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The Conflict-Sensitive Conservation Practitioners’ Manual, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2009, provides a framework for conservation NGOs and protected area authorities to integrate conflict sensitivity into their operations. The guide aims to help practitioners minimize the risk of inadvertently exacerbating conflicts and maximize opportunities for peacebuilding, particularly in conflict zones where natural resources can be both a source of tension and a foundation for stability.

This practitioner's guide, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), provides a framework for integrating conflict sensitivity into conservation activities. It aims to help NGOs and protected area managers minimize the risk of inadvertently exacerbating conflicts and maximize opportunities for peacebuilding, particularly in volatile regions where natural resource management often intersects with social and political tensions.

This research paper by Raymond Louw argues that a free and independent media is an indispensable component of good political governance and a cornerstone of democracy. The author criticizes the African Union's (AU) African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for omitting media freedom from its criteria for good governance, suggesting this exclusion allows authoritarian states to achieve passing ratings. Through case studies of South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda, the paper demonstrates that these countries fail to recognize the media's essential watchdog role in their APRM reports. The document also highlights the 'Declaration of Table Mountain' and the prevalence of 'insult laws' across Africa that criminalize critical reporting of public officials.

This research paper by Raymond Louw, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in September 2008, argues that free and independent media are essential for good governance and democratic accountability. The author criticizes the African Union's (AU) African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) for omitting media freedom from its criteria for good governance, suggesting this exclusion is likely due to the prevalence of 'insult laws' across the continent. The paper examines case studies from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa, concluding that none of these countries fully recognize the media's 'watchdog' role in their national reports. It also discusses the 'Table Mountain Declaration' and provides specific proposals to integrate media freedom into the APRM questionnaire.

This report examines the history and state of corruption in the Democratic Republic of Congo, focusing on the transition period between 2003 and 2006. It traces a legacy of predation from King Leopold II's forced labour regime and Mobutu's state capture to the resource looting by foreign occupying forces and the Kabila administration. The author argues that without learning from this history and strengthening anti-corruption institutions and legal frameworks to meet international standards, the DRC risks returning to a cycle of bad governance and conflict despite the democratic progress made during the 2006 elections.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the 2007 Nairobi Agreement and the 2008 Goma Acte d’engagement, evaluating their potential to stabilize the Kivu provinces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It examines the challenges of disarming the Forces Démocratique de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR) and the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP), while highlighting the critical failures of the Congolese army (FARDC) and the broader Security Sector Reform (SSR) process.

This seminar report from the Institute for Security Studies examines the tension between the International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutorial approach and the pursuit of a negotiated peace settlement in the Northern Uganda conflict involving the Lord Resistance Army (LRA). The document discusses the historical context of the conflict, the limitations of international legal arguments regarding deterrence and justice, and the role of traditional justice mechanisms in transitional societies.

The Handbook for African Civil Society is a guide designed to help civil society organizations (CSOs) actively participate in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the APRM's five stages of review, its continental and national institutional structures, and the four thematic areas of governance it assesses. The manual provides strategic advice for CSOs to move from passive participants to leaders in the process, highlighting potential obstacles such as government fear and resource scarcity, while offering methods to influence power levels within the mechanism to promote good governance and socio-economic development in Africa.

This practical handbook, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), provides guidance for Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) tasked with conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the chronological process of creating Country Self-Assessment Reports (CSARs), offering strategies to manage the technical, managerial, and political challenges inherent in evaluating national governance.

This guide, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in June 2008, provides practical instructions for Technical Research Institutions (TRIs) conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It details the planning, methodology, and political navigation required to produce National Self-Assessment Reports (NSARs) and Action Plans (APs), drawing on experiences from pioneer countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.

This research paper by Faten Aggad of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the Programmes of Action (PoAs) of the first six countries to undergo the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. The author argues that PoAs often fail to address the recommendations of the Panel of Eminent Persons, confuse high-level objectives with concrete action items, and lack transparent costing and integration with existing national development plans.

This research paper by Faten Aggad, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in June 2008, analyzes the Action Plans (PA) of the first six countries to undergo the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. The author argues that there is a significant gap between the recommendations issued by the Panel of Eminent Persons and the actual commitments adopted by governments in their Action Plans, often due to a lack of clear guidelines, a confusion between goals and specific actions, and the prioritization of national sovereignty over peer recommendations.

This research paper examines the role of transnational organised crime networks and 'middlemen' in fueling African conflicts through the illicit trade of weapons and natural resources. Using the case studies of Leonid Minin and Victor Bout, the document highlights the sophistication of these networks, their use of front companies and tax havens, and the systemic failures of international law enforcement and national legislation to prosecute sanctions-busting activities.

This research paper examines the viability of a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia following a UN Security Council vote in December 2007. It analyzes the instability caused by the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts, the role of Ethiopian military intervention, and the challenges of assembling an African Union-led force. The author specifically evaluates South Africa's capacity and willingness to contribute troops, concluding that South Africa has opted out due to existing commitments and the high risk of failure in a country without a formal ceasefire.

The author argues that the conflict in Darfur is not a genocide but a complex extension of Sudan's southern civil war, driven by political rifts within the government and opposition. The paper critiques the racialization of the conflict as 'Arab' versus 'African' and warns against US military intervention or punitive sanctions, advocating instead for the completion of the Naivasha peace process and the application of consistent international human rights standards across Africa and globally.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the economic, social, and political barriers preventing the adoption of clean cooking fuels in sub-Saharan Africa. It contrasts traditional biomass fuels with modern alternatives like LPG, ethanol, and biogas, highlighting how high capital costs, underdeveloped infrastructure, and socio-cultural norms sustain dependence on inefficient fuels. The authors propose a policy framework involving national bureaus, targeted subsidies, and community-led design to facilitate a transition to cleaner energy.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) examines the domestic implementation of the Rome Statute in five African countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It finds that while these states ratified the statute, none had enacted implementing legislation by early 2008, leaving them unable to fully respond to International Criminal Court (ICC) requests for arrest and surrender or to prosecute international crimes domestically. The report identifies systemic barriers, including a lack of political priority, capacity shortfalls in legal drafting, and concerns over official immunities.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies provides an update on the operationalisation of the African Standby Force (ASF), a multidisciplinary force designed for rapid deployment in peace support operations across Africa. While the AU has made progress in developing doctrine, training policies, and standard operating procedures, the document highlights significant hurdles in logistics, AU-level leadership capacity, and sustainable financing.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies provides a progress update on the establishment of the African Standby Force (ASF), a multidisciplinary force designed to enable the African Union (AU) to respond to conflicts through peace support missions and interventions.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), an innovative governance assessment tool launched in 2002 under the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad). It details the APRM's five-stage review process, its continental and national institutional structures, and the practical challenges faced by 'pioneer' countries in implementing these rigorous, participatory assessments.