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This synthesis paper by FSD Africa examines the application of the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach within the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Network. Based on seven case studies, the document provides guidelines for market facilitators to achieve systemic, sustainable, and scalable change in financial markets to reduce poverty. It emphasizes the need for facilitators to act as neutral, technically competent third parties who address root causes of market failure rather than symptoms, while managing the tensions between donor requirements and the flexibility needed for market systems development.

This policy brief examines the barriers to upscaling Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in sub-Saharan Africa and proposes policy interventions to enhance food security and climate resilience.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) explores the concept of 'bankability' in the context of climate finance to help developing countries create project proposals that can successfully attract international funding. It argues that climate bankability extends beyond traditional financial returns to include socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and provides a checklist of determinants to guide project developers in aligning proposals with the requirements of multilateral funds like the Green Climate Fund (GCF).

This research paper examines the governance challenges associated with the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach, which seeks to manage the interdependencies between these three sectors to enhance sustainability and climate resilience. Drawing on research from Indonesia, Kenya, and the Amazon basin, the author argues that the effectiveness of nexus approaches is heavily dependent on horizontal (cross-sectoral) and vertical (between levels of government) coordination, which are often hindered by political economy factors, institutional power struggles, and limited local capacity.

This report summarizes the Sixth Annual Meeting of the San Giorgio Group, held on 8-9 May 2017 in Venice. The discussions focused on scaling up green, low-emissions finance by improving climate finance tracking, evolving financial architecture in emerging markets, overcoming funding constraints for cities, utilizing innovative financial instruments, and enhancing climate risk disclosure to accelerate the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This report, developed by FHI 360 and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, provides an inventory and summary of digital technologies used to enhance resilience, primarily in Asia. It details a wide array of tools—ranging from mobile apps and IoT sensors to big data analytics and geospatial mapping—designed to support disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term livelihood stability for vulnerable populations.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the diverse and often indirect roles women play in violent extremist organisations in Kenya, specifically al-Shabaab. Based on 108 interviews, it argues that women provide an 'invisible infrastructure' of support, acting as recruiters, spies, and facilitators, while direct perpetration of violence remains limited. The document identifies a complex interplay of drivers for women's involvement, including personal relationships, economic hardship, government neglect, and the influence of radical religious teachings.

This report examines the specific impacts of violent extremism on women in Kenya and evaluates the gender sensitivity of national and local responses. Based on 108 interviews, it argues that current counter-terrorism and prevention efforts are largely gender-neutral, failing to address the unique psychological, physical, and economic vulnerabilities of women.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the governance of marine and coastal resources in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. It advocates for the adoption of integrated spatial planning, ecosystem-based management, and inclusive, community-led conservation models to support a sustainable 'Blue Economy'. The author emphasizes that marine conservation must be integrated with socio-economic development agendas to ensure the resilience of biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal populations.

This policy briefing examines why 'technology for transparency and accountability' (T4T&A) initiatives in Africa have failed to achieve large-scale impact despite expanding mobile networks and falling costs. The author argues that failures stem from a poor understanding of technology, a lack of user research, and a tendency for non-tech organisations to build custom tools from scratch rather than using existing ones. The document recommends shifting from short-term pilots to building a supportive innovation ecosystem that emphasises iterative learning and stronger links between technologists and accountability actors.

This policy brief examines the relationship between natural resource extraction and the funding of four violent extremist groups in Africa: al-Shabaab, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), the Janjaweed militia, and Boko Haram. It finds that while some groups rely heavily on illicit trade in charcoal, ivory, or gold, others have little to no connection to resource extraction.

This policy brief examines the prevalence and impact of illegal blast fishing in Tanzania, highlighting its role in destroying coral reef ecosystems and threatening the national economy. It argues for a multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral governance approach to eliminate the practice through stricter law enforcement, community-led management, and the provision of alternative livelihoods.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) synthesizes lessons from 2015 and 2016 reports on public finance interventions designed to increase low-carbon and climate-resilient investment in developing countries. It outlines strategies for reducing risks and costs to attract private capital through fiscal policy adjustments, government-backed assurances, and public-private innovation labs.

This report details a research project conducted by Practical Action Consulting in India and Kenya to determine the most effective methods, phrasing, and visual tools for communicating climate change attribution information to high-level decision makers, media, and the general public.

This executive summary details a 2017 research project conducted in Kenya and India to determine the most effective methods, phrasing, and visual tools for communicating climate change attribution information to high-level decision makers, the media, and the general public following extreme weather events.

This market scoping study by Nathan Associates for FSD Africa examines the agricultural equipment leasing landscape in eight sub-Saharan African countries. It identifies systemic market failures across supply, demand, support functions, and regulatory environments that hinder the growth of leasing as an alternative to traditional asset financing for farmers and SMEs.

This case study examines FSD Tanzania's (FSDT) efforts to operationalise the Enterprise Growth Market (EGM), an alternative investment channel of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) designed to provide long-term equity capital for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). FSDT provided approximately USD 1.36 million in grants to the Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA) and the DSE to build regulatory capacity, increase public awareness, and support the listing of growth-oriented SMEs.

This policy brief by Clingendael examines Kenya's potential to become a leader in green growth and renewable energy within the East African Community, highlighting the alignment of government and donor priorities alongside legislative frameworks like the 2016 Climate Change Act. It identifies critical hurdles, including suboptimal government capacity and the discovery of coal and oil reserves, and recommends prioritizing energy infrastructure, integrating micro-grid solutions for universal energy access by 2020, and leveraging devolution to increase public participation.

This policy brief synthesises political economy analyses (PEA) from Colombia, Indonesia, and Kenya to examine the constraints and enablers affecting government decisions on green growth in the energy sector for fossil-endowed middle-income countries.

This research paper discusses the transition of leadership at the African Union Commission (AUC) following the election of Moussa Faki Mahamat as Chairperson on 30 January 2017. It analyzes the challenges facing the new chair, including the need for financial independence from international donors, the implementation of institutional reforms, and the management of peace and security crises across the continent.