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The document identifies critical barriers to sustainable charcoal in Kenya, including limited financing for reforestation and efficient kilns, weak enforcement of the 2009 Forest (Charcoal) Rules due to systemic corruption, and low capacity among producer associations to comply with complex regulations. It highlights a significant supply-demand gap, with demand estimated at 16.3 million m3 against a supply of 7.4 million m3, and notes that while alternative fuels like LPG and ethanol are available, they remain accessible primarily to high-income households.

The document outlines how to apply a gender and social equality (GSE) lens to sustainable development research to uncover power relations and inequalities. It defines key concepts such as intersectionality, the distinction between sex and gender, and the role of social constructions in creating hierarchies. The guide provides a framework for analyzing norms, division of labour, resource access, and decision-making power, while offering specific methodological advice for defining research questions, collecting data from diverse social groups, and presenting results to ensure the voices of marginalized populations are represented.

The 'Life on the Frontline 2018' report presents findings from a global survey of 4,686 patrol rangers across 17 countries, highlighting critical gaps in health, safety, training, and equipment. The data reveals that rangers face excessive risks, including inadequate medical care, lack of communication devices, and exposure to infectious diseases like malaria, while often being underpaid and under-appreciated. The document argues for the professionalization of the ranger service through improved training curricula, guaranteed insurance, and better community relations to ensure the effective protection of global biodiversity.

The briefing examines the intersection of poverty eradication and climate action, arguing that the "leave no one behind" (LNB) principle is essential for ensuring that the poorest populations—who are most vulnerable to climate impacts—benefit from and participate in the energy transition. It outlines four key implications for climate policy: including the poor in decision-making, targeting them as implementers of adaptation and mitigation, maximizing direct benefits for them, and providing compensatory measures to offset regressive impacts like carbon taxes. The author notes that while many Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) mention inequality, few contain concrete measures to realize these benefits, suggesting that upcoming NDC updates provide a critical opportunity to integrate LNB principles.

The Independent Evaluation Unit (IEU) review of the GCF's Results Management Framework (RMF) finds that while the RMF helps classify projects into adaptation and mitigation themes, it suffers from critical flaws in its logical models and a lack of measurement protocols. The review reveals that 39% of approved projects lack impact indicators for at least one targeted result area, representing a reporting gap for USD 1.3 billion in investments. Key deficiencies include the absence of baseline data in 50% of projects and insufficient M&E budgeting in 70% of cases. The IEU recommends developing theories of change, creating a technical guide to consolidate scattered Board decisions, and strengthening the role of National Designated Authorities (NDAs) beyond the granting of non-objection letters. The report also notes that gender-related tools are not yet fully integrated into the RMF.

The Green Aggregation Tech Enterprise (GATE) is a proposed guarantee facility designed to mitigate demand and payment risks for mini-grids in Sub-Saharan Africa. By guaranteeing a baseline level of revenue, GATE aims to transform mini-grids into a bankable asset class, shifting their financing from donor grants to private debt. The instrument will be piloted in Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia, and the DRC, with a phased implementation pathway moving from a proof-of-concept (2018-2019) to full commercialization by 2028-2030. Financial modelling suggests that at scale, GATE can be sustainable and catalytic, potentially mobilizing US$ 1.725 billion in private investment by 2030 and providing electricity to millions of households and businesses.

The Smallholder Forestry Vehicle (SFV) is a proposed financial instrument designed to scale smallholder forestry in Africa by aggregating tree production contracts into a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). By separating the high-risk establishment and harvest phases from the lower-risk growth phase, the SFV aims to lower the cost of capital and attract institutional investors. A proof-of-concept facility targeting US$ 35 million in coastal Kenya is proposed to restore 5,000 hectares of degraded land and provide climate-resilient savings to over 16,000 households. The analysis suggests that with concessional debt and first-loss equity, the vehicle can achieve a gross internal rate of return (IRR) of 11.1%. Long-term goals include expanding into Greater East Africa and mobilizing up to US$ 8.5 billion in initial investment to meet regional land restoration targets.

The Smallholder Forestry Vehicle is a proposed financial instrument designed to enable forestry companies in Africa to access long-term, low-cost finance by aggregating smallholder tree production contracts into a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). By separating the high-risk establishment and harvest phases from the lower-risk growth phase, the vehicle aims to attract institutional investors, including pension funds and impact investors. A proof-of-concept facility targeting US$ 35 million in coastal Kenya is proposed to demonstrate risk-adjusted returns and climate resilience benefits, such as land restoration and diversified income for farmers. The analysis suggests that the instrument can leverage significant private capital and be replicated across other East African nations to meet land restoration targets.

The paper explores how African agency manifests in interactions with China, arguing that it is not merely a binary of power but a complex dynamic involving state, institutional, and non-state actors. Through case studies of the AU and the BRI, the authors analyze how structural reforms, debt sustainability, and local realities shape the bargaining power of African nations. While China holds significant structural power, the document suggests that African agency is exercised through proactive affirmation of partnerships, strategic non-compliance, and the influence of on-the-ground realities like security risks and wildlife trafficking.

The briefing contends that the distinction between adaptation and development projects is counter-productive and that adaptation should be viewed as 'doing development differently in response to climate change.' It proposes a framework for maximizing the impact of scarce adaptation finance by establishing strong climate rationales, building national adaptive capacity across four key areas, and shifting toward devolved decision-making to empower local communities.

The document analyzes how climate change increases the frequency and intensity of 'billion-dollar' disasters, straining national budgets and widening the 'protection gap'—the difference between total economic losses and insured losses. It details the transition from traditional actuarial science to forward-looking 'cat models' and geospatial modeling to price risk. To address 'tail risks' and the lack of insurability in vulnerable regions, the text highlights alternative mechanisms: catastrophe bonds for capital market risk transfer, microinsurance (parametric insurance) for low-income populations, and sovereign risk pools for multi-country coverage. It also notes the codification of insurance in international frameworks like the Paris Agreement's 'Loss and Damage' pillar and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The Jordan Integrated Landscape Management Initiative (JILMI) seeks to address climate-driven water scarcity and ecosystem degradation in Jordan. The project proposes a cross-sectoral approach to build climate resilience in the Jordan Rift Valley, Zarqa River Basin, and the Gulf of Aqaba. Key strategies include restoring degraded forests, reviving traditional 'Hima' herding practices, implementing small-scale sustainable energy technologies, and mainstreaming integrated landscape management (ILM) into national policy. The request seeks US$ 278,946.28 from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to conduct baseline assessments, gender analyses, and feasibility studies to inform a full funding proposal estimated at US$ 40 million.

The document analyzes the role of insurance in mitigating the fiscal shocks of climate change, highlighting the growing 'protection gap' where economic losses far exceed insured amounts. It details the shift from historical actuarial data to forward-looking 'catastrophe models' and explores innovative tools such as catastrophe bonds, microinsurance, and sovereign risk pools. The text also discusses the integration of insurance into international climate governance frameworks like the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.

The document argues that South Africa's informal economy, which employs 4.5 million people, is characterized by low incomes and poor security. It criticizes state-led repression and the narrow focus of micro-enterprise support, proposing instead a transition toward formalization through the implementation of ILO Recommendation 204. Key recommendations include amending the Labour Relations Act and Basic Conditions of Employment Act to recognize own-account workers as workers, enhancing labour inspectorate capacity, and providing basic infrastructure for those working in public spaces. The brief specifically highlights the need for inclusive policies in informal retail and waste recycling, suggesting that corporate responsibility and innovative financing, such as Extended Producer Responsibility levies, be leveraged to support these sectors.

The report examines Kenya's efforts to integrate gender and climate change into water resource management. It highlights a strong legislative foundation, including the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Water Act 2016, which mandate gender representation and inclusive governance. However, it identifies significant gaps in implementation, such as limited women's land ownership, insufficient gender-disaggregated data, and a lack of targeted funding for women in climate adaptation. The document also details the impact of climate change on Kenya's water-scarce environment, particularly in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), and evaluates the role of institutions like the National Gender and Equality Commission and the Water Resources Authority in promoting inclusive water governance.

The report finds that while armed conflict fatalities in Africa are generally declining, the continent remains vulnerable due to structural drivers including poverty, youth bulges, and poor governance. It notes a shift from rural armed conflict toward urban political protests and riots. The analysis identifies a core group of countries at the highest risk of armed conflict and argues that inclusive economic development and improved governance are the only long-term solutions for stability.

The report evaluates Kenya's development prospects to 2040, highlighting a contrast between strong human capital (health and education) and a significant deficit in core infrastructure (water and sanitation). While Kenya is a regional leader in ICT and renewable energy, it faces challenges from a large youth bulge, corruption, and climate-driven food insecurity. The report presents three scenarios: 'Stuck in Traffic' (current path), 'Tuko Kazi' (positive interventions), and 'Bila Hopes' (stagnation and instability).

The document examines how digitalization is restructuring global value chains and the risks it poses to developing nations, such as increased technological divides and value capture by advanced economies. It contrasts the digital industrial policies of the EU (market-friendly) and China (interventionist) to propose a dual-track policy framework for developing countries: 'enabling markets' (focusing on infrastructure, ecosystems, and mitigating disbenefits) and 'digital catch-up' (focusing on technology linkage, learning, and economic leverage). The authors highlight specific instruments like payment interoperability, data localization, and fiscal incentives, while warning of implementation hurdles such as ministerial silos and international trade agreement constraints.

The document examines the increase in sovereign debt across Africa, specifically focusing on the role of Chinese financing and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It challenges the notion that China is 'trapping' African nations, noting that African governments actively seek these loans to address an annual infrastructure financing deficit of approximately $93 billion and to compensate for declining commodity prices. However, it highlights significant risks, including the opacity of loan terms, the potential for corruption, and the impact of debt servicing on public spending. The author recommends greater transparency from both China and African governments, and a stronger link between debt-funded projects and concrete local benefits.

The report examines the institutional linkages between gender, water, and climate change in Uganda, noting that while climate change and population growth threaten water security, women face disproportionate impacts due to limited resource access. It finds that Uganda is demonstrating leadership in mainstreaming gender and climate considerations within its water management policy and institutional systems.