Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper analyzes Ethiopia's foreign policy and domestic transition following the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. It argues that while Ethiopia has maintained economic growth and regional security stability, its ability to play a more strategic and transformational role in the Horn of Africa is hindered by a gap between its stated democratic doctrines and its domestic political reality.

This case study examines the role of the Communications Regulators’ Association Southern Africa (CRASA) in harmonising telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal policies among member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the active participation of private sector companies, such as Vodacom and MTN, within government delegations to provide technical expertise and influence regional regulatory frameworks.

This report by Meister Consultants Group, Inc. (MCG) for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines public-private collaborations (PPCs) designed to build climate and disaster resilience in developing countries. Through an analysis of nine case studies, the report identifies how formal and informal partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society can overcome market barriers to deliver adaptation and disaster risk management solutions.

This situation analysis, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in July 2013, evaluates Pakistan's vulnerability to climate change and identifies priority adaptation actions. It examines the country's development, policy, and institutional contexts, and provides a set of proposed options for adaptation across policy, governance, technical, and capacity-building domains to support the implementation of Pakistan's National Climate Change Policy (NCCP).

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the conclusion of Somalia's third transitional arrangement in August 2012. It examines the milestones achieved, the challenges that threatened the process, the factors contributing to its success, and the lessons learned for future peace initiatives in Africa.

This report analyzes the strategic importance of President Barack Obama's June 2013 visit to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. It frames the visit as part of a broader shift in US-Africa relations, moving from the strategic indifference of the 1990s toward a partnership focused on economic growth, democratic strengthening, energy security, and youth leadership development, while competing with China's significant trade presence on the continent.

The June 2013 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides detailed analysis of security crises in Somalia and Mali, evaluates the outcomes of the May 2013 AU Summit, and identifies early warning issues across Africa.

This research paper examines why South Africa is a founding member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) but remains absent from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The author argues that South Africa's reliance on general domestic transparency laws is insufficient for the specific needs of the extractive sector and suggests that the government's reluctance is tied to geopolitical perceptions of double standards between the global North and South.

This research paper details the use of the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system to model water resources in Bukoba, Masaka, and Kisii. The findings indicate that all three towns are currently infrastructure-limited, with varying degrees of urgency for investment and different long-term supply outlooks through 2050.

This 2013 report by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) examines the integration of climate change resilience into Kenya's national development planning. It evaluates progress against a three-part framework: enabling environment, policies and planning, and projects and programmes, highlighting the role of the National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS) and the National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) in guiding the country toward low-carbon development and climate adaptation.

The April 2013 Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analysis and country-specific assessments for Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, and the Central African Republic (CAR), focusing on political instability, unconstitutional changes of government, and humanitarian crises.

This April 2013 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides early warning analyses for the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), focusing on political crises and instability in Egypt, Guinea-Bissau, and the Central African Republic.

This research paper examines South Africa's strategic role within the BRICS forum, specifically focusing on how it leverages its membership to advance African infrastructure development, regional integration, and economic restructuring under the NEPAD framework.

The National Chairman's Annual Statement of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), delivered on 27 March 2013, analyzes South Africa's strategic position within a multipolar world. It discusses the role of the BRICS forum, the necessity of strengthening ties with other African regional powers, and the impact of domestic instability and military casualties in the Central African Republic on South Africa's global prestige and soft power.

This briefing analyzes the political environment surrounding Kenya's 2013 elections, examining the impact of a new constitutional framework, the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the persistence of ethnic tensions and socio-economic grievances.

The CDKN East Africa Climate Finance Workshop, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 25-26 March 2013, brought together 25-30 economic planners, investors, and donors to share best practices and plan future climate finance activities in Eastern Africa.

The policy brief examines Mongolia's Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) project, a World Bank-supported initiative designed to protect herders from mass livestock losses caused by 'dzuds' (extreme weather). By using aggregated mortality indices rather than individual loss assessments, the program reduces transaction costs and provides financial security to sparsely populated areas. The system employs a tiered response: herders absorb losses under 6%, private Livestock Risk Insurance covers losses between 6-30%, and Government Catastrophic Coverage handles losses over 30%. While the program has successfully insured millions of animals and provided critical payouts, the brief emphasizes that insurance must be part of a broader strategy including sustainable grazing and veterinary improvements. Key success factors identified include the use of long-term census data, public education to drive demand, and the maintenance of affordable premiums through public-private partnerships.

This case study describes the 'Lighting a Billion Lives' (LaBL) initiative by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), which aims to replace kerosene-based lighting with solar alternatives in un-electrified or poorly electrified rural areas through an entrepreneurial delivery model.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the challenges of mobilising and managing climate finance for developing countries. It emphasizes the need for a coordinated international architecture, the strengthening of national public finance management systems, and the creation of stable frameworks to attract private sector investment, which is expected to provide the bulk of necessary funding.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate-Compatible Development (CCD). It defines CCD as a "development first" approach aimed at minimizing climate damage while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-carbon, resilient future. The document identifies five primary socio-political drivers—national awareness of adaptation, energy security, economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and government leadership—and seven key implementation challenges, including high costs, political opposition, and institutional limitations.