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This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), arguing that while it provides duty-free access to the US market, it remains underutilised. The author proposes a four-pillar strategy for the October 2015 renewal: timely and extended renewal, addressing non-tariff barriers, improving structural competitiveness through infrastructure and finance, and aligning with global trading shifts like the TPP and TTIP.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) adoption of the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection. It argues that while the convention is a positive step, African states face significant hurdles in ratification and implementation due to capacity gaps, free speech concerns, and the global nature of cybercrime.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the progress and challenges of regional integration in Africa, drawing primarily on Country Review Reports (CRRs) from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It examines the gap between the African Union's high-level rhetorical commitments to a continent-wide common market and the practical realities of limited trade growth, administrative incapacity, and political reluctance to cede national sovereignty.

This report, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2015, examines the state of governance and accountability in Africa. It analyzes both continental frameworks, such as the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the African Peer Review Mechanism, and domestic institutions, including parliaments, courts, and ombudsman offices, to identify the drivers of democratic progress and the persistence of authoritarian tendencies.

This 2015 report by Sustainable Energy for All, commissioned by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), analyzes the intersection of energy access and gender inequality across the 15 ECOWAS Member States. It identifies systemic barriers that prevent women from participating equally in the energy sector and highlights how energy poverty disproportionately affects women and girls due to socially determined gender roles. The document serves as the foundational analysis for the development of the ECOWAS Policy for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access, aiming for universal energy access by 2030.

This policy briefing examines the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) National Programme of Action (NPoA) in Nigeria. It identifies critical failures in monitoring, evaluation, and funding, while highlighting the decline of civil society engagement and the lack of legal standing for NEPAD Nigeria. The document provides lessons on the necessity of political will, communication, and technical capacity for the APRM to succeed as a governance tool.

This policy brief analyzes the differing health diplomacy approaches of China and the West during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. It contrasts 'vertical' interventions, which target specific diseases, with 'horizontal' systems that build general healthcare infrastructure, arguing that a combination of both is necessary for long-term pandemic prevention.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the behavior and voting patterns of African states within the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) between July 2010 and July 2014. It highlights a tension between the African Group's organized coordination and its diverse, often inconsistent, responses to human rights violations both within Africa and globally.

This policy briefing analyzes the efforts of Côte d’Ivoire to regain its regional leadership position in West Africa following two decades of political instability. It examines the country's diplomatic assets, the challenges it faces in internal stability and institutional capacity, and its alignment with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Vision 2020 goals.

This policy briefing analyzes the decline of Nigeria's regional and continental diplomatic influence, arguing that a 'perverse hiatus' between its domestic instability and its foreign policy goals has led the country to punch below its weight despite being Africa's nominally largest economy as of May 2014.

The document analyzes Kenya's regional diplomacy, characterizing it as historically conservative and reluctant to exercise political leadership despite economic strength. It highlights a shift toward 'hard power' via military intervention in Somalia and President Uhuru Kenyatta's pan-African pivot to counter ICC proceedings. It also details the strategic blunders and economic imbalances defining Kenya's relationship with South Africa.

The September 2014 Peace & Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies details the African Union's (AU) response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the transition of peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic, the escalating civil conflict in Libya, and the failing peace process and imminent famine in South Sudan.

This report describes a project aimed at integrating indigenous flood prediction knowledge with scientific methods—such as GIS-based risk maps, weather stations, and flood gauges—to improve coastal flood management and adaptation in rural communities within the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

The August 2014 Peace & Security Council (PSC) Report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's (AU) response to crises in Mali and Nigeria, the operationalization of the PSC's counter-terrorism sub-committee, and ongoing reviews of the Council's internal working methods.

This research paper by Ivan Crouzel, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in August 2014, examines the relationship between electoral processes and political instability in Africa. It argues that elections often become critical moments of tension because they are primarily viewed as a means of accessing state resources. The author advocates for a shift from purely technical electoral support to a broader approach based on inclusive political settlements, multi-actor dialogue, and the strengthening of credible electoral management bodies and domestic observation networks to ensure legitimacy and peace.

A fact sheet by the South African Institute of International Affairs explaining the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), a US-Africa trade deal active since 2001 that provides duty-free US market access to qualifying sub-Saharan African states.

This fact sheet provides an overview of the proposed New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) being negotiated by the BRICS nations as of July 2014.

This research paper by Ivan Crouzel for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the relationship between electoral processes and political instability in Africa. It argues that elections often crystallise tensions because they are viewed as the primary means of accessing state-owned resources, leading to acute competition in fragile regimes. The author contends that technical electoral support is insufficient and must be replaced by a broader democratic governance approach that prioritises inclusive political agreements, credible election management bodies (EMBs), and multi-stakeholder conflict prevention mechanisms.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies warns that cybercriminals use major events like the 2014 World Cup to deploy phishing scams, malware, and fraudulent apps. It argues that African governments must implement comprehensive public awareness campaigns to protect citizens, citing a lack of cybercrime laws and rapid internet growth as factors making the continent a potential 'safe harbour' for cybercrime.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) documents violence and human rights violations against environmental defenders between November 2011 and October 2013. It argues that these attacks are a global trend driven by a neoliberal extractive model that prioritizes corporate profit over the rights of nature and people. The document details various forms of repression—including criminalization, arbitrary detention, and targeted killings—and evaluates the effectiveness of international solidarity and legal strategies in protecting defenders.