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This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) provides a high-level snapshot of the mitigation landscapes in 14 priority partner countries and regions to inform the development of intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) for COP21. It analyzes national legislation, emission targets, Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs), and donor-funded projects, highlighting the diversity in ambition and capacity across developing nations.

This research paper, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in April 2014, examines strategies for implementing climate compatible development at the subnational level (cities, districts, and provinces) across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It identifies specific challenges, such as scientific uncertainty and limited resources, and highlights opportunities for local innovation and the use of indigenous knowledge. The paper provides a framework of effective strategies, including the use of knowledge partnerships and participatory processes, and discusses the necessity of scaling these local successes up to national levels and out to other jurisdictions to achieve global transformational change.

This opinion paper by Simon Maxwell, Executive Chair of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKn), proposes a five-point plan to win the public and policy argument on climate change. The author argues that because climate policy creates winners and losers, a strategic approach is necessary to build and sustain support for the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient society.

This research paper examines South Africa's transition from the African Renaissance Fund (ARF) to the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA). It analyzes South Africa's role as an emerging development partner in Africa, focusing on aid effectiveness, the importance of local ownership, and the need for better integration into national aid architectures to avoid the pitfalls of traditional donor-recipient relationships.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the 50-year trajectory of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) and its successor, the African Union (AU). It argues that while the AU has improved peace and security compared to the OAU, it struggles to implement democratic governance reforms and lacks the political will and resources to drive a sustainable developmental agenda across the continent.

This report, prepared by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI), distils the findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report specifically for African decision-makers. It details the observed and projected climate changes across the continent, the resulting risks to food security, health, and economic growth, and the opportunities for adaptation and low-carbon development.

This briefing describes the transition for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) from National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs), which address short-term urgent needs, to National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), which focus on medium- and long-term adaptation. It outlines the objectives of the NAP process, the use of 'no-regret' strategies, the integration of climate planning into national development, and the financial and monitoring challenges facing LDCs.

This guide describes the Restoration Opportunities Assessment Methodology (ROAM), a flexible framework designed to help countries identify and analyze forest landscape restoration (FLR) potential at national or sub-national levels. Developed by the IUCN and WRI, ROAM combines stakeholder engagement ("best knowledge") with data analysis ("best science") to provide analytical inputs for national policies, such as REDD+ strategies and biodiversity action plans.

This policy briefing examines the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) within the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), arguing that the process can transform non-state actors from adversaries into governance partners. While the APRM mandates CSO inclusion in national assessments and governing structures, the author identifies significant challenges in maintaining momentum post-review and ensuring the quality of representation. The document provides recommendations for governments to involve CSOs in the implementation phase and for CSOs to leverage their exposure to state dynamics for sustained policy dialogue.

This briefing outlines the recommendations resulting from the second training workshop of the East African Association of Prosecutors (EAAP), held from 18 to 22 November 2013 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The workshop, organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the EAAP, focused on responding to terrorism, piracy, cybercrimes, and international crimes such as genocide and war crimes.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of InternationalCS International Affairs (SAIIA) argues that 'best practices' identified within the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) are an underutilised resource for peer learning. While over 200 practices have been documented across 15 country review reports, the author contends they remain confined to these reports with little impact. The document recommends formalising the definition of best practices, integrating their identification into country self-assessments, and creating dedicated repositories and forums to disseminate these home-grown solutions to improve governance across Africa.

This policy briefing examines the engagement of African nations with the G-20's financial regulation and development initiatives. It highlights the challenges of aligning international standards, such as Basel II/III, with local developmental goals and identifies the institutional channels through which African countries can influence global financial policy.

This paper examines climate compatible development in Rwanda, detailing the government's transition from national strategy and policy formulation to the practical implementation of sustainable development across budgetary, sectoral, and district levels.

This briefing note details a vulnerability assessment conducted between 2011 and 2012 in the Virunga landscape of Rwanda as part of the COBAM project. The analysis focuses on current vulnerability, examining how climate-related disturbances affect different social groups and their interactions with natural resources.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) details Rwanda's efforts to establish a climate-resilient green economy, focusing on the Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy (GGCRS) and the creation of FONERWA, a national climate fund.

This report by Meister Consultants Group, Inc. (MCG) for the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines public-private collaborations (PPCs) designed to build climate and disaster resilience in developing countries. Through an analysis of nine case studies, the report identifies how formal and informal partnerships between governments, businesses, and civil society can overcome market barriers to deliver adaptation and disaster risk management solutions.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the mobilisation of private sector finance for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a particular focus on developing countries and the role of the Green Climate Fund.

This briefing note presents the results of a regional baseline vulnerability assessment conducted between 2011 and 2012 in the Virunga landscape of Rwanda. Part of the 'Climate Change and Forests in the Congo Basin' (COBAM) project, the study focuses on 12 sectors across four districts adjacent to Volcanoes National Park. It examines how social dynamics, historical disturbances, and land-use practices interact with climatic variability to affect different community groups, particularly the Batwa, and evaluates the role of conservation and tourism in regional adaptive capacity.

The CDKN East Africa Climate Finance Workshop, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 25-26 March 2013, brought together 25-30 economic planners, investors, and donors to share best practices and plan future climate finance activities in Eastern Africa.

This policy brief by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the challenges of mobilising and managing climate finance for developing countries. It emphasizes the need for a coordinated international architecture, the strengthening of national public finance management systems, and the creation of stable frameworks to attract private sector investment, which is expected to provide the bulk of necessary funding.