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This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines electoral trends in Africa based on elections held in 2015 and early 2016. While noting progress in democratic institution building since the 1990s, the authors identify four critical trends—constitutional manipulation, electoral calendar tampering, harassment of opposition, and low voter turnout—that threaten to reverse democratic gains. The document advocates for stricter adherence to African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Community (REC) standards to ensure credible and inclusive elections.

This guide describes ENACT (Enhancing Africa’s capacity to respond more effectively to transnational organised crime), a three-year European Union-funded programme implemented by the Institute for Security Studies, INTERPOL, and the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime. The project aims to mitigate the impact of transnational organised crime (TOC) on Africa's governance, security, and development through evidence-based analysis, capacity building for policymakers and law enforcement, and the creation of regional monitoring hubs.

The document summarizes the conclusions of a seminar held on 9 December 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focused on assistance and capacity-building for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, disarmament, and non-proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons in Africa.

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.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International argues that the pursuit of 'dirty energy'—including fossil fuels, nuclear power, and megadams—is causing severe environmental and social harm across Africa while failing to resolve energy poverty. The document highlights specific case studies of destructive energy projects in South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda, and Mozambique, and calls for a transition toward community-controlled renewable energy and 'energy sovereignty'.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines the impacts of 'dirty energy'—including coal, oil, gas, nuclear, and mega-dams—across the African continent. It argues that these energy systems exacerbate climate change, cause severe health and environmental damage, and fail to provide universal energy access, while often benefiting corporate elites over local communities.

The report critiques the prevalence of polluting energy sources in Africa, highlighting the environmental and social costs of coal in South Africa, oil in Nigeria and Uganda, and large dams in Mozambique. It emphasizes the paradox of high energy production alongside extreme energy poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa and advocates for a systemic shift toward decentralized, renewable energy.

This policy briefing examines the vulnerability of the livestock sector in Southern Africa to climate change, highlighting the severe impact of the 2015/2016 drought. It argues that while regional strategies like the SADC Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan exist, implementation remains sporadic and donor-driven. The document advocates for the use of indigenous animal genetic resources, improved support for small-scale farmers, and enhanced regional collaboration to build a climate-resilient livestock industry.

This case study examines the role of FinScope, a nationally representative survey developed by the FinMark Trust (FMT), in driving financial inclusion in South Africa. It analyzes how the tool filled a critical information gap for policymakers and financial service providers, moving the industry toward evidence-based decision-making and the development of pro-poor financial products.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) estimates the public and private investment required to end hunger by 2030, defining the goal as reducing the hungry population to less than 5 per cent of a country's population.

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 report analyzes the maize value chain within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to inform the Southern African Trade Hub’s (SATH) implementation strategy, focusing on production, trade, utilization, and the necessity of coherent regional policy.

This policy brief examines the border dispute between Malawi and Tanzania over Lake Malawi, which escalated due to the discovery of potential oil reserves. It analyzes the failures of regional preventive diplomacy mechanisms, specifically within SADC and the AU, and argues for the empowerment of these institutions to resolve inter-state conflicts through legitimate, binding processes.

A case study detailing the impact of Institute for Security Studies (ISS) training on police officers from the Malawi Police Service preparing for deployment in UN, AU, and regional peace missions.

This document introduces a project by Financial Sector Deepening Africa and Creative Metier to improve financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa by enhancing leadership capacity through executive coaching. It notes that while the region's financial sector has grown rapidly, formal financial account ownership remained low at 34% as of 2014.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) analyzes the use of fiscal instruments within Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC by November 20, 2015. The review identifies trends in how countries employ fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR), clean energy subsidies, and carbon pricing to support low-carbon development and GHG mitigation.

This report examines Botswana's foreign policy within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), analyzing the transition from the consultative 'quiet diplomacy' of past administrations to the more outspoken and pragmatic approach of President Ian Khama. It details the institutional frameworks governing Botswana's external engagements and the historical influences of the Front Line States and the country's landlocked geography.

This briefing provides a comparative legal commentary on Brazil's first four Cooperation and Investment Facilitation Agreements (CIFAs), highlighting how they differ from traditional bilateral investment treaties by prioritizing cooperation over investor protection and excluding investor-state arbitration.

This research paper examines implementation methods for the "Food Security in a Climate Perspective strategy 2013-15," focusing on private sector development and public-private partnerships (PPP) in agriculture, climate change, and food security across five African nations.

A statement issued in March 2015 by social movements and civil society organizations at the World Social Forum in Tunis, calling on governments to suspend the G8's 'New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition' in Africa. The signatories argue that the initiative prioritizes corporate interests over small-scale farmers, threatens food sovereignty, and promotes land grabbing.