Search Climate Insights Directory

The document outlines a strategic framework for accelerating climate adaptation in Africa, emphasizing the integration of indigenous knowledge with scientific data and the need for decentralized finance. It advocates for investing in a climate-smart workforce, resilient water and energy systems, and nature-based solutions to protect biodiversity and human livelihoods.

The paper explores the intersection of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), arguing that digital innovations can overcome traditional barriers to intra-African trade. It highlights the role of blockchain in enhancing supply chain transparency and financial inclusion for MSMEs, and AI in improving agricultural productivity. The authors emphasize that while COVID-19 accelerated the adoption of ecommerce and fintech, significant gaps in internet connectivity, data infrastructure, and regulatory frameworks must be addressed to realize the AfCFTA's full potential.

The document examines how corruption—including bribery, collusion, nepotism, and favoritism—affects the trade of wild plants and fungi (NTFPs). It identifies key risk points from harvesting and permitting to international export and final product manufacturing. To address these, it recommends improved resource governance, the use of voluntary certification standards like FairWild, and the implementation of traceability technologies such as blockchain.

The document argues that while Africa views migration as a demographic and development issue, the European Union has increasingly adopted a securitised approach. It identifies four key entry points for strengthening the Africa-EU partnership: remittances, legal labour migration pathways, international protection, and voluntary returns and readmissions.

The document finds that African LICs' economic responses to COVID-19 were modest and suboptimal compared to developed nations, primarily due to pre-pandemic structural weaknesses such as high debt, inflation, and limited fiscal space. While expansionary monetary policy was the most common tool, fiscal stimulus was generally low (1% to 2% of GDP), with exceptions like Senegal, Niger, and Mozambique. The brief highlights a significant financing gap in donor support and argues that recovery requires a shift toward data-driven policy, increased digital and financial inclusion, and the independence of monetary and debt management authorities.

The Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), in collaboration with the UNDP and GEF, is seeking Expressions of Interest from organizations managing innovative finance mechanisms in fragile and conflict-prone regions. The initiative aims to support private sector solutions that address the 'triple threat' of COVID-19, climate change-induced extreme weather, and geopolitical instability. Selected organizations will receive grants, technical assistance from a multidisciplinary mentoring facility, and networking opportunities to improve the scale and effectiveness of their funds. Eligible mechanisms must be based in specific Least Developed Countries (LDCs), demonstrate a sustainable revenue model, and focus on the intersection of climate adaptation, food and water security, and disaster risk reduction.

The report identifies systemic gender inequalities across seven Sahelian countries that hinder women's resilience to climate change, specifically citing limited land ownership, high burdens of unpaid care work, and restricted access to climate information and financial services. It proposes a Gender Action Plan to increase women's economic empowerment, reduce workloads through solar-powered technologies, and improve access to climate-smart agricultural inputs and micro-insurance, targeting at least 40% of interventions for women.

The EARF gender assessment identifies women as primary energy consumers and key agents in the off-grid energy value chain. It proposes loan covenants to ensure companies maintain female employment levels and adopt Gender Empowerment Policies. The report includes detailed gender profiles for Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, highlighting systemic barriers such as cultural norms and limited access to STEM roles.

The document outlines a readiness project implemented by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) to support 13 accredited and applicant Direct Access Entities (DAEs) within the International Development Finance Club (IDFC). The project aims to remove barriers to GCF accreditation and funding by providing technical assistance for fiduciary, environmental, social, and gender policies, and by developing climate finance tools for risk and impact assessment. Key deliverables include an IDFC-GCF Toolkit, a joint DAE-IDFC Work Program, and the development of multi-country concept notes focusing on climate-resilient recovery post-COVID-19, specifically targeting MSMEs and vulnerable populations in sectors like renewable energy and sustainable land use.

A case study on the Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) project in Talensi, Ghana, detailing how a low-cost land restoration technique has improved soil fertility, increased crop yields, and enhanced the climate resilience of over 10,000 smallholder farmers.

The workshop, part of the 'Support for the NDC implementation in the Waste Management sector in Senegal and Côte D’Ivoire' project, provided technical training on GHG and short-lived climate pollutant (SLCP) inventories. Participants were introduced to the 2006 IPCC Guidelines, the IPCC inventory software (version 2.691), and the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook. The training included practical exercises using activity data from Benin to estimate emissions from open burning of municipal solid waste and wastewater management.

The document examines the challenges of Africa's transition to renewable energy, highlighting a significant skills gap and the persistent under-representation of women in energy value chains. It argues that while gender-mainstreaming policies exist, they often lack the monitoring, evaluation, and comprehensive support systems—such as financial and technical assistance—necessary to create tangible change. The briefing specifically calls for the AU-EU strategic partnership to better integrate gender dimensions into its green transition and energy access pillars, particularly for youth and those in fossil-fuel-dependent economies to ensure a just transition.

The document examines the role of the circular economy in the economic recovery of the EU and AU following the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the EU's Green Deal and its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, while noting that African countries often practice circular economy principles without formal policies. The brief suggests that the EU's desire to shorten global value chains for food and medical security presents an opportunity for Africa to enhance its regional value chains in mining and agriculture through partnerships. It recommends that the EU-AU Summit prioritize a circular economy baseline for all future programmes to ensure sustainable development and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals.

The report contends that mainstream development models, which predict growth through a shift from agriculture to industrial manufacturing, have failed in Africa. It identifies five dynamic trends—climate change, rapid urbanisation, infrastructure deficits, epidemics/pandemics, and lawlessness—that interact to increase instability. These trends are exacerbated by three structural realities: pervasive informality, weak land management, and the proliferation of organised crime, often led by state actors. The authors argue that because the state is frequently compromised by criminal networks, development strategies should move away from state-centric models and instead focus on enhancing the resilience and resource control of local neighbourhoods and communities.

The ASER Solar Rural Electrification Project aims to provide 100% solar mini-grids to 1,000 isolated villages in Senegal between 2021 and 2026. With a total financing package of EUR 198.7 million, including EUR 75.4 million from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the project targets the electrification of 38,900 households and the support of 3,739 productive use applications. The initiative focuses on reducing CO2 emissions, improving rural resilience to climate change, and empowering women and youth through technical assistance and financial incentives for energy-powered businesses.

The document examines how regional economic hubs in sub-Saharan Africa facilitate capital flows and how the interplay between de-risking and illicit financial flows (IFFs) undermines this process. It argues that de-risking—the termination of business relationships to avoid AML-CFT risks—often drives users toward unregulated shadow banking and informal channels, which in turn exacerbates IFFs. This creates a vicious cycle that reduces legitimate capital inflows, impairs financial inclusion for SMEs and NGOs, and weakens the overall financial integrity of both hub and spoke countries.

The report analyzes the proposed Africa-EU strategy ahead of the October 2020 summit, comparing EU priorities with the AU's Agenda 2063. It identifies gaps in the EU's approach, particularly regarding poverty, health, debt cancellation, and infrastructure, and recommends a revamped partnership based on mutual accountability and a people-centred approach.

The monograph evaluates the African Union's (AU) 'Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020' (STGIA2020) initiative, concluding that the continent is far from achieving a conflict-free state. While the AU established coordinating structures and the 2016 Lusaka Master Roadmap, progress is hampered by conceptual confusion, institutional weaknesses, and a lack of political will among member states. The report highlights the critical role of small arms and light weapons (SALWs) proliferation, driven by foreign imports—particularly from Russia—and local craft production. It identifies governance deficits, youth unemployment, and foreign military presence as key drivers of instability. The authors recommend redefining the initiative as a multi-year programme focused on arms control and strengthening monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

The report analyzes the 2018 HRC records of 13 African states, finding a general unwillingness to defend international human rights and a significant lack of unity in voting. Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Rwanda showed the strongest commitment, while Burundi, Egypt, and Ethiopia were the most opposed. The analysis highlights a discrepancy between domestic freedom ratings and HRC performance, noting that domestic records are weak predictors of how states vote on the Council.

The workshop, conducted by the Stockholm Environment Institute and partners, focused on the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for GHG inventories and the EMEP/EEA guidebook for short-lived climate pollutants (SLCP). Participants were trained in using IPCC software (version 2.691) and Excel worksheets to estimate emissions from waste sources, including solid waste disposal and open burning. The training emphasized the requirements of the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework, specifically the submission of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR) by December 31, 2024.