GB) into Nigeria's national financial frameworks, specifically focusing on the role of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning (FMBEP). It analyzes the impact of Nigeria's 2023 ministerial restructuring, identifies gaps in current policy implementation, and compares Nigeria's approach with other developing nations like Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Nepal.

The document argues that African countries face a precarious development finance landscape due to declining official development assistance (ODA) and a market bias known as the 'Africa premium'. It proposes that South Africa use its G20 presidency to advocate for a technical committee on financing barriers, host a Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable meeting on restructuring, facilitate dialogue with the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions, and coordinate with international conferences to promote a more equitable financial system.

The document argues that current development and climate finance is insufficient to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, noting a $4 trillion annual investment gap for SDG implementation in developing countries. It promotes the work of the Global Solidarity Levy Task Force (GSLTF), which has proposed 16 levy options targeting undertaxed sectors responsible for carbon emissions, including aviation, fossil fuels, and financial transactions. The GSLTF estimates that these levies could potentially generate over $500 billion in annual revenue, with specific examples such as a 0.1% levy on trading stocks and bonds potentially raising $418 billion. The brief calls for developing countries to engage in the design and assessment of these levies to ensure equitable access to funds, as the recovery of these taxes generally occurs through individual national tax systems, leaving the allocation of grants to developing countries to the discretion of developed nations.

The DaIMA programme is a large-scale initiative targeting the dairy sectors of East Africa to mitigate methane emissions and enhance climate adaptation. With a total budget of USD 358.26 million, the programme focuses on three main components: strengthening national institutional capacities and policy frameworks, implementing farm-level low-emission and resilient practices, and establishing a Green Dairy Financing Facility (GDFF) to provide concessional loans to dairy SMEs. The programme expects to benefit 2.5 million direct beneficiaries and reduce milk emission intensities by 29% over 20 years.

The document argues that while African governments have set ambitious climate adaptation targets, governance and financial barriers hinder the effectiveness of locally led adaptation (LLA). It highlights the severe economic impact of climate change on Africa's GDP and food systems, noting that LLA can enhance resilience by centering decision-making at the community level and leveraging Indigenous knowledge. The brief identifies gaps in national policies, such as the lack of substantive gender analysis in NDCs and the disconnect between identified needs and available funding. It recommends integrating LLA principles into national policies, expanding direct access to climate finance for local actors, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure accountability and inclusivity.

The document addresses the significant underfunding of climate-smart agrifood systems, which contribute approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that while public and private capital have roles, concessional capital is essential for the 'missing middle'—investments with high social and environmental impact but sub-commercial returns. The playbook proposes five 'investment plays': deploying system-level approaches, supporting natural capital restoration, strengthening shared infrastructure, expanding technical assistance for innovation, and scaling local financial intermediaries. It includes a four-step framework for investor action: diagnosing the landscape, identifying financing gaps, designing instruments, and integrating partnerships.

The briefing warns that 63 oil and gas fields in development could emit 2,300 kilotonnes of methane annually by 2030, a volume comparable to current fossil fuel production emissions in Europe. It highlights a critical gap where high-emitting projects in countries exporting to the EU will reach peak capacity before EU methane regulations take full effect in 2027 and 2030. The report notes significant data transparency failures among top operators and argues that continued investment in new infrastructure undermines the Global Methane Pledge and overall climate mitigation efforts.

The document examines the risks associated with South Africa's increasing reliance on IFI loans, particularly for climate finance under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JET-P). It highlights a lack of transparency and parliamentary oversight, noting that loan conditionalities can undermine constitutional rights and sovereignty. The authors propose a five-step approval procedure involving sustainability, human rights, development, and sovereignty assessments, alongside a public consultation and majority vote in the National Assembly.

The report examines the limitations of rigid debt rules in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), proposing a transition to a 'constrained discretion regime'. It argues that current rules-based approaches often lead to complexity and unenforceability, particularly when multiple fiscal rules are layered incrementally. The authors recommend replacing rigid ceilings with flexible 'debt anchors' embedded in a broader institutional framework featuring independent fiscal councils, transparent disclosure rules, and a clear distinction between long-term sustainability goals and short-term budgetary instruments.

The report examines the integration of finance within National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) across 59 developing countries. It finds that while most NAPs include dedicated finance sections and rely heavily on international public funding, there is a significant gap in detailed costing and the mobilization of private-sector finance. The authors recommend that countries move toward more investment-oriented NAP documents, implement climate-resilient fiscal planning, and adopt tailored financing strategies—particularly for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)—to bridge the adaptation finance gap.