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The report examines how gender inequalities in sub-Saharan Africa hinder agricultural productivity and proposes an 'empowerment pathway' focusing on agency, structure, and relations. It provides evidence that closing the gender gap in resource access could increase farm yields by 20-30%. Through case studies in countries like Kenya, Zambia, Ethiopia, and Uganda, the document illustrates successful strategies including gender-responsive budgeting, household-level gender analysis, and the engagement of traditional leaders to secure women's land rights and improve value chain participation. It also addresses the specific intersection of gender and 'climate-smart' agriculture, emphasizing that women's vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by existing structural inequalities.

The paper addresses the lack of systematic tracking for locally led adaptation (LLA) finance, providing governments with metrics to measure both the amount of funding reaching the local level and the extent to which it supports local agency in decision-making. It suggests three primary implementation categories: budget tagging, expenditure review, and integration with existing policy or planning processes. These tools are intended to improve transparency, accountability, and resource mobilization to ensure investments meet the needs of those most affected by climate change.

The document is the eighth in a series of updates reviewing the readiness documents of countries participating in the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and the UN-REDD Programme. It specifically evaluates the governance frameworks, transparency, and accountability measures in the R-PPs of the Central African Republic and Colombia, as well as the NPD of Nigeria.

The paper argues that women in Tanzania and Mozambique are disproportionately harmed by large-scale land investments in agribusiness, extractives, and logging due to a lack of formal land rights and their subordinate roles in society. It finds that current legal frameworks fail to protect women, who are often bypassed in compensation payments and excluded from decision-making processes. The authors recommend mandating compensation for all household members, ensuring replacement land is held jointly, and implementing gender quotas in governance bodies to ensure women's meaningful participation.

The document evaluates the evolution of REDD+ from local projects to jurisdictional approaches, noting that while national initiatives have improved forest monitoring and governance, most have failed to reverse absolute deforestation. It highlights the emergence of subnational jurisdictional strategies as a way to link climate incentives with sustainable supply chains and recommends a rights-based approach that prioritizes indigenous peoples and local communities.

The report argues that while land restoration offers high economic returns—estimated at $7 to $30 for every dollar invested—it remains severely underfunded with an annual gap of approximately $300 billion. It identifies seven systemic barriers to investment, including the lack of market value for public benefits and long investment horizons. The authors recommend a cross-sectoral government approach, the use of carbon taxes to fund restoration, and the implementation of risk-mitigation tools like first-loss guarantees and tax credits to attract private capital. The document also provides a framework for economic valuation to make the full suite of ecosystem services visible to decision-makers.

The study concludes that greenhouse gas and aerosol emissions contributed to the increased intensity and probability of heavy rainfall during the 2022 tropical storm events in Madagascar, Mozambique, and Malawi. While Tropical Storm Ana was a rare 1-in-50-year event for Mozambique and Malawi, Cyclone Batsirai was a more common 1-in-2-year event for Madagascar. The humanitarian impact was severely amplified by compound factors, including preceding floods, existing droughts in southern Madagascar, and high socio-economic vulnerability. Despite accurate forecasting by regional meteorological centers, infrastructure damage and a lack of trust in warnings hindered effective responses.

The 'Food is Local' fellowship by WWF International provides funding for master's and PhD students from 32 eligible countries to conduct interdisciplinary research on transforming food systems to be more sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient. Eligible applicants must be citizens of the listed countries, have two years of conservation experience, and plan to start their studies by January 2024. Research proposals are encouraged to cover themes such as agroecological practices, gender equity, and the role of food systems in achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The CARE-WWF Alliance combines CARE's expertise in poverty and gender inequality with WWF's experience in ecosystem protection to build community and ecosystem resilience. Operating in over 40 countries, the Alliance implements programs focused on sustainable natural resource management, climate adaptation, and women's agency, with active projects in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Nepal.

The report examines the impact of cold-chain technologies—such as solar-powered freezers and ice machines—on small-scale fisheries in the Southwest Indian Ocean. It finds that while these solutions significantly reduce post-harvest food loss and boost incomes, they must be paired with strong fisheries governance to prevent overexploitation. The document recommends a funding model combining grants with private management as the most viable approach for the region.

The Khetha program addresses illegal wildlife trafficking in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) through a multi-sectoral approach involving community engagement, law enforcement support, and cross-border collaboration. Funded by USAID and implemented by WWF South Africa and WWF Mozambique between 2018 and 2022, the program aims to maintain positive growth rates for elephants and increase growth rates for black and white rhinos. It focuses on mitigating the socio-economic drivers of poaching—such as poverty and historical forced relocations—by improving community livelihoods and governance. Additionally, it provides technical training and infrastructure to the judiciary and law enforcement in Mozambique and South Africa to enhance the detection and prosecution of wildlife crimes.

WWF South Africa aims to transition from a conservation model that separated people from protected areas to one where local communities are primary custodians of 'Mega Living Landscapes' (MLLs) and Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs). The strategy focuses on four priority geographic areas: Zululand/Mpumalanga, Arid Zone/Northern Cape, and the Cape Floristic Region. To achieve this, WWF proposes four pathways: scaling up biodiversity stewardship and protection (including OECMs), enhancing community livelihoods through consolidated value offerings, driving an economic transition, and mobilising new scales of public and private finance.

A 2020/21 WWF study identifies significant faecal contamination in the Crocodile and Sabie Rivers, where E. coli levels frequently exceed safety guidelines for irrigation. This pollution, caused by failing wastewater infrastructure and poor sanitation, poses severe health risks, particularly for subsistence farmers growing high-risk crops like leafy greens. The document recommends a combination of improved governance, targeted farming techniques, and a community-private-public partnership to manage water quality and ensure food safety.

The document examines the role of fossil gas in South Africa, detailing its current use in power generation and chemical feedstock, while arguing against its use as a 'bridge fuel'. It highlights the high global warming potential of methane leaks, the risk of stranded assets, and the availability of cheaper renewable alternatives combined with energy storage. The author concludes that South Africa should avoid new gas exploration and infrastructure to align with the 1.5°C warming limit and its own 2050 net-zero target.

The document argues for a shift away from destructive virgin mining toward circular economies and strategic land-use planning in Africa. It highlights the risks transition mineral extraction poses to water security, food supply, carbon sinks, and biodiversity, while calling for the formalisation of artisanal mining and the enforcement of labour rights. The paper recommends that mining licences be contingent on guaranteed funding for rehabilitation and that international cooperation, including traceability frameworks and fair finance, be established to prevent the 'resource curse'.