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This discussion brief examines energy pathways for Kenya to achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. It analyzes the trade-offs between low-carbon and high-carbon development, the challenges of centralized versus decentralized power generation, and the critical role of household cooking fuels. The document emphasizes that while technical pathways exist, success depends on overcoming financial barriers, regulatory gaps, and public opposition through transparent stakeholder engagement and benefit-sharing.

This discussion brief from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the interactions between Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality). Based on a literature review of 27 peer-reviewed articles, the brief identifies how gender inequality contributes to food insecurity and argues that gender equality is a primary determinant of food security. It highlights the need for integrated policy-making and gender-differentiated data to ensure that efforts to end hunger do not leave women and girls behind.

This synthesis brief details the Stockholm Environment Institute's (SEI) efforts to support the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. Key areas of focus include the need to phase down fossil fuel production, the creation of a transparent reporting framework, and the importance of equitable mitigation shares, noting that wealthy nations like the US and EU are currently falling short. The brief highlights specific case studies in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, and introduces tools such as LEAP and the NDC Explorer to help countries plan and track their climate goals.

The document summarizes the conclusions of a seminar held on 9 December 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focused on assistance and capacity-building for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, disarmament, and non-proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons in Africa.

This case study examines the development of the microinsurance (inclusive insurance) market in Zambia, focusing on the role of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and FSD Zambia in catalyzing systemic change through industry leadership and coordination.

The December 2016 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the African Union's (AU) role in managing continental crises. It finds that the Peace and Security Council (PSC) often relied on regional bodies rather than leading interventions. Key issues discussed include the impact of land privatisation and climate change in Kenya's Kajiado County, the contested nature of several 2016 national elections, and the AU's efforts to promote women's rights despite a perceived failure to challenge dictatorial regimes. The report also details the funding struggles of AMISOM in Somalia and the diplomatic complexities surrounding Morocco's request to rejoin the AU.

This report by Natural Justice examines the use of community protocols as tools for indigenous peoples and local communities to manage their rights and engage with extractive industries. Based on action research in Argentina, India, Kenya, and Zimbabwe, the document analyzes how these protocols help communities articulate their values, secure free, prior and informed consent (FPIC), and address power imbalances with governments and corporations.

This report provides a 2016 progress update on the first ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates global trends in natural forest loss, private sector commitments to deforestation-free supply chains, restoration pledges under the Bonn Challenge and UNFCCC, and the evolution of international climate finance and forest governance.

This case study examines the development and scaling of M-Shwari, a mobile-based savings and loans product in Kenya created through a partnership between the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and Safaricom. It details how FSD Kenya acted as a market facilitator, providing research and technical expertise to help CBA design a product tailored to low-income consumers, ultimately expanding formal financial access to millions of Kenyans.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines trends in climate change adaptation planning based on a standardized review of 15 African and Asian countries conducted for the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA). The review examines vulnerability profiles, national priorities, policy responses, and the nature of adaptation programming, highlighting a strong focus on agriculture but significant gaps in subnational planning and monitoring systems.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the Khartoum Process, a partnership between the European Union and East and North African states designed to tackle human smuggling and trafficking. The author argues that the process is overly securitised, lacks transparency, and risks empowering authoritarian regimes in the Horn of Africa while ignoring the root causes of migration and the human rights of migrants.

This case study describes a 2013 capacity-building initiative led by the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) in Kenya to train state utilities on the design and implementation of PV-diesel-hybrid mini-grids to reduce reliance on expensive and polluting diesel generators in rural areas.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International advocates for a legally binding UN treaty to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) accountable for human rights and environmental violations, specifically highlighting systemic impunity and access-to-justice barriers in Africa.

The East Africa Crowdfunding Landscape Study, published by FSD Africa in October 2016, analyzes the crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending ecosystems in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, comparing them with more mature markets in South Africa and the United Kingdom. The report finds that while the region is experiencing rapid growth, it is primarily driven by international donation and concessionary lending platforms from the global North, rather than native equity or for-profit lending models, which are hindered by regulatory uncertainty and a lack of investment-ready MSMEs.

This case study examines the role of FinScope, a nationally representative survey developed by the FinMark Trust (FMT), in driving financial inclusion in South Africa. It analyzes how the tool filled a critical information gap for policymakers and financial service providers, moving the industry toward evidence-based decision-making and the development of pro-poor financial products.

This chapter examines the state of land tenure and administration in Africa, identifying systemic barriers to agricultural productivity and proposing reforms to secure land rights and improve land market efficiency.

This report by the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines a strategy to transform agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through the generation and diffusion of modern technology and improved management practices. The study identifies rice as a promising crop for a 'Green Revolution' in the region and suggests that technology transfer from advanced regions like South Africa and tropical Asia (specifically India) can help close yield gaps. The paper emphasizes that technological innovation must be coupled with improved agronomic management and marketing to be effective.

In a statement delivered at the United Nations General Assembly on September 20, 2016, Manish Bapna, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of WRI and Co-Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP), outlined three strategic priorities for the Partnership for the upcoming year: integrating climate and governance agendas, upholding governance standards among members, and expanding the open government movement to include subnational entities and diverse civil society groups.

This executive summary by FSD Africa examines the 'cusp group' in sub-Saharan Africa—individuals earning $2-$5 per day who straddle formal and informal economies. The report analyzes credit market dynamics in South Africa, Kenya, and Ghana to provide recommendations for regulators and donors to foster healthy credit markets that enable upward mobility without leading to systemic overindebtedness.

This policy brief argues that government-led conservation efforts are increasingly used to forcibly evict indigenous forest-dwelling communities from their ancestral lands, often masking commercial interests like mining and tourism. Using case studies from the Panna Tiger Reserve in India and the Embobut Forest in Kenya, the document details the loss of livelihoods, the disproportionate impact on women, and the failure of compensation schemes. It calls for conservation policies to be aligned with human rights, the implementation of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the legal securing of indigenous land rights.