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This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines national dialogue processes in Sudan, South Sudan, and Kenya to provide lessons for Ethiopia's political transition. It analyzes how factors such as inclusivity, the credibility of conveners, and implementation mechanisms determine the legitimacy and success of such dialogues in resolving political crises and state-building deficits.

This June 2020 report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the activities of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on regional coordination against COVID-19, the political and security situation in Somalia, institutional reforms within the AU Commission, and the challenges of borderland security and youth engagement.

This policy brief examines the African Peer Review Mechanism's (APRM) goal of achieving universal accession by 2023, arguing that the organization must prioritize clearing its backlog of unreviewed members and improving the implementation of governance reforms over simply increasing membership numbers.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute describes a small-scale study in peri-urban Kenya using service design, behavioural insights, and social-ecological systems thinking to evaluate the adoption of the Mimi Moto advanced biomass pellet cookstove. The study identifies distinct user archetypes and highlights systemic gaps in the cookstove value chain, particularly regarding fuel availability and after-sales support.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the challenges of coordinating climate finance in Kenya. It identifies a complex landscape where technical gaps and political barriers—such as a lack of high-level political will and a discrepancy between the government's focus on multilateral funds and the reality of bilateral funding dominance—hinder the effectiveness of existing coordination mechanisms.

This research paper argues that low-carbon energy transitions are social and gendered processes, often dominated by male perspectives. It proposes an 'Alternative Pathways' framework to analyze how different gender perspectives and niche innovations can either work within, depart from, or fundamentally transform the existing energy regime to avoid pathways that are disconnected from local realities.

This case study by Natural Justice describes the illegal expansion of salt pans by Kurawa Industries Limited in Magarini Sub County, Kilifi County, Kenya. The expansion has caused water salinity that destroyed the coconut crops of a local family, while government agencies and the company have failed to provide licenses, permits, or compensation reports, a situation exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

This submission by Natural Justice to the UN Special Rapporteur in the Field of Cultural Rights details the impacts of climate change on indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa. It highlights how environmental shifts and land-use changes threaten bio-cultural resources and traditional knowledge, while presenting 'Community Protocols' as a tool for adaptation and the protection of cultural rights. The document also outlines the severe risks faced by cultural and environmental rights defenders in Africa, including violence, criminalization, and land grabbing.

The May 2020 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) challenges in the Sahel, the human rights risks associated with COVID-19 states of emergency, the adaptation of peace support operations (PSOs) to the pandemic, and the economic threat to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also analyzes the potential shift in the global order and the need for Africa to reduce its dependence on external support.

This policy brief examines the tension between South Africa's Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) and the United States' Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). It argues that the US uses GSP eligibility reviews to pressure developing nations into adopting US-oriented intellectual property laws, which may undermine national regulatory space and developmental goals.

A statement by Natural Justice arguing that the COVID-19 pandemic and the locust invasion in Kenya demonstrate the interconnectedness of environmental health, socio-economic well-being, and security, calling for a shift toward sustainable development models and participatory governance.

This research paper examines the immediate and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa, arguing that the crisis accelerates the decline of the liberal international order and increases the vulnerability of smaller nations. The author outlines five key long-term risks—the unravelling of multilateralism, increased trade protectionism, the decline of development cooperation, a potential retreat from climate goals, and restricted human mobility—and proposes a coordinated African response focused on regional integration and proactive global governance reform.

This case study profiles Acacia Innovations, a winner of the 2020 Energy Access Booster Award, which produces and distributes Kuni Safi briquettes made from sugarcane waste to schools and small businesses in Kenya to reduce deforestation and improve health.

FSD Africa has shifted to virtual technical support and remote work, closing its Nairobi offices to visitors and canceling travel and events due to COVID-19, while planning to adapt its strategy to address the pandemic's challenges.

This document contains the minutes of two public meetings held on 11 March 2020 in Garissa County, Kenya. The meetings were convened as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) addendum for the proposed Lokichar to Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP) project, specifically addressing a route re-alignment in Modikare and onshore crude oil storage at Lamu Port.

This document contains the minutes of a public meeting held on 11 March 2020 in Garissa Town, Kenya, regarding an addendum to the Environmental Impact Assessment (ESIA) for the proposed Lokichar to Lamu Crude Oil Pipeline (LLCOP) project. The meeting focused on a route re-alignment in Garissa County necessitated by the original path crossing Kenya Defence Force (KDF) land.

This case study examines the role of the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) Incubator in supporting five selected grantees to scale their resilience innovations. It details the Incubator's methodology, which includes gap analysis, leadership training, and business model development, and evaluates the progress of projects focused on food systems, risk financing, urban habitat, water governance, and smallholder market access across Africa and Asia.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) case study outlines a framework for 'learning from failure' in resilience-building initiatives. By utilizing Challenge Funds to distribute risk and establishing a high-trust relationship between the GRP Secretariat and grantees, the organization encourages an iterative 'probe-sense-respond' approach. Key findings emphasize the need for flexible targets, a 'do no harm' principle in vulnerable contexts, and a systematic MEL process that captures not just what failed, but why. Case studies from Kenya, the Philippines, and the Sahel demonstrate how pausing unsuccessful pilots and redesigning products based on real-time evidence leads to more effective, scalable resilience solutions.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues that stabilisation in Somalia requires a shift from a predominantly military-led approach to one that integrates non-military strategies. The author identifies five critical factors for sustainable peace: inclusive political reconciliation among clans, context-appropriate policing, basic infrastructural development, investment in women and youth, and the coordination of external partners.

This research paper examines the impact of trade facilitation reforms, specifically One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and Simplified Trade Regimes (STRs), on women informal cross-border traders (WICBTs) in East Africa, with a detailed case study of the Busia OSBP between Kenya and Uganda.