Search Climate Insights Directory

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies uses the International Futures (IFs) forecasting model to analyze the projected rise in road traffic fatalities in Africa through 2050. It argues that road safety is a critical development issue, as rapid motorization often outpaces infrastructure and regulatory improvements. The document compares a 'base case' forecast with an 'improved scenario' where African countries stabilize death rates at current continental averages, demonstrating that aggressive road safety interventions could save millions of lives and provide a significant boost to the continent's GDP.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the economic impact of Chinese trade, investment, and construction firms in Kenya. It highlights a significant trade imbalance, the proliferation of counterfeit Chinese goods, and the competitive pressures faced by local construction firms, while evaluating the effectiveness of Kenyan legislative responses such as the Anti-Counterfeit Act of 2008 and the National Construction Authority Act of 2010.

This research paper examines the integration of maritime piracy concerns into Kenya's foreign policy, noting a historical lack of a coherent domestic strategy despite the economic and security threats posed by piracy in the Indian Ocean and the proximity of Somalia.

This research paper proposes and applies a rapid screening methodology to evaluate the potential of National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAFSIPs) in 14 African countries to generate climate change benefits across adaptation and mitigation.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the economic and security impacts of Somali piracy on Kenya and evaluates Kenya's role as a potential partner in international counter-piracy efforts. It argues that while naval deployments have not eliminated the threat, Kenya is strategically positioned to contribute through domestic legal action, regional cooperation, and efforts to stabilize Somalia.

This policy briefing examines the proposed Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) involving 26 member states from COMESA, EAC, and SADC, focusing specifically on the challenges and prospects of liberalising the services sector and the movement of business persons.

This 2012 report summarizes a task force meeting in Durban, South Africa, aimed at identifying lessons learned for REDD+ policy capacity in developing countries. The discussions prioritized three 'pillars'—Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV), safeguards, and financing—as the primary areas for research and policy development. The report emphasizes the need for country-driven processes, effective communication with local communities, and the integration of national experiences (such as those from Brazil, Kenya, and Indonesia) to inform international negotiations and national implementation.

This January 2012 report by the Institute for Security Studies provides an analysis of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) activities, focusing on political transitions in Egypt, the security situation in Somalia, and the internal functioning of AU mechanisms for democracy and military coordination.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) maps the investment landscape of South Africa as of January 2012. It examines the impact of the global economic crisis on foreign direct investment (FDI), analyzes the government's industrial policies such as the New Growth Path (NGP), and provides a detailed catalogue of financial and fiscal incentives designed to attract investment and create jobs. The document also includes survey results from provincial investment promotion agencies (IPAs) regarding the effectiveness and awareness of these incentive schemes.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is a South and North-led alliance that provides research, advisory services, and knowledge sharing to help developing countries implement climate compatible development. The network focuses on bridging climate change and development policy to achieve low-carbon, climate-resilient futures while reducing poverty.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesizes the findings of the IPCC's SREX report specifically for African policymakers. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and disaster risk management (DRM), emphasizing that disaster risks in Africa are increasing due to both climate change and socio-economic factors such as rapid urbanization and poor governance. The document provides regional observations and projections for temperature and precipitation extremes across Africa and advocates for the integration of DRM and climate change adaptation into national development planning to build long-term resilience.

This 2012 report synthesizes the IPCC SREX findings for Africa, highlighting that disaster risk is increasing due to higher exposure of vulnerable populations. It details observed and projected increases in temperature and dryness across various sub-regions, warns that current extremes will become the 'new normal' by 2100, and emphasizes the high vulnerability of the agricultural sector and coastal cities. The document advocates for a shift from reactive to proactive, transformational disaster risk management that integrates local knowledge, high-level political leadership, and international financial support.

This briefing synthesises the IPCC SREX report's findings on climate extremes and the agriculture sector. It highlights that disaster risk is increasing due to higher exposure and vulnerability, particularly in developing countries. Key threats include intensified droughts, heatwaves, and flooding, which cause significant economic losses and threaten food security. The document advocates for 'climate-smart' agriculture, improved disaster risk management, and a combination of short-term coping strategies and long-term structural adaptations to build resilience.

This report documents the 5th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held from 28–30 November 2011 in Gaborone, Botswana. The conference brought together commandants from African Staff Colleges to discuss the impact of globalisation on human rights, the proliferation of small arms, gender equality in the military, and the standardisation of military education to support the African Standby Force (ASF) and peace support operations (PSOs).

The 'Protocolos Comunitarios Bioculturales: Kit de Herramientas para Facilitadores Comunitarios' is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice in 2012. It provides a framework and a set of participatory tools to help Indigenous Peoples and local communities document their customary laws, values, and governance systems into 'biocultural community protocols'. These protocols are designed to empower communities to manage their territories, protect their collective biocultural heritage, and negotiate on equal terms with external actors such as governments, corporations, and NGOs.

Biocultural Community Protocols: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice in 2012. It provides Indigenous peoples and local communities with a framework to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes into 'biocultural community protocols'. These instruments are designed to help communities secure their rights and territories, manage interactions with external actors (such as governments, researchers, and companies), and advocate for the stewardship of their collective biocultural heritage.

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the potential socio-economic impacts of increasing investment in basic education across Africa. Using the International Futures (IFs) modelling system, the authors simulate a scenario where African nations adopt the enrolment and completion growth rates of the continent's best-performing countries. The analysis suggests that a modest increase in GDP allocation to education could lead to significant long-term gains in GDP, poverty reduction, and public health, although these benefits would be realized over several decades.

In a speech delivered on November 10, 2011, at the South African Institute of International Affairs, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Alain Juppé discussed the necessity of a new global governance framework that integrates Africa's emerging influence. He outlined four primary shared challenges—economic crisis, development, security, and the environment—and advocated for the reform of the UN Security Council and the creation of a World Environment Organisation to better reflect current global realities.

This briefing from the Joto Afrika series, produced in partnership with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, examines climate-smart agricultural innovations in Africa, using Kenya as a primary case study. It highlights specific technical adaptations—such as greenhouse farming, rock catchment water harvesting, and the use of drought-resistant crops and fodders—to enhance food security and resilience against climate variability.