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The document argues that coastal and island countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are highly vulnerable to climate risks like cyclones and sea-level rise, necessitating the use of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA). While some progress exists, implementation is hindered by siloed governance, lack of capacity at local government levels, and insufficient finance. The brief recommends integrating specific EbA targets into 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), aligning biodiversity and ocean policies, and utilizing a newly established regional community of practice to share best practices and mobilize resources.

The document advocates for the adoption of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to protect coastal communities in Southern Africa from climate risks such as cyclones and sea-level rise. It identifies key barriers to implementation, including policy silos, insufficient funding, and lack of community inclusion, and proposes the creation of a regional community of practice to share best practices among SADC member states.

The document argues that coastal and island nations in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are highly vulnerable to climate risks, such as cyclones and sea-level rise, and should adopt ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as a cost-effective alternative to traditional engineering. While some progress exists, implementation is hindered by fragmented governance, lack of technical capacity, insufficient funding, and the exclusion of local communities. The brief recommends integrating specific EbA targets into 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), aligning cross-sectoral policies, and utilizing a newly established regional community of practice to share best practices and coordinate a regional EbA strategy.

The paper examines marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, focusing on how these interventions can provide sustainable livelihood opportunities. It identifies a successful incremental model used in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, where periodic fishery closures (PFCs) serve as an entry point to broader conservation and restoration efforts. The study highlights the role of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and networks like MIHARI and Mwambao in scaling these benefits. While some projects rely on large external funding, the paper argues for community-centered designs that prioritize immediate food security to ensure long-term sustainability and uptake.

The document examines the funding gap for marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), specifically within the SADC region. It analyzes various financing streams—including national budgets, international bilateral and multilateral funds, philanthropy, and private capital—while highlighting the challenges of access to finance due to economic categorizations. The paper emphasizes blended finance solutions, such as blue bonds and debt-for-nature swaps, using the Seychelles as a primary case study, and discusses the emerging potential of blue carbon markets. It concludes that public funding remains the dominant source and recommends that SADC countries integrate EbA into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and establish independent trust funds to ensure long-term sustainability.

The report assesses community involvement in marine and coastal EbA within SADC countries, finding that while robust legal frameworks exist, practical implementation is often hindered by a lack of technical capacity, financial resources, and clear mechanisms for engagement. It highlights the importance of autonomous community adaptation, the disproportionate vulnerability of women, and the critical role of NGOs in bridging gaps between governments and local populations.

The report evaluates the implementation of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) across SADC member states, highlighting the critical role of ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs in protecting vulnerable coastal populations. It identifies a significant gap between the potential of EbA and its integration into national climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While showcasing successful regional examples—such as Madagascar's community-led mangrove projects and Seychelles' innovative blue bonds—the document notes systemic challenges including overlapping ministerial mandates, limited local government capacity, and a lack of bankable project proposals for international climate finance. It recommends mainstreaming EbA into 2025 NDC revisions and strengthening regional cooperation to scale up nature-based solutions.

The report outlines a strategic framework to transition South Africa's TVET system toward a green hydrogen economy (GHE). It identifies critical gaps in current vocational training, such as low throughput and poor industry alignment, and proposes a 'demand-led' model using Centres of Specialisation (CoS). Through four quantitative scenarios, the report forecasts that an 'All-inclusive Portfolio' of domestic use and exports would maximize GDP growth and TVET job creation by 2050. Key recommendations include developing a Green Skills Master Plan, implementing nano-credentialing, and reskilling workers from sunset industries like coal mining into growth sectors such as platinum mining and green steel.

The briefing advocates for SADC member states to move from reactive to anticipatory governance to better navigate uncertainties like climate change and digitisation. It identifies five strategic opportunities: reskilling for the green economy and 4IR, fostering regional innovation ecosystems to leapfrog legacy industries, implementing open-data policies and improving internet infrastructure, developing green economy clusters for mineral value-addition, and repositioning the mining sector toward circular or bio-economy models.

The document examines the 'digital geopolitics' affecting the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, contrasting the commercially-driven US model, the state-centric Chinese model, and the human-centric EU model. It warns that without strategic agency and home-grown innovation, Africa risks 'digital recolonisation' or the adoption of 'authoritarian tech'. The authors recommend that SADC and the African Union (AU) harmonise data sovereignty frameworks, strengthen rights-centred implementation, and increase influence in international standard-setting bodies like the ITU to ensure digital transformation aligns with African contextual needs.

FSD Africa's Capital Markets team works to address financing gaps in Africa by developing enabling policies, market infrastructure, and innovative financial products. The report highlights the mobilization of approximately GBP 320 million through bond issuances, including pioneering green and gender bonds in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Morocco. It details the Africa Regulatory Support Programme (ARSP) and the African Local Currency Bond Fund (ALCB Fund) as key mechanisms for reducing currency risk and increasing private sector investment. Moving forward, FSD Africa is concentrating its efforts on five priority countries—Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria—with a strong emphasis on green capital markets and natural capital finance.

The document argues that SADC countries face a significant infrastructure deficit and institutional weaknesses that hinder regional integration and economic recovery. It proposes the adoption of 'anticipatory governance' and a shift toward green, inclusive, and digitally enabled infrastructure to move away from national protectionism and fossil-fuel dependency. Using a STEEPV framework, the authors outline various future scenarios—ranging from 'SADC Solarpunk' (desirable) to 'Deep Collusion' (undesirable)—to stress-test current strategies and advocate for innovative blended financing and regional cooperation via the AfCFTA.

The report identifies a significant climate finance gap in the SADC region, estimating cumulative adaptation and mitigation needs at USD 200 billion for 2020-2030. While South Africa dominates the current market, the study finds that corporate issuers remain inactive compared to banks and sovereigns. Key barriers include a lack of bankable projects, limited institutional capacity, and shallow domestic capital markets in most member states. The report recommends strengthening the expertise of regulators and stock exchanges, establishing national champions, and incentivizing banks to develop eligible project portfolios.

The Capital Markets Master Plan 2022 outlines a ten-year roadmap to transform Zambia's capital markets into an attractive international destination for long-term investment. The plan is structured around five thematic development areas: enhancing the government bond market, improving traditional security markets (equities and corporate bonds), developing innovative products (such as green bonds, ETFs, and REITs), building capacity across regulators and practitioners, and strengthening the regulatory environment. Key goals include increasing the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) market capitalization to 33% of GDP by 2031, launching the country's first green bond, and establishing a primary dealership system for government bonds. The strategy emphasizes the need for a transparent, efficient, and trusted market to mobilize private finance for infrastructure, agriculture, and energy projects.

The South African energy services market is expanding due to rising electricity costs, energy insecurity, and falling technology prices. The market is segmented into small-scale embedded generation (SSEG), energy storage, and energy efficiency, with a total available market estimated at R131 billion by 2035. Key opportunities include rooftop solar PV for commercial and industrial (C&I) and agricultural sectors, behind-the-meter battery storage, and innovative energy efficiency models like Cooling-as-a-Service (CaaS). The Western Cape is highlighted as a leading regional hub due to its supportive municipal policies and high uptake of SSEG.

The document outlines key lessons for SADC member states to improve their NDCs, emphasizing the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement, alignment with long-term development goals, and the use of quantifiable targets and evidence-based analysis. It highlights examples from South Africa, Rwanda, and Costa Rica to demonstrate how detailed implementation roadmaps and participatory scenario planning can enhance climate commitments.

The document provides a comprehensive overview of nuclear governance across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), categorising member states by their nuclear capacity and identifying gaps in regulatory synchronisation. It highlights the critical need for harmonised policies to manage the transport of uranium ore concentrate (UOC) and radioactive sources across borders. The author proposes leveraging the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the African Association of Competent Authorities (AACA) to create a more integrated regional safety and security architecture.

The report argues that SADC's current reactive, bureaucratic, and state-centric approach to security is insufficient for the region's complex threat landscape. It proposes the adoption of anticipatory governance—a non-predictive approach using foresight and multi-stakeholder engagement—to move from reactive crisis management to proactive strategic planning. The author highlights the Cabo Delgado insurgency as a primary example of SADC's failure to act timeously and recommends a comprehensive regional security sector review and the establishment of a P/CVE unit to build adaptive capacities.

The document examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the SADC region, noting that while the sector was less affected than others, the pandemic intensified existing vulnerabilities. Key challenges identified include a heavy reliance on subsistence farming, food insecurity, and the effects of climate change. The authors argue for a 'dual approach' that supports both small-scale and large-scale commercial farming, the adoption of climate-smart technologies, and the digitalisation of value chains. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is highlighted as a critical mechanism for enhancing regional trade and protecting small-scale farmers.

The document argues for a shift toward anticipatory governance in SADC to manage 'wicked' problems like climate change and pandemics. It identifies systemic failures in the region's response to COVID-19 and cyclones, advocating for a holistic, cross-sectoral approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR) based on foresight, networked systems, and feedback loops.