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This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes South Africa's role as the host of the 2013 BRICS Summit. It examines how South Africa can leverage its membership in the BRICS group to advance its own national interests and promote the development and industrialization of Africa, while navigating the complexities of regional leadership and the predominantly bilateral nature of BRICS-Africa economic engagements.

This research paper examines the risk of stranded assets in Africa's extractives sectors as the global economy transitions toward low-carbon energy and a circular economy. It analyzes the economic threats to fossil-fuel-dependent nations, the potential for 'premature deindustrialisation', and the opportunities presented by the rising demand for critical minerals. The author argues for a 'just transition' that prioritizes social and developmental goals through economic diversification and improved governance to avoid the 'resource curse'.

This briefing examines the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis (ACIRC), a proposed rapid deployment instrument for the African Union (AU) initiated by South Africa. It analyzes the ACIRC's role as a stopgap for the African Standby Force's (ASF) missing rapid deployment capability, detailing the operational, political, and logistical challenges facing its implementation, and suggests ways to integrate it with AU and UN peace architectures.

This policy brief examines the challenges of measuring and reporting local procurement in the African mining sector. It argues that aggregate spending figures often mask a lack of genuine local value addition, as many 'local' suppliers are merely importers. While some governments and international standards are beginning to demand more granular data, the document highlights a significant gap between current reporting practices and the data needed to steer effective economic policy.

This research paper compares the macroeconomic resilience of Kenya and Tanzania over the past 20 years, analyzing the impacts of climate shocks, the global financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that while both countries used prudent monetary and fiscal policies to recover, they face challenges with high public debt, complex tax systems, and vulnerability to external trade shocks. The authors recommend simplifying tax administration, reducing non-concessional borrowing, and leveraging the AfCFTA to diversify trade.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines Africa's priorities and demands for COP28, emphasizing the need for a fundamental overhaul of the global financial architecture to ensure equitable climate finance, accelerated adaptation funding, and the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund.

This policy note, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in October 2025, advocates for a shift from incremental to transformational climate adaptation in Africa. It outlines the conceptual differences between these approaches, identifies systemic barriers to implementation across the continent, and provides strategic recommendations for South Africa's G20 presidency to champion scalable, just, and context-specific adaptation frameworks.

This policy brief by the Brookings Institution, published via the South African Institute of International Affairs, argues for strengthening the G20 Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) to address unsustainable debt in the Global South. The authors propose reforming the Common Framework for Debt Treatments (CF), integrating climate financing into debt management, and addressing the systemic drivers of high debt service costs, particularly for African nations.

This report outlines the critical cooling and cold chain needs in Kenya across the agriculture, health, and built environment sectors. It identifies significant food losses, electricity gaps in health facilities, and urban heat risks, while highlighting opportunities for sustainable cooling investments and passive design to improve public health and economic productivity.

This report by Sustainable Energy for All examines the critical role of cold chain logistics and reliable electricity access in the global rollout of vaccines, specifically highlighting how infrastructure gaps in low-income regions and Sub-Saharan Africa hinder the achievement of herd immunity.

SEforALL partnered with the ICTP to provide technical training on geospatial data management and application to energy planners from nine African countries. The program aimed to address a capacity gap in government planning units to better inform electrification and clean cooking strategies. Participants from Madagascar, Malawi, and Rwanda are currently applying these skills to develop national data governance and clean cooking plans.

This fact sheet by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) outlines various donor-funded financing programs available for renewable energy manufacturing and clean energy innovation, primarily targeting Africa and other developing regions.

The executive summary of 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape 2021' analyzes energy finance commitments in 20 developing 'high-impact countries' (HICs) for 2019. It finds that investments for both electricity and clean cooking are critically insufficient to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7), with electricity finance declining in 2019 and clean cooking investment stagnating. The report emphasizes the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, a shift away from fossil fuels, and a more comprehensive, multi-technology approach to clean cooking to ensure a just energy transition.

This case study examines Energy Safety Nets (ESNs) in Kenya, analyzing government-led initiatives designed to make modern energy services affordable for poor and vulnerable populations. It reviews electricity access programs, clean cooking initiatives, and the broader national social protection framework to identify opportunities for integrating energy access into existing social safety nets.

This guide by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) defines and provides a framework for Energy Safety Nets (ESNs), which are government-led mechanisms designed to close the affordability gap for the poorest and most vulnerable people to access modern energy services, including electricity and clean cooking fuels.

The G20 Energy Access Action Plan is a multi-phase voluntary collaboration framework designed to strengthen G20 member cooperation on energy access. The first phase specifically targets improving electricity access in sub-Saharan Africa through six strategic pillars: policy and regulatory environments, technology deployment, investment and finance, capacity building, regional integration, and coordination. The plan emphasizes sharing knowledge and good practices while respecting the sovereign right of nations to determine their own energy mix.

This research paper by Sustainable Energy for All presents a comprehensive framework of indicators to track gender equality and social inclusion within the energy transition, specifically focusing on electrification, clean cooking, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

This knowledge brief by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) examines the integration of electric cooking (eCooking) into national energy access planning for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It argues that while electrification has progressed faster than clean cooking access, integrating the two through holistic energy planning can accelerate the transition to clean energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve health outcomes. The document reviews various modelling tools, data requirements, and policy mechanisms—such as eCooking tariffs and results-based financing—necessary to operationalize integrated energy plans.

This report provides a technical and practical guide to electric cooking (eCooking) appliances for use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It categorizes appliances into cooktops, self-contained units, and task-specific devices, evaluating them based on energy efficiency, power ratings, and cultural suitability. The document aims to assist programme planners and policymakers in selecting appropriate technologies to transition households from biomass fuels to clean energy, aligning with SDG 7 goals.

This report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) examines the intersection of gender equality, energy access, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). It highlights how existing gender disparities in energy and digital access are reinforced by AI development biases and funding gaps, while proposing strategies to ensure a gender-just energy transition through diverse AI teams, STEM representation, and gender-responsive policy.