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This briefing examines the political and economic drivers of coal-fired power investment in 18 high-impact countries (HICs) with significant electricity access gaps, noting that international public finance dominates coal investment while domestic private finance leads in renewables.

The R4 Rural Resilience Initiative, launched in 2011 by the World Food Program and Oxfam America, employs a four-pronged strategy—risk reduction, risk transfer, prudent risk-taking, and risk reserves—to help farmers adapt to climate risks. By 2020, the program provided index insurance and complementary services to nearly 180,000 farmers across ten countries, leveraging existing government safety nets and community partnerships to scale its impact.

The Smallholder Forestry Vehicle (SFV) is a financial mechanism that packages tree production partnership contracts from smallholder farmers to attract institutional investors. By separating asset risk from operating company risk, it lowers the cost of capital and reduces transaction costs. As of July 2020, Komaza had partnered with 25,000 farmers in Kenya and planted over 6 million trees, securing a USD 28 million Series B funding round from various impact investors and funds.

The document analyzes coal finance in 18 high-impact countries (HICs) with significant electricity access gaps. It finds that while global coal investment is declining, finance persists in HICs, largely driven by Chinese state-owned institutions and a few South Asian nations. The report argues that coal is misaligned with Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) due to long development timelines and high infrastructure costs, contrasting this with the efficiency of distributed renewable energy. It highlights the risk of stranded assets in Bangladesh and Pakistan and the operational hurdles facing coal in Africa, concluding that a shift toward renewables and finance-based carbon accounting is necessary to achieve net-zero goals.

The report examines gender inequality in the African maritime sector, highlighting that current frameworks often equate gender equality solely with women's inclusion. It advocates for an intersectional analysis—considering race, age, and class—to address the systemic exclusion of youth and other marginalised groups. The document reviews African Union maritime instruments, finds a lack of implementation and data, and provides examples of gender-sensitive initiatives in fisheries and coastal management.

The document analyzes coal finance in 18 high-impact countries (HICs) in South Asia and Africa, highlighting that while global trends shift toward renewables, significant coal investment persists, largely driven by Chinese state-owned institutions. It argues that coal is an inefficient path to universal electricity access compared to distributed renewables and warns of stranded asset risks, citing overcapacity in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The report warns that South Africa is on a 'worst-case' climate trajectory (RCP 8.5), which will lead to extreme heat, water scarcity, and food insecurity, disproportionately harming youth. It details regional collapses in agriculture and tourism, the expansion of informal settlements due to climate-induced migration, and the severe mental health trauma facing children. The author argues that without a rapid phase-out of fossil fuels, large parts of the country may become uninhabitable, leading to systemic social conflict and economic collapse.

The document proposes a 'Just Recovery Renewable Energy Plan for Africa' aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2050. Based on modelling by Dr. Sven Teske, it argues that this transition is technically and financially feasible, requiring an annual investment of approximately US$130 billion. The plan emphasizes energy sovereignty, decentralization, and a just transition for workers, projecting the creation of 7 million jobs by 2050. It identifies key funding sources including the cancellation of African debt, the elimination of illicit financial flows, and the fulfillment of climate finance obligations by developed nations.

The report advocates for a systemic shift in Africa's energy landscape, moving away from fossil fuels toward a decentralized, community-owned 100% renewable energy system by 2050. Based on modeling by Dr. Sven Teske, the plan suggests that achieving this goal requires an annual investment of approximately $130 billion. The document emphasizes that this transition would not only mitigate climate impacts and address severe energy poverty—where approximately half of sub-Saharan Africans lack electricity—but also create up to 7 million jobs by 2050. It calls for a 'just and feminist transition' that prioritizes gender equity and workers' rights. To fund the plan, the authors propose ending illicit financial flows, canceling African debt, and demanding that developed nations fulfill their climate finance obligations.

The report argues for a systemic shift in Africa's energy landscape, moving away from fossil fuels toward a decentralized, community-owned system of 100% renewable energy by 2050. Based on modeling by Dr. Sven Teske, the plan estimates a need for 360 GW of capacity by 2030 and 2,280 GW by 2050, requiring an average annual investment of $130 billion. This transition is projected to create 7 million jobs by 2050. The document emphasizes 'energy sovereignty' and 'energy as a common good,' calling for the cancellation of African debt, the end of illicit financial flows, and the fulfillment of climate finance promises by developed nations to fund the transition.

The report examines the conflict in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, highlighting that while often framed as a religious war, it is driven by resource exploitation, land grabs, and social injustice. It documents atrocities committed by both insurgents (ASWJ) and government forces (FDS), including the torture of civilians and sexual violence. The document criticises the 'Iraqization' of the region through the deployment of Rwandan and SADC troops to protect LNG infrastructure for companies like Total. It reveals how political elites have profited from mining concessions and oil and gas logistics during the conflict. The report concludes that a purely military approach is insufficient and recommends a political track, increased transparency in land concessions, and urgent humanitarian protections for internally displaced persons, particularly women and girls.

The Sustainable Luangwa project aims to secure water resources and biodiversity in the Luangwa Upper Sub-catchment, specifically targeting the Mafinga Hills National Forest Reserve (NFR) and surrounding areas. Classified as a Category B (Medium-risk) project, it implements a safeguards framework to mitigate risks such as elite capture, conflict over land tenure, and restrictions on natural resource access. Key project components include the establishment of a Water Resource Protection Area (WRPA), improved management of the Mafinga Hills NFR, and the promotion of climate-resilient conservation agriculture. The framework mandates participatory processes, including Livelihood Restoration Plans (LRP) for affected persons and a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) administered by a Project Management Unit (PMU).

The document warns that African oil and gas producing countries risk committing public funds to stranded assets by basing investment decisions on current price trends rather than energy transition scenarios. It highlights the vulnerability of National Oil Companies (NOCs) and the potential for revenue overestimation, specifically citing risks in countries like Angola, Mozambique, and Senegal. The author advocates for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to mandate the disclosure of project viability data and for governments to diversify their economies.

The conflict in Cabo Delgado is driven by a combination of political marginalisation, economic inequality, and climatic shocks. While the discovery of offshore natural gas promised development, it instead led to forced relocations, inadequate compensation, and unmet employment expectations, which Islamist militants have exploited for recruitment. These grievances are compounded by extreme weather events, including Cyclones Idai and Kenneth, which destroyed infrastructure and increased food insecurity. The document argues that military responses alone are insufficient and calls for inclusive natural resource governance and climate resilience strategies to address the root causes of the insurgency.

The report examines the state of women's entrepreneurship in Africa, contrasting the 'market women' in the informal sector with a small cadre of successful formal entrepreneurs. It criticizes South Africa's proposed Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill, arguing that enforced numerical parity is an ineffective approach to empowerment. Instead, the author advocates for improving general business environments, prioritizing girls' education, and reforming laws regarding property and inheritance rights to support all entrepreneurs.

The report highlights a significant downturn in the LNG sector, characterized by widespread final investment decision (FID) delays, cost overruns, and a shift in perception of LNG from a climate solution to a climate problem. While import capacity continues to expand rapidly, particularly in Asia and Brazil, export projects—especially in North America—are struggling with financing and competition from lower-cost producers in Qatar and Russia.

The report finds that international public finance for gas in low- and middle-income countries is four times higher than for wind or solar, risking a 'dash for gas' that locks economies into high-carbon pathways. It argues that gas is no longer a necessary 'bridge fuel' because renewables are often cheaper and more effective for power, cooking, and industry. The document recommends that international financial institutions end support for gas and instead scale up clean energy finance, focusing on grid integration, technology transfer, and a just transition for workers.

The report finds that international public financing for gas projects in low- and middle-income countries is four times higher than for wind or solar, creating a 'lock-in effect' that threatens climate goals. It argues that gas is no longer a necessary 'bridge technology' because renewables are often cheaper and more effective for energy access. The document recommends that international financial institutions cease all support for gas infrastructure and instead fund grid integration, technology transfer, and a just transition for affected workers.

The report finds that international public finance for gas projects in low- and middle-income countries averaged nearly USD 16 billion per year from 2017 to 2019, which is four times the amount provided for wind or solar. It argues that the 'bridge fuel' concept is obsolete due to the urgency of the climate crisis, methane leakage, and the falling costs of renewables. The document recommends that international public finance institutions end all support for gas exploration, production, and long-lived infrastructure, instead scaling up finance for grid integration, technology transfer, and universal clean energy access. Case studies of Argentina, Egypt, and India illustrate risks such as high subsidies, dependence on volatile export markets, and the creation of redundant parallel infrastructures for gas and electric vehicles.

The report finds that international public finance disproportionately supports natural gas in low- and middle-income countries, often exceeding support for wind and solar by four times. It argues that the 'bridge fuel' narrative is obsolete due to the falling costs of renewables and the risks of stranded assets and methane leaks. The document recommends that international financial institutions cease funding gas infrastructure and instead support clean energy integration, technology transfer, and a just transition, particularly for the poorest nations.