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The November 2012 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on critical security threats in Africa, focusing on political instability in Madagascar, the crisis in Mali, the rise of al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorism, and the evolution of the African Union's (AU) civilian and legislative capacities.

This briefing examines food security challenges in Africa, focusing on the impact of price volatility, the role of agricultural policy, and international initiatives like the G-8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. It highlights the gap between policy commitments, such as the CAADP's spending targets, and actual implementation, while discussing the tension between trade-led food security and national self-sufficiency.

The 'Toolkit on Internet Public Policy Dialogue' is a guide published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in September 2012. It provides policy practitioners with a structured, multistakeholder approach to gathering evidence and securing public consent for Internet and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies. The toolkit emphasizes 'adaptive policy making' to respond to the rapidly evolving technological landscape and provides eight specific tools—ranging from expert roundtables and policy mapping to online surveys and public forums—to facilitate inclusive dialogue across government, private sector, civil society, and academia.

The September 2012 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies provides analysis on early warning issues in Africa, focusing on the electoral risks in Kenya, the democratic transition in Egypt, and a retrospective of the 19th African Union (AU) Summit.

This policy brief explores the potential for a 'Green Revolution' in Africa, using the International Futures (IFs) model to compare scenarios of agricultural intensification. The authors argue that while aggressive policy interventions could make Africa a net food exporter and significantly boost GDP, such production increases must be coupled with social policies to ensure food access for the poor and improvements in water and sanitation to realize human development gains.

A guide providing an introduction to the costs and benefits of energy subsidies in Nigeria, focusing on fuel and electricity, and their impact on sustainable development and economic stability.

This briefing note from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) summarizes a daily meeting held on July 18, 2012, in Pretoria. The primary focus of the session was the election of South Africa's Home Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, as the head of the African Union (AU) Commission and the potential implications of her leadership.

This research paper examines the bilateral relationship between South Africa and Nigeria, highlighting a mix of strong economic ties and diplomatic tensions. It argues for the institutionalization of their cooperation to move beyond the influence of individual leaders and to better address regional and global challenges.

This research paper evaluates the first ten years of the African Union (AU), contrasting its developmental mandate with the decolonisation focus of its predecessor, the OAU. It examines the AU's progress in governance, institutional infrastructure, and peacekeeping, while highlighting a loss of momentum in conflict resolution and a gap between ambitious goals and structural realities.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's voting patterns and foreign policy achievements during its first (2007-2008) and second (2011-2012) terms as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The author assesses the country's progress toward its 'African Agenda,' including goals of South-South and North-South cooperation and the pursuit of permanent African representation on the Council.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's voting patterns and foreign policy achievements during its first (2007-2008) and second (2011-2012) terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC). The author finds that South Africa has become more confident, increasing its co-sponsorship of resolutions and successfully promoting its 'African Agenda,' particularly regarding cooperation between the UNSC and the African Union (AU).

The Green Economy Coalition provides a statement on the UN Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, supporting its goals but arguing for greater ambition and a stronger focus on energy equity and poverty reduction. The document emphasizes that universal energy access is essential for sustainable development and suggests that success should be measured by development benefits rather than technical metrics.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies uses the International Futures (IFs) forecasting model to analyze the projected rise in road traffic fatalities in Africa through 2050. It argues that road safety is a critical development issue, as rapid motorization often outpaces infrastructure and regulatory improvements. The document compares a 'base case' forecast with an 'improved scenario' where African countries stabilize death rates at current continental averages, demonstrating that aggressive road safety interventions could save millions of lives and provide a significant boost to the continent's GDP.

This report documents a study group session held on 12 March 2012, organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs and the International Development Law Unit at the University of Pretoria. The session focused on South Africa's strategic approach to its membership in the BRICS group, analyzing the value-add of the alliance to South Africa's economic priorities and discussing challenges related to global economic governance, trade imbalances, and internal inequality within the BRICS nations.

This research paper proposes and applies a rapid screening methodology to evaluate the potential of National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAFSIPs) in 14 African countries to generate climate change benefits across adaptation and mitigation.

This report summarizes a high-level discussion titled "The Missing Piece? Climate Change Mitigation and the Benefits of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform," held as an official side event of the UNFCCC COP 17 on December 7, 2011, in Durban, South Africa. The event focused on the scale of fossil fuel subsidies compared to climate finance and the necessity of reforming these subsidies to enable green growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This research paper analyzes the strategic challenges and opportunities facing South Africa during its second year as a member of the UN Security Council, focusing on its efforts to lead the African agenda and manage relations with other African states.

This briefing outlines the key agenda items for the 18th African Union (AU) Summit held in Addis Ababa from 23-30 January 2012, including leadership elections, budget approvals, and the inauguration of a new headquarters building.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) maps the investment landscape of South Africa as of January 2012. It examines the impact of the global economic crisis on foreign direct investment (FDI), analyzes the government's industrial policies such as the New Growth Path (NGP), and provides a detailed catalogue of financial and fiscal incentives designed to attract investment and create jobs. The document also includes survey results from provincial investment promotion agencies (IPAs) regarding the effectiveness and awareness of these incentive schemes.

This report documents the 5th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held from 28–30 November 2011 in Gaborone, Botswana. The conference brought together commandants from African Staff Colleges to discuss the impact of globalisation on human rights, the proliferation of small arms, gender equality in the military, and the standardisation of military education to support the African Standby Force (ASF) and peace support operations (PSOs).