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The document outlines a research project comparing community adaptation and microinsurance demand in four Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It specifically focuses on comparing 2011 data from the Caribbean with new survey data from Mauritius and the Seychelles to analyze socio-economic profiles, financial behavior, and coping mechanisms in response to extreme weather.

The African Union (AU) has established several legal frameworks to combat terrorism, including the 1999 Algiers Convention and the 2004 Protocol, but implementation is stalled by low ratification rates among member states. Key countries facing terrorism, such as Nigeria and Somalia, have not ratified the 2004 Protocol. The AU's efforts are further undermined by a lack of monitoring systems, severe funding shortages—with member states contributing only 40% of the 2016 budget—and a tendency for international powers like the US and France to bypass the AU in favor of direct bilateral operations with individual states.

The Mauritius Convention on Transparency, adopted by the UN General Assembly on 10 December 2014, provides a mechanism for States to 'opt-in' to the UNCITRAL Rules on Transparency for arbitrations brought under investment treaties concluded before April 2014. The document highlights that investor-State arbitrations often involve public interests, including policies on nuclear or alternative energy, tobacco control, and the protection of drinking water, yet typically lack the openness of legal systems governed by the rule of law. By mandating the disclosure of documents and open hearings, the Convention aims to improve democratic participation, accountability, and the ability of governments to reform international economic governance. As of January 2017, Mauritius and Canada had ratified the Convention, while several other States had signed it.

The paper examines the challenges of attracting private investment for sustainable energy infrastructure in Africa, specifically focusing on the tensions between liberalization and regulation, risk-return profiles and affordability, and global goals versus local needs. Through case studies of natural gas in Tanzania and electricity in Zambia, it highlights how corruption, poor planning, and low tariffs hinder progress, while suggesting that a combination of public-private partnerships, capacity building, and democratic accountability is essential for sustainable development.

The report examines arms brokering practices and national legislation in 12 Southern African countries, including Angola, Botswana, DRC, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. It finds that most of these states lack specific domestic laws to regulate brokers, leaving them vulnerable to illicit trafficking and sanctions-busting. While South Africa and Mauritius have established comprehensive brokering controls, others rely on outdated laws or general criminal codes. The document emphasizes the role of regional frameworks like the SADC Protocol and international treaties such as the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the UN Programme of Action (UNPoA) in closing legislative loopholes and improving cross-border cooperation.

The report analyzes seven multilateral climate funds—the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF), Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and Strategic Climate Fund (SCF)—against five strategies for transformative change: achieving impact at scale, promoting country ownership, improving efficiency, supporting equitable allocation, and increasing accountability. It finds that the proliferation of funds has led to overlapping roles and inefficiencies. The authors recommend short-term reforms to clarify fund specialization and long-term architectural changes, including the potential consolidation or sunsetting of certain funds, such as the CIFs, SCCF, and LDCF, to streamline the climate finance landscape.

The Independent Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) assessed nine funding proposals across various regions. Key recommendations include the approval of renewable energy and financial inclusion projects in Mongolia, South Africa, Argentina, and the Pacific Islands, as well as adaptation projects in Bangladesh, Uganda, Vanuatu, and Samoa. While most were recommended for approval, several were subject to conditions regarding technical design (notably water systems in Bangladesh), operational track records (South Africa), and long-term maintenance plans (Vanuatu).

The project seeks US$ 28.21 million in GCF grants to enable a shift toward a low-carbon economy in Mauritius. It is structured in two phases (2017-2024) across three components: institutional strengthening via the creation of the Mauritius Renewable Energy Agency (MARENA), upgrading the national grid to absorb up to 185 MW of intermittent renewable energy (including 25 MW of rooftop PV), and deploying solar PV mini-grids on Agalega. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4.27 million tCO2e over the investment lifetimes, leveraging US$ 163.18 million in co-finance from the Government of Mauritius, the Central Electricity Board (CEB), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).

The research focuses on commercial tax evasion within IFFs, clarifying the distinctions between abusive transfer pricing, trade mispricing, and TBML. Using the IMF DOTS methodology and a developed TBML model, the authors estimate flows for Nigeria, South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, and Zambia. The findings indicate that while some countries show declining trade mispricing, the TBML model suggests increasing financial outflows for all five. The paper highlights significant data anomalies in UNCOMTRADE and IMF datasets, particularly regarding South Africa's extractive exports, and advocates for the implementation of the Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) and improved inter-agency cooperation to curb these flows and support socio-economic development.

The paper analyzes the diversity of (I)NDCs across target types, sectoral coverage, and greenhouse gas scopes, finding that while economy-wide absolute targets facilitate easier accounting, only 18 (I)NDCs (covering 41% of global emissions) currently employ them.

The document analyzes the economic relationship between South Africa and the US, noting that while trade and investment have grown, South Africa underutilizes AGOA's duty-free preferences. It proposes three post-2025 paths: allowing AGOA to expire (Simple), negotiating a Partial Scope Agreement (Moderate), or pursuing a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (Comprehensive).

This research paper analyzes the state of constitutionalism and civil liberties across Africa by examining African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review Reports for 12 countries. It categorizes these nations based on Freedom House rankings and identifies systemic challenges to freedom, including executive dominance and securitization.

The report examines 'constitutional liberalism' in Africa, focusing on the gap between formal democratic structures and the actual protection of civil liberties. Using APRM data and Freedom House rankings, it categorizes countries as 'free', 'partly free', or 'not free', identifying executive dominance, securitisation, and administrative dysfunction as primary barriers to freedom.

The document examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to 'Africanise' its maritime domain through AIMS 2050, specifically by proposing a continental cabotage regime to reduce foreign dominance in intra-African shipping. While proponents argue this would create jobs and economic independence, the paper identifies significant barriers, including inadequate port infrastructure, a lack of skilled seafarers, and limited political will, as evidenced by the low ratification rates of the African Maritime Transport Charter. It further analyzes the legal complexities regarding World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations and concludes that the proposed regime is currently 'ahead of schedule' due to the absence of necessary industrial and governance preconditions.

The document analyzes the shift in Indian foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, moving toward a more proactive and assertive 'geo-economic' approach. It examines how this strategy integrates Africa into India's broader geostrategic space, stretching from the Suez to the Pacific, and evaluates the outcomes of the third India–Africa Forum Summit (IAFS III). The authors argue that while India seeks to enhance its soft power and energy security, the relationship must evolve from a focus on Indian-sourced credit lines to partnerships that support African industrialization and manufacturing.

The report details how two Kenyan financial institutions, Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and Jubilee Insurance, integrated executive coaching to address leadership gaps and workforce demographic shifts. CBA focused on creating a sustainable internal coaching culture by certifying managers and training line managers in coaching skills. Jubilee Insurance implemented a three-phased leadership programme involving self-assessment, 360-degree feedback, and planned internal coach development. Both institutions reported improvements in staff engagement, leadership cohesion, and a shift toward solution-focused management, with Jubilee specifically noting increases in revenue and productivity per employee.

The document argues that while the SADC region faces severe energy pressures and a heavy reliance on coal and hydropower, renewable energy mini-grids offer a viable complement to national grid extension, particularly for rural populations. However, most current projects remain in the pilot phase due to unsustainable business models, vague policy frameworks, and a lack of private investment. The brief recommends adopting anchor-business-community (A-B-C) models and establishing clear regulatory frameworks to scale these solutions.

The paper evaluates Namibia's progress toward Vision 2030 and NDP4 targets using the International Futures (IFs) model. It identifies physical capital—specifically electricity, sanitation, and transportation—as the primary constraint on economic growth. Through three scenarios (Current Path, Infrastructure Access, and Leave No Namibian Out), the author demonstrates that while heavy infrastructure investment improves health and GDP, it can detract from education spending. The analysis concludes that Namibia is unlikely to meet its aggressive GDP growth and infant mortality targets by 2030, and that deep-seated structural issues like inequality and extreme poverty will persist across all modeled paths.

The IMF's October 2015 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa describes a 'gloomy picture' for the region driven by falling commodity and oil prices, high energy costs, and a weak global financial environment. South Africa is highlighted as having the worst growth projection among its middle-income peers, with its economic performance hindered by critical electricity supply failures, poor export growth despite currency depreciation, and social unrest. The IMF recommends fiscal adjustments, currency depreciation, and long-term investments in productivity-enhancing infrastructure and education to counter these trends.

The policy brief examines the emergence of the Blue Economy as a central priority for African policymakers, specifically through the AU's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy). It identifies a significant challenge of fragmentation, where maritime ambitions span a complex array of sector-specific institutions and programmes. The author suggests that the 2050 AIM Strategy should link with the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which has recently undergone institutional renewal and adopted the Blue Economy as its top priority. The brief emphasizes that for these initiatives to succeed, they must avoid duplicating sector-specific efforts and instead focus on high-level integrated planning, improved communication platforms, and bolstered institutional capacity.