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The document discusses the environmental and governance challenges of seabed mining, specifically analyzing how opposition from the fishing industry and environmental groups led to a moratorium on phosphate mining in Namibia. It outlines the international legal framework provided by UNCLOS and the International Seabed Authority, while recommending that African states strengthen their national ocean governance and environmental impact assessment capacities.

The paper analyzes the funding of African governance institutions, such as anti-corruption commissions and the APRM, and processes like constitutional reform and the EITI. It argues that while government funding is ideal for ensuring national ownership, a mix of donor and state funds is common. The author highlights that funding can be used as a reward for good governance (e.g., US Millennium Challenge Account) or as a tool for donor control (e.g., EU funding of PEFA). The document concludes that mitigating external influence requires a combination of self-assessment processes, adherence to continental or global standards, and the mainstreaming of governance actions into national budgets.

The document argues that climate, energy, water, and land-use systems are closely integrated, yet policy-making often relies on disconnected assessments. Using Mauritius as a case study, the paper compares energy system assessments conducted in isolation against those using an integrated approach to scenarios extending to 2030. It highlights that an integrated approach reveals critical dynamics—such as the impact of rainfall reductions and land-use changes on ethanol generation—that are overlooked in separate assessments.

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), established in 2003 to improve governance in member states, has failed to attract significant media attention despite its potential. The document identifies four primary barriers: the bulky and technical nature of Country Review Reports (CRRs), a lack of understanding of the APRM's complex processes among journalists, a media focus on sporadic events rather than the implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPoAs), and inadequate communication strategies from APRM structures. Furthermore, the paper notes that the APRM's self-assessment questionnaires historically neglected media freedom, only introducing a related question in 2011. Case studies from Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique, and Uganda illustrate that while media-friendly packaging (such as traffic light rating systems) can generate interest, coverage remains intermittent and superficial. The authors argue that the media's watchdog role is essential for monitoring NPoA implementation and recommend the adoption of continental and national media strategies, specialized journalist beats, and increased training to bridge the gap between the APRM and the public.

The paper examines the tension between 'positive' and 'negative' governance values in Africa. While the African Union has established comprehensive frameworks like the APRM and ACDEG to promote transparency, accountability, and human rights, the author argues that a lack of political will and moral leadership hinders their implementation. The document highlights persistent issues such as systemic corruption, political clientelism, the marginalisation of women, and electoral manipulation, while noting that a small group of countries has made significant progress toward democratic governance.

The document outlines how climate change poses an existential threat to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through sea level rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather. It emphasizes that while adaptation can reduce risks, SIDS face high economic costs due to a lack of economies of scale and limited resources. The briefing advocates for the integration of adaptation, mitigation, and development strategies, highlighting the potential for renewable energy to enhance energy security and the necessity of international cooperation to avert dangerous climate change.

The research paper details a participatory approach using stakeholder mapping and 'barrier cards' to identify obstacles to climate adaptation in Jamaica. Findings across the agriculture, fisheries, and tourism sectors reveal a disconnect between national-level planning and local-level implementation, with funding and political leadership identified as primary barriers. The paper argues that involving local stakeholders in devising practical, surmountable solutions can build climate resilience and reconcile national policies with local actions.

The paper describes a participatory approach using stakeholder mapping and 'barrier cards' to bridge the gap between national climate policies and local implementation in Mauritius. Findings reveal a strong predominance of national government in adaptation planning, with local actors often excluded from information and action flows. In the agriculture sector, the primary barrier is a lack of climate vulnerability data, while the fisheries sector faces institutional barriers related to a lack of accountability. The authors argue that prioritizing 'surmountable' barriers—those addressable with existing national capacities—is the most effective way to build climate resilience.

The paper describes a participatory approach using stakeholder mapping and 'barrier cards' to identify obstacles to climate adaptation in Seychelles. Findings reveal a disconnect between national planning and local implementation, with a critical lack of climate vulnerability data hindering the fisheries and tourism sectors. In agriculture, the primary barrier is the sector's low perceived economic priority. The authors recommend establishing a national adaptation office and improving data collection to bridge the gap between national policy and local action.

The document details a participatory approach using stakeholder mapping and 'barrier cards' to identify obstacles to climate adaptation in St Lucia. Findings reveal a top-down governance structure where national ministries hold primary influence and funding, while local actors remain largely excluded from planning and implementation. Key barriers identified include poor national land use planning and conflicting stakeholder values, both driven by a lack of long-term political vision. The paper argues for the development of a comprehensive national land use management plan and the mainstreaming of climate considerations into local policies to build resilience.

The document outlines the existential threats posed to Small Island Developing States (SIDS) by climate change, specifically sea level rise and ocean acidification. It emphasizes that while adaptation can reduce risks, SIDS face high per-capita costs due to a lack of economies of scale. The report advocates for integrating climate adaptation with broader development goals and transitioning to renewable energy to enhance energy security.

The document outlines SEI's interdisciplinary approach to the water-energy-food nexus, emphasizing the need to integrate cross-sectoral interactions, ecosystem services, and multi-scale governance. It highlights the use of analytical tools like WEAP and LEAP to identify synergies and trade-offs in resource management. SEI advocates for participatory processes and the identification of policy 'entry points' to ensure scientific research translates into practical, sustainable solutions for resource scarcity.

The document examines the underutilisation of best practices within the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), noting that while over 200 practices have been identified across 15 country review reports, they remain largely confined to those reports. It argues that best practices should serve as a central anchor for peer learning to drive governance reform. The author recommends that the APRM define best practices more clearly, integrate their identification into the initial country self-assessment phase to increase national ownership, and establish a central repository and dedicated learning forums to disseminate these home-grown solutions across the continent.

The document examines the intersection of G-20 financial regulatory initiatives and African economic development. It identifies five key G-20 focus areas—financial stability, financial inclusion, local currency bond markets, agricultural finance, and trade finance—and assesses the mechanisms through which non-member African states can influence these global standards. While acknowledging that the G-20 recognizes the needs of developing countries, the author argues that African representation remains limited and that the adoption of international standards like Basel II/III must be sequenced to align with local developmental goals.

The document investigates how low-income populations in the Caribbean (Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Lucia) and the South West Indian Ocean (Mauritius, Seychelles) cope with extreme weather events. It finds a heavy reliance on 'medium level stressors' like savings and credit, which act as pseudo-insurance, and a concerning prevalence of 'high level stressors' such as 'doing nothing' (asset degradation) in the Caribbean. While there is an implicit need for microinsurance to prevent asset depletion, adoption is hindered by cost, lack of trust, and limited knowledge.

The research identifies non-tariff barriers (NTBs) as critical constraints to trade in the SADC region, often undermining the benefits of tariff liberalisation. Key barriers include cumbersome customs procedures, transit issues, and corruption, with agricultural products being disproportionately affected. The paper highlights the high cost of compliance for retailers like Shoprite and Woolworths and argues that SADC lacks a coordinated action plan similar to those in the EU or ASEAN. It recommends a 'vertical' approach to prioritising 'low hanging fruit' barriers and the adoption of a 'naming and shaming' mechanism to enforce reforms.

The document analyzes the shift from traditional official development assistance (ODA) and commercial bank lending toward alternative financing for infrastructure in Africa. It highlights the role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), blending finance, and institutional investors like pension funds and sovereign wealth funds. A significant portion of the text focuses on the SADC Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP), which requires an estimated $500 billion in capital, and the systemic challenges facing the region, including underdeveloped financial markets and high utility tariffs.

The SADC Integrated Regional Electronic Settlement System (SIRESS) became operational on 22 July 2013 within the Common Monetary Area (CMA), comprising South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, and Swaziland. The system aims to replace paper-based clearance, which takes 7 to 21 working days, with electronic transfers that occur within the same working day. The project is led by the SADC Committee of Central Bank Governors (CCBG) and operationalised through the SADC Banking Association (SADCBA), with significant involvement from the private banking sector and technical assistance from the World Bank, IMF, and BIS. However, full regional integration faces obstacles, including unequal political commitment, the dominance of South Africa's economy, and overlapping memberships in other regional economic communities like COMESA.

The Southern African sugar sector is a vital agricultural industry characterized by high levels of state involvement and concentrated private ownership, particularly by South African firms. While the SADC region accounts for approximately 54% of African sugar production, the sector operates within a highly distorted global market marked by heavy subsidies and dumping. Regional cooperation is managed through the SADC Protocol on Trade (Annex VII), which establishes import quotas for surplus producers to access the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) market. The industry faces significant risks from the reform of the EU's preferential trade scheme for ACP countries, which threatens the value of exports for several regional producers.

The document analyzes how CRASA facilitates regional regulatory integration in Southern Africa, highlighting the active role of private sector companies like Vodacom and MTN in government delegations. While CRASA successfully develops model guidelines and supports digital migration, the process is hindered by national incompetencies in transposing regional agreements into law. The study notes that telecommunications is a critical driver of economic growth, though penetration rates vary significantly across the region, with some states lagging due to weak regulatory capacity.