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This report assesses the legislative and institutional frameworks for combating organised crime across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, specifically evaluating their alignment with the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime (Palermo Convention) signed in December 2000.

This policy brief, produced by the Institute for Security Studies as part of the African Futures Project, uses the International Futures (IFs) model to analyze the impact of improving water and sanitation access across Africa. It argues that an aggressive annual improvement rate of just under 2 percentage points could significantly reduce child malnutrition and infant mortality, increase GDP, and lower the probability of state failure by 2050.

This report, produced by the Institute for Security Studies in collaboration with the Southern African Regional Police Chiefs Cooperation Organisation (SARPCCO), provides a comprehensive review of organised criminal activities in 12 southern African countries. It identifies a strong nexus between organised crime and corruption, noting that the region's porous borders and economic disparities facilitate the transnational movement of drugs, stolen vehicles, counterfeit goods, and endangered species. The report emphasizes that while some crimes are local, the most serious activities are transnational and often underpinned by systemic corruption within law enforcement and government institutions.

This research paper provides a historical analysis of civil-military relations in Malawi, tracing the evolution of the state's security apparatus from the pre-colonial Maravi Kingdom through British colonial rule and the one-party state under Hastings Kamuzu Banda to the current multi-party system. It examines the role of the Malawi Army and the Malawi Young Pioneers (MYP) as instruments of both state security and political control, highlighting the transition toward professional civilian oversight and international peacekeeping roles after 1994.

This research paper by Rocky Williams critiques the application of Western civil-military relations theories to the African context, arguing that formal institutional mechanisms are often insufficient for ensuring civil control. The author proposes a more flexible 'collaborative-partnership' model that integrates both objective (formal/legal) and subjective (informal/relational) forms of control, drawing on evidence from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries to demonstrate how political partnerships and shared value frameworks maintain stability.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the operational challenges facing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Organ for Politics, Defence and Security (OPDS). It analyzes the Organ's evolution since its 1996 creation, focusing on the tension between state sovereignty and regional collaboration, the impact of socio-economic crises like HIV/AIDS on security forces, and the limited administrative capacity of the SADC Secretariat. The authors argue that while the region possesses strong political solidarity and a comprehensive security architecture, its efficacy is hindered by financial constraints and a precarious international environment.

This research paper examines the implementation of the Maputo Protocol—the African Union's framework for women's rights—across Africa, with specific case studies on Malawi, South Sudan, Somalia, and Mozambique. It argues that while the protocol provides a critical legal foundation for gender equality and human security, its practical application is hindered by a lack of political will, the persistence of patriarchal customary laws, and systemic barriers to justice and political participation.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyses South Africa's post-conflict development and peacebuilding engagements in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It aims to identify lessons to inform the development of the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA), concluding that South Africa's interventions have often been short-term, uncoordinated, and lacking in sustainable impact due to poor strategic planning and insufficient resources.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the escalating political tensions between the Mozambican government (Frelimo) and the Mozambican National Resistance Movement (Renamo) following the 2013 attacks on Renamo's base. It evaluates Renamo's capacity to return to civil war, the internal divisions within the party, and the geopolitical implications for the SADC region, while offering recommendations for a political resolution ahead of the 2014 general elections.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for a shift in how organised crime is perceived and combated in Southern Africa. It advocates for moving away from rigid, narrow definitions toward a business-centric, network-based approach that recognizes the symbiotic relationships between criminal networks, state officials, and legitimate businesses. The author recommends the adoption of a regional protocol to harmonise legal procedures and the use of social network analysis to better disrupt transnational criminal markets.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges and prospects of implementing freedom of movement within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while regional integration is a stated goal, progress is hindered by a lack of political will, the securitisation of migration, and a critical shortage of reliable data. The authors contend that shifting the perspective of migration from a security threat to a developmental opportunity would benefit the region's economic stability and human rights.

This 2002 situation report by the Institute for Security Studies provides a detailed overview of refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) populations across Africa. It defines the legal distinctions between refugees and IDPs, provides statistical data on populations of concern to the UNHCR as of 2000/2001, and analyzes regional trends in displacement driven by conflict, drought, and economic decline.

This report examines prisoner rehabilitation and the causes of offending in Malawi, highlighting the need for a shift from simple skills training to a comprehensive approach including cognitive behavioural therapy, national certification for vocational training, and structured after-care to reduce recidivism.

This report provides a census and demographic analysis of the 40 female offenders incarcerated in Malawi prisons. It examines their socio-economic backgrounds, the nature of their crimes, their attitudes toward imprisonment, and the conditions of their incarceration, highlighting a strong link between poverty, low education, and offending.

This report excerpt analyzes the constraints and opportunities regarding prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration in Malawi, highlighting a systemic over-reliance on basic skills training and a lack of cognitive behavioral support and after-care.

This research paper examines the profiles, motivations, and attitudes of prisoners in Malawi. It analyzes the influence of family background, education, and socio-economic status on offending, while categorizing the primary drivers of crime—such as alcohol use, poverty, and peer pressure—and evaluating the perceived effectiveness of the prison system in terms of rehabilitation and punishment.

A letter dated February 24, 2014, addressed to World Bank President Jim Yong Kim from a coalition of 168 organizations and individuals, urging the revival of B-SPAN, the Bank's Internet-based webcasting system.

This report by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) outlines best practices for using decentralised renewable energy (DRE) to electrify rural health care facilities. It argues that DRE is the most cost-effective and rapid solution for providing essential power for medical equipment, vaccines, and emergency services, particularly in the context of pandemics like COVID-19. The document proposes a public-private partnership model combining 'smart grants' for initial capital and market-based compensation mechanisms, such as Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), to ensure long-term financial and technical sustainability. It includes 16 case studies from various regions to demonstrate diverse delivery models and technological applications.

This report by the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) argues that gender equality is a necessary catalyst for achieving universal energy access by 2030. It provides a business case for integrating gender-sensitive approaches into the decentralised renewable energy (DRE) sector, offering recommendations for companies, civil society organisations (CSOs), and investors, alongside 17 case studies demonstrating best practices in community empowerment, organisational diversity, and gender-lens investing.

This report analyzes the economic status and integration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting significant disparities in GDP growth, business competitiveness, and trade patterns among its 15 member states. It identifies infrastructure deficits, corruption, and regulatory barriers as primary inhibitors to regional growth and trade efficiency.