Search Climate Insights Directory

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 note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines trends in climate change adaptation planning based on a standardized review of 15 African and Asian countries conducted for the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia (CARIAA). The review examines vulnerability profiles, national priorities, policy responses, and the nature of adaptation programming, highlighting a strong focus on agriculture but significant gaps in subnational planning and monitoring systems.

This case study describes the 'Green Business Area' in Konseguela, Mali, a pilot project completed in 2016 by GERES. The project provides a dedicated site for rural businesses powered by a 100% renewable energy mini-grid combining solar photovoltaics and locally produced agro-fuels.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies challenges the conventional narrative that youth unemployment and religious fanaticism are the primary drivers of young people joining armed jihadist groups in Mali. Based on interviews with 63 previously involved youths, the study identifies a complex interplay of 15 different factors—including protection, coercion, and state absence—and argues that generic 'radicalisation' frameworks often miss the local realities of engagement.

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 evaluates Africa's prospects for achieving universal access to safe water, adequate sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) by 2030, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6. Using the International Futures (IFs) forecasting system, the authors compare a 'Current Path' (business-as-usual) against two alternative scenarios: 'Universal Access' (an aggressive push for 97% coverage) and 'Balancing WASH' (a moderate approach based on 2015 baselines). The analysis highlights the massive infrastructure investment required, the potential for significant economic and human development gains, and the risk of spending trade-offs that could undermine health and education goals.

This policy brief examines the misuse of electric shock equipment by law enforcement agencies in Africa, arguing that such tools often facilitate torture and ill-treatment in violation of international and regional human rights frameworks. It specifically analyzes the legal landscape of anti-torture commitments in Africa and provides a detailed case study on the South African Police Service (SAPS), recommending the prohibition of handheld and body-worn electric shock devices.

The June 2016 Peace & Security Council Report examines the strained relationship between the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), focusing on coordination failures, funding disputes for peacekeeping, and the AU's struggle to implement preventive diplomacy in member states like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the activities and challenges of the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) leading into 2016. It focuses on the AU's shifting emphasis toward human rights, the upcoming 2016 elections for the PSC and AU Commission, and the council's mixed success in managing conflicts in Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia, and Burkina Faso. The document also explores the persistent linguistic divide between anglophone and francophone member states and the evolving partnership between the AU and the United Nations.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that industrial agribusiness is a primary driver of climate change and social inequality, advocating for agroecology and food sovereignty as sustainable alternatives. It specifically critiques 'Climate Smart Agriculture' (CSA) as a corporate-led 'false solution' that greenwashes industrial practices without challenging the underlying economic systems.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that industrial agribusiness is a primary driver of climate change and hunger, advocating for agroecology as a sustainable, equitable alternative. It critiques 'climate-smart agriculture' as a 'false solution' designed to protect corporate profits and maintain existing power structures while greenwashing industrial practices.

This policy brief from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolving security relationship between China and Africa. It analyzes how China is shifting from a strict policy of non-interference toward deeper engagement in both traditional military security and non-traditional threats, including the protection of its citizens, pandemic response, and environmental conservation, increasingly through multilateral frameworks.

This policy brief, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in September 2015, outlines a strategic resource mobilisation approach for National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). Based on a study by Dalberg Global Development Advisors involving 30 interviews and a literature review, the document identifies why NCCFs have historically struggled to attract capital and proposes a three-pillar framework—vision and strategy, institutional capacity, and systematic investor engagement—to improve their financial sustainability.

The EERA project worked with Benin, Mali, and Togo to develop a 'Smart Energy Path' focused on sustainable, participatory energy planning. While these countries prioritize collective energy services for health and education over household energy, they have not yet fast-tracked renewable energy. The project emphasizes the need for multi-sectoral decision-making and clear regulatory roles for subnational governments as power is decentralized.

This report describes the 'Energy, Ecodevelopment and Resilience in Africa (EERA)' project, which implemented a 'Smart Energy Path' methodology in Benin, Mali, and Togo. The project focused on creating environmentally sustainable and resilient energy services through a multi-sectoral, participatory decision-making process that prioritizes collective energy services over individual household access.

This report by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), evaluates the resource mobilisation strategies and sustainability of National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). It defines NCCFs as national-level entities that collect and channel climate finance to mitigation and adaptation projects. The report identifies significant funding gaps in developing countries, analyzes the performance of 13 operational NCCFs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and provides a best-practice handbook for NCCFs to define their vision, build institutional capacity, and engage investors.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the risks of religious radicalism in Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on Pentecostal Christian movements, various currents of Islam, and the Lebanese Shiite community's links to Hezbollah. While concluding that radicalism has not yet reached the scale seen elsewhere in the region, the document identifies several political, socio-economic, and regulatory vulnerabilities that could facilitate future radicalisation.

This policy brief examines South Africa's two terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2007–2008 and 2011–2012. It focuses on South Africa's efforts to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) by formalising institutional links between the UNSC and the African Union (AU), advocating for predictable financial resources, and promoting the role of regional organisations in security management under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

This policy brief analyzes Turkey's 2015 G-20 presidency, focusing on its priorities of inclusiveness, investment, and implementation, and their implications for Africa and low-income developing countries (LIDCs). The authors argue that while Turkey has expanded its diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa through a 'bottom-up' approach, the G-20's institutional framework remains problematic due to the underrepresentation of African nations and a disconnect between its finance and development tracks.

This executive summary highlights the historical failure of climate change mitigation projects to integrate gender equality, arguing that treating women as victims rather than leaders reinforces inequalities. Based on case studies in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, the report asserts that gender mainstreaming, socially disaggregated data, and gender-sensitive policies are essential for the efficacy, inclusivity, and long-term viability of both large-scale infrastructure and small-scale energy projects.