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The briefing outlines priorities for the new SADC Executive Secretary, emphasizing the implementation of existing commitments over new legal instruments, the institutionalization of public-private dialogue to support trade, and the improvement of transparency and information access to foster regional integration.

The report analyzes the transition of water from a public commons to a financial asset, examining how privatization, commoditization, and financialization are driven by corporate interests and international financial institutions. Through case studies from Palestine, Australia, Sri Lanka, the US, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Switzerland, England, Mozambique, Mexico, and El Salvador, it documents the social and ecological impacts of this shift, including water scarcity, pollution, and the violation of territorial rights. It advocates for a public/community-based management model that prioritizes the human right to water over profit.

The report by Friends of the Earth International analyzes how water is being transformed from a common good into a financial asset through corporate capture, international trade agreements, and extractive projects. It provides case studies from various regions—including Palestine, Australia, Sri Lanka, the US, Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay, Switzerland, England, Mozambique, Mexico, and El Salvador—to illustrate the social and environmental impacts of this trend. The document concludes that the 'financialization' of water allows transnational agents to speculate on natural resources, often with the complicity of states, and advocates for the recognition of water as a common good managed through community-led and public systems.

The report examines the evolution of low-carbon, climate-resilient development (LCCRD) in developing countries, highlighting the integration of mitigation and adaptation into national planning. It identifies critical barriers, including limited human capacity and a significant imbalance in climate finance, where adaptation receives far less funding than mitigation. The document analyzes the shift from top-down to bottom-up international governance and the role of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) as a vehicle for sustainable development. It also discusses the challenges of monitoring and evaluating adaptation investments and the proliferation of online knowledge platforms, recommending a greater focus on user needs and the translation of high-level strategies into concrete actions.

The document analyzes Mozambique's foreign policy across three periods: liberation and civil war, post-conflict consolidation, and the current era of attracting foreign direct investment. It highlights how Mozambique's 'pragmatic non-alignment' allowed it to maintain diverse partnerships with Western donors, emerging powers like China and Brazil, and regional partners such as South Africa. While the country is viewed as a post-conflict success story, the paper warns that corruption, inequality, and a lack of domestic accountability threaten long-term stability as the country transitions toward financial independence driven by vast coal and natural gas discoveries.

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 report examines the critical role of mangrove ecosystems in Mozambique, highlighting their value in carbon sequestration, coastal protection, and supporting fisheries. It identifies significant threats from urban growth, aquaculture, and the extractive boom in oil, gas, and mining. The author argues that Mozambique's current governance is fragmented across multiple ministries, leading to weak enforcement of environmental laws. The document advocates for the use of ecosystem valuation, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), and 'Blue Carbon' financing to incentivize conservation and reconcile economic growth with ecological sustainability.

The paper examines the debate surrounding the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill of 2013, specifically the potential shift from a 'first-in, first-assessed' (FIFA) system to competitive bidding for mining rights. It outlines the advantages of auctions—such as rent maximisation and increased transparency—while warning of risks including high administrative burdens, delays in mine development, and the potential for corruption in weak institutional environments. Using examples from Afghanistan and Liberia, the authors argue that any such system must be clearly enshrined in law to limit ministerial discretion and should ideally be a mixed system based on the availability of geological data.

The analysis finds that South Africa's population is likely to be significantly higher by 2030 than the NDP 2030 forecasts, primarily due to differing assumptions regarding migration. While the NDP assumes migration rates decline toward zero, the IFs model suggests a range of 64.4 to 68.8 million people by 2030 depending on migration trends. The brief highlights that migration is the largest source of demographic uncertainty, with substantial implications for provincial service delivery, particularly in Gauteng and the Western Cape. It also notes a continuing decline in fertility rates and a recovery in life expectancy driven by the scale-up of antiretroviral therapies (ARTs), though it predicts a rising burden of non-communicable diseases by 2040.

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 Durban Declaration on Climate and Health, signed by health professionals from over 30 countries, argues that climate change is the greatest global health threat of the 21st century and that mitigation efforts, specifically transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, provide immediate health benefits. The declaration outlines five specific calls to action for COP17 delegations, including the need for greater health sector representation in the UNFCCC, the adoption of a strong second commitment period for the Kyoto Protocol, and the negotiation of a binding agreement by 2015 that prioritizes human health and establishes a fair shares framework for emissions reductions.

The document assesses the G-20's food security commitments from an African perspective, focusing on food-price volatility, agricultural productivity, and nutrition. While it finds broad alignment in rhetoric and focus areas, it argues that the G-20 fails to implement critical regulatory reforms in financial markets and trade that would meaningfully benefit Africa.

The document argues that while climate change is unlikely to be the sole direct cause of conflict, it acts as a 'threat multiplier' that intersects with poor political governance and socio-economic vulnerabilities to increase the risk of violence. In the Zambezi basin, this manifests as competition over dwindling water and food supplies, migration-induced tensions, and the manipulation of resource scarcity by political elites. Case studies of Bulawayo and Chinde highlight how chronic water shortages, flooding, and political marginalisation create flashpoints for unrest. The author emphasizes that strengthening Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) and community resilience through grassroots organisations and traditional governance can mitigate these risks.

The policy brief highlights that mangroves are among the world's most threatened vegetation types, with over 20% lost in the last 30 years. It emphasizes that in Africa, mangroves often overlap with fossil fuel deposits and infrastructure projects, leading to degradation. The author advocates for the use of ecosystem valuations, integrated coastal zone management, and the inclusion of local communities in decision-making to reconcile economic growth with biodiversity conservation. Proposed interventions include the adoption of 'no net loss' policies, the use of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs), and the implementation of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Blue Carbon trading to provide financial incentives for conservation.

The research paper argues that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is struggling to fulfill its mandate because its resources and attention are consumed by permanent political crises and conflict mediation in member states. The author contends that this focus on crisis management has marginalized the region's trade integration and developmental agenda, leaving the SADC secretariat underfunded and understaffed. The document calls for the 33rd Summit in Lilongwe to re-engineer the institution's governance to move beyond a 'lowest common denominator approach' to political governance.

Small-scale fisheries in Mozambique support approximately 280,000 fishers and are vital for rural food security, yet they face threats from overfishing, illegal practices, and external economic pressures. While the government has implemented co-management through Conselho Comunitário de Pesca (CCPs) and established a three-mile exclusive-use zone for small-scale fishers, these efforts are hindered by poor financial management of license and park fees. The sector is further pressured by top-down Marine Protected Area (MPA) management, which has created conflicts between fishers and tourism operators, and by high vulnerability to climate-induced droughts, cyclones, and flooding. The document recommends strengthening the role of CCPs in disaster risk preparedness, improving environmental impact assessment (EIA) monitoring, and enhancing cooperation between conservation authorities and fishing communities.

The case study examines the disconnect between regional water management agendas in SADC and the national development priorities of member states. It argues that traditional donors have prioritised environmental conservation and river basin organisations over the large-scale infrastructure needed for hydropower and irrigation. This has led to 'economic water scarcity' where resources exist but lack the funding for development. The author notes a shift in this dynamic due to the emergence of China and Brazil as financiers for public infrastructure, which aligns more closely with national development goals.

The case study examines the implementation of REDD+ within the SADC region, highlighting the tension between global carbon sequestration goals and regional needs for sustainable development. It details the SADC FANR Directorate's efforts to provide a 'regional value add' through a support programme, specifically focusing on a measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) project funded by GIZ. The analysis emphasizes that while carbon is the primary global driver, local and regional benefits—such as hydrological services and non-timber forest products—are often more critical to the region's population. The document concludes that SADC's approach to REDD+ pilots balances carbon effectiveness with regional equity to avoid marginalizing countries with lower forest cover.

The document examines the establishment of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in Southern Africa, highlighting their role in protecting regional public goods and fostering integration. It identifies the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) and SADC as key drivers, while noting significant barriers such as rhino poaching, livestock disease concerns, and sovereignty issues. The study concludes that successful implementation relies on a combination of high-level political leadership and ground-level collaboration among officials and local communities.

The document examines the evolution of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) from a cooperative pool to a competitive regional electricity market (REM). It highlights the role of the SADC Energy Protocol and the integration of independent power producers (IPPs) and renewable energy sources (RES), using South Africa's REIPPPP as a primary example of private sector participation. The analysis identifies significant challenges, including the lack of political will among member states, disparities in national energy policies, and infrastructure deficits, while noting the potential for regional integration through shared hydropower and thermal resources.