Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper proposes an analytical framework for studying cities in the developing world using the 'political settlements' approach to understand national political dynamics through urban transformation.

This report provides an assessment of Rwanda's mining laws and policies against the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework (MPF). Conducted between December 2016 and February 2017, the evaluation identifies strengths in Rwanda's regulatory framework and government willingness to improve the sector, while highlighting significant gaps in environmental monitoring, socioeconomic impact assessments, and mine closure planning. The report concludes that while Rwanda has robust laws, it lacks the technical and human capacity to fully implement and enforce them.

This research paper discusses the transition of leadership at the African Union Commission (AUC) following the election of Moussa Faki Mahamat as Chairperson on 30 January 2017. It analyzes the challenges facing the new chair, including the need for financial independence from international donors, the implementation of institutional reforms, and the management of peace and security crises across the continent.

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.

The World Resources Institute statement highlights the 2016 Montreal Protocol amendment agreed upon by 197 parties in Kigali, Rwanda, to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The agreement targets an 80-85% reduction in global HFC levels by 2047, with most countries freezing production by 2024, potentially avoiding up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of global warming by 2100.

This report provides a primer for policy makers on the roles and responsibilities of local, national, and international governance in enabling cities to lead climate change mitigation and adaptation. It emphasizes the critical role of urban areas, which emit over 70% of global emissions, and outlines financial instruments and planning steps necessary for a low-carbon and climate-resilient urban transformation.

This report analyzes the East African Community's (EAC) attempts to resolve the political crisis in Burundi triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in 2016. It details the internal divisions among EAC member states, the failure of various diplomatic facilitation efforts, and the resulting political deadlock.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political and security crisis in Burundi triggered by President Pierre Nkurunziza's bid for a third term in 2015. It details the historical context of the Burundian civil war, the CNDD-FDD's consolidation of power through repression and the marginalization of opposition parties, and the internal fractures within the ruling party. The document examines the failure of constitutional amendments, the role of the security sector in suppressing dissent, and the subsequent impact on civil society and the media.

The July 2016 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, the election of the African Union Commission (AUC) leadership, the limited powers of the AUC chairperson, and the Peace and Security Council's (PSC) engagement with various African conflicts, including the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and crises in Burundi and the DRC.

This research paper documents Rwanda's experiences and lessons in national-level climate compatible development planning between 2013 and 2014. It highlights the role of legislative frameworks, the establishment of the Environment and Climate Change Fund (FONERWA), and the integration of climate resilience into national budgeting and planning systems.

This research paper analyzes the socio-economic dynamics of the mining industry in Kalima, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), specifically comparing the impacts of industrial mining (historically led by Sominki and later Sakima) with current artisanal mining of cassiterite. The author argues that artisanal mining provides better employment, higher incomes, and more democratic working conditions for the local population than the previous industrial model, despite a decline in social services and local agriculture.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as of January 2009. It identifies key drivers of instability in North Kivu and outlines three potential scenarios for the region: the maintenance of the status quo, a return to war, or the establishment of peace through negotiations.

This research paper examines the relationship between disarmament and the post-conflict reconciliation process in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. It argues that while the Rwandan government has focused on reconciliation through mechanisms like the gacaca courts and regional small arms agreements, the failure to implement a comprehensive internal disarmament program for civilians and ex-combatants undermines lasting security and trust. The author highlights the complexities of disarming groups in a porous region, specifically the threat posed by Hutu militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and proposes integrating disarmament into the broader security sector reform and reconciliation framework.

The Africa Pensions Supervisors’ Network Programme, supported by FSD Africa (2021-2025), aims to increase pension coverage and assets in Sub-Saharan Africa, where coverage is currently only 9.6%. The initiative focuses on creating regulatory environments that encourage long-term savings and the investment of pension assets into the real sector, including collaboration with the Africa Pensions Supervisors Forum (APSF).

This briefing by E-Consult, coordinated by FSD Africa, examines the potential for establishing onshore financial centres in Africa to attract international capital and skilled employees. It evaluates existing hubs like Mauritius and Johannesburg and assesses the prospects for cities such as Nairobi, Kigali, Lagos, and Accra to become globally significant financial centres.

The SUNCASA (Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa) project is a USD 22 million initiative managed by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the World Resources Institute (WRI) to improve climate resilience in urban communities in Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa through gender-responsive nature-based solutions (NbS).

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fourth Review of the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) for Rwanda on July 1, 2021, and approved a one-year extension of the program through June 27, 2023. The report assesses Rwanda's economic recovery following a 3.4 percent GDP contraction in 2020, focusing on balancing COVID-19 response measures with long-term fiscal sustainability and debt management.

The African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund), a key instrument of the Urban Water Resilience Initiative led by the World Resources Institute (WRI), aims to finance innovative urban water resilience projects across 100 African cities by 2032. The fund employs a blended finance model—combining grants, concessional loans, equity, and debt—to address a $66 billion infrastructure investment backlog in sub-Saharan Africa. It operates through a three-stage process: developing city-region scale water resilience action plans, preparing and investing in a standardized 'investment menu' of low-cost solutions, and maturing these programs through standardized toolkits and policy reform to enable scaling.

The African Cities Water Adaptation Platform (ACWA Platform) is a pan-African coalition designed to accelerate urban water resilience across Africa. Led by WRI Africa and a diverse group of partners, the platform coordinates research, technical assistance, and advocacy to address projected tripling of water demand by 2050. It operates in tandem with the African Cities Water Adaptation Fund (ACWA Fund), a blended finance instrument providing grants and investments to transform strategic water plans into investment-ready projects.

This case study examines how Rwanda addressed a severe electricity crisis in 2004 by restoring the Rugezi-Bulera-Ruhondo watershed to maintain the operational capacity of its primary hydropower stations.