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This 2020 report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) analyzes the gap between financial commitments and actual disbursements for energy access in High-Impact Countries (HICs). Using OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS) data, it evaluates the efficiency of development financing for electricity and clean cooking, identifying systemic delays and project design flaws that hinder the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7).

The December 2019–January 2020 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council's (PSC) effectiveness in conflict prevention, the challenges of its membership election process, the AU's efforts to rationalise its numerous external partnerships, and the progress of its Youth, Peace and Security agenda.

The Lab, managed by the Climate Policy Initiative, launched six financial instruments in 2019 targeting climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. These instruments focus on blue carbon, sustainable agriculture, sustainable cities, and energy access, contributing to a total of 41 instruments that have mobilized nearly US$ 2 billion since 2014.

This research paper evaluates the suitability of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) for the African context. It examines the GCR's objectives, the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), and the challenges of implementing these non-binding frameworks in countries like South Africa and Tanzania, highlighting a critical gap between international policy and the fiscal and political realities of host states in the Global South.

This briefing examines the implementation of Community Health Clubs (CHCs) in Rwanda, highlighting that while the model is culturally appropriate, its effectiveness is hampered by fragmented, donor-driven funding and a lack of district-level ownership. Key challenges include the unaffordability of soap, water scarcity in hilly regions, and inconsistent monitoring systems across different NGOs. The report warns that without inclusive strategies, men, the extremely poor, and those with mobility issues may be left behind, and notes that the current focus on households ignores critical sanitation needs in public spaces like markets and workplaces.

This briefing examines the motivations, benefits, and challenges for African nations considering membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), noting a significant infrastructure finance gap and differing levels of suitability based on a country's income level.

This research paper, commissioned by the Global Commission on Adaptation, argues that Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) is a critical mechanism for achieving climate change adaptation by coordinating agriculture, forests, water, biodiversity, and energy sectors. It details the limitations of siloed sectoral approaches and proposes a framework for multi-stakeholder coordination, strategic planning, and integrated investment to build organizational and ecological resilience.

This research paper assesses the progress and challenges of the institutional reform process of the African Union (AU) led by Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. Based on the 2017 'Kagame Report', the reforms aim to address inefficient bureaucracy, funding shortages, and overlapping mandates. The paper analyzes specific achievements, such as the reduction of AU commissioners and the restructuring of NEPAD and the APRM, while highlighting significant resistance from member states—particularly within SADC—and the ongoing struggle for financial autonomy through the Kigali Financing Decision.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the challenges and pitfalls associated with relying on private sector investment to bridge Africa's infrastructure financing deficit. It argues that while private capital is often promoted for its speed and lack of conditionalities, it is significantly more expensive, risk-averse, and less focused on development outcomes than public or multilateral funding. The document recommends that African policymakers strengthen domestic capacity and strategically use public funds for social infrastructure and project preparation to enhance regional agency.

This research paper examines the implementation of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in Africa, using Zambia as a primary case study. It analyzes the benefits of trade facilitation for landlocked lower-middle-income countries, the role of the TFA Facility and donor assistance, and the specific challenges and successes of trade facilitation reforms at four of Zambia's strategic border posts.

The April 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical stability challenges across Africa, focusing on the fragility of peace deals in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, the trend of constitutional amendments to extend presidential terms, and the escalating crises in Cameroon and Sudan.

This research paper evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), detailing its establishment in 2003 to improve governance through voluntary peer review. It describes a cycle of initial success, a period of decline between 2008 and 2016 characterized by leadership vacuums and financial mismanagement, and a recent phase of reinvigoration under the leadership of Professor Eddy Maloka and various African heads of state. While the mechanism has expanded its mandate to track Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals, the author argues that political reluctance to publish critical reports and a lack of high-level attendance continue to hinder its effectiveness.

This IISD report presents the results of a 2018 online survey of 72 respondents from 54 developing countries regarding their investment treaty negotiation processes. It examines trends in treaty renegotiation, the impact of investment disputes, the use of model treaties, ratification procedures, and the specific government agencies involved in leading and supporting these negotiations.

This case study profiles Sunny Irrigation, a company providing affordable, portable solar-powered water pumps to smallholder farmers in Africa to address challenges related to inconsistent water sources and high upfront costs of irrigation systems.

This research paper analyzes the political transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the December 30 election, where Félix Tshisekedi was announced as the winner. The author outlines the significant domestic and regional hurdles Tshisekedi faces, including contested election legitimacy, the need for a peaceful handover from Joseph Kabila's 18-year regime, and the necessity of regional diplomatic cooperation to ensure stability.

This policy brief analyzes South Africa's assumption of the African Union (AU) chairship in 2020. It examines the opportunities for South Africa to drive continental priorities—such as regional integration and peace and security—while highlighting significant challenges, including the need to build consensus among member states and the negative impact of domestic xenophobic violence on its international legitimacy.

This 2019 report by Sustainable Energy for All provides a status update on global cooling access, quantifying the populations at risk and introducing a needs-based assessment tool to guide policymakers and financiers toward sustainable cooling solutions consistent with the Paris Agreement and the Kigali Amendment.

The World Resources Institute and Fledge's Land Accelerator supports entrepreneurs in restoring degraded land to combat climate change. The 2019 cohort featured 14 businesses from eight African countries, focusing on sustainable products like organic fertilizers, biofuels, and agroforestry. The initiative is grounded in the potential for sustainable land use to generate US$2.3 trillion and 70 million jobs globally by 2030.

This case study examines Rwanda's efforts to increase access to clean cooking solutions through political will and private sector mobilization, while contextualizing the broader challenge of declining finance and rising numbers of people without clean cooking access in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This report details research conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) as part of a project led by the Albertine Rift Conservation Society (ARCOS). The study examines how a water-energy-food security nexus approach can support climate-resilient decision-making and actions within three landscapes in the Akagera Basin of Rwanda.