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The document outlines how education ministries can engage across the four phases of the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process: impact, vulnerability, and risk assessment (IVRA); planning; implementation; and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL). It emphasizes the heightened vulnerability of children to climate-related learning disruptions and argues that the NAP process is a critical mechanism to elevate education priorities, secure climate finance, and align sectoral plans with national commitments. The guide provides specific strategies for data collection via Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), the use of innovative financial instruments, and the mainstreaming of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI). A case study of Saint Lucia illustrates the successful development of a Sector Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (SASAP) through participatory, multi-stakeholder engagement.

The study finds that while Ethiopia, Senegal, and South Africa generally maintain cautious, non-aligned international postures, their regional approaches vary significantly. Ethiopia has adopted a highly assertive posture regarding sea access and geostrategic relevance; Senegal demonstrated assertive interventionism during the 2017 Gambian crisis to protect internal security; and South Africa maintains a 'reluctant hegemon' image, experiencing setbacks in the Democratic Republic of Congo due to military and agency constraints.

In 2025, African nations faced a fragmented global order characterized by US strategic retrenchment and intensifying competition over critical minerals. The year was marked by the first G20 summit on African soil in South Africa, which pushed for reforms in sovereign credit rating practices and international financial support. While some states like Nigeria and Kenya increased domestic resource mobilization to counter US aid cuts, others in the Horn of Africa became focal points for geopolitical rivalry involving Israel and Gulf Arab states. Additionally, the Lobito Corridor emerged as a key site for US and EU efforts to counter Chinese dominance in critical mineral supply chains, though this development is accompanied by governance risks in the DRC and Zambia.

In 2025, African states navigated a multipolar landscape marked by a transactional US approach under the second Trump administration, which led to aid cuts and a push for domestic resource mobilisation in countries like Nigeria and Kenya. The AU-EU partnership faced skepticism over the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), while South Africa's hosting of the G20 Summit resulted in the G20 Africa Engagement Framework and proposals to reform sovereign credit rating practices. Geopolitical competition intensified in the Horn of Africa, exacerbated by Israel's recognition of Somaliland, and along the Lobito Corridor, where the US and EU compete with China to secure critical mineral supply chains and midstream processing capacity.

The research argues that Ethiopia, Senegal, and South Africa generally adopt a 'cautious' posture internationally—characterized by non-alignment and partnership diversification—while tending toward more 'assertive' approaches regionally. However, South Africa serves as a partial exception, exhibiting assertiveness internationally (notably regarding Gaza) and a more cautious or less effective approach regionally (such as in the DRC). The paper uses these cases to argue for a plural conception of 'African agencies' driven by national interest and the goal of strategic autonomy.

The assessment finds that while Somalia is modernizing its legal framework through the 2019 National Minerals Resources Policy and new environmental laws, its mining sector remains predominantly informal and artisanal. Key strengths include a clear fiscal regime for extractives and strong political will to align with international standards. However, significant gaps persist, including an outdated 1984 Mining Code, a lack of a comprehensive mining cadaster, unknown levels of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activity, and the cultural exclusion of women from the sector. The report recommends enacting a new Mining Bill, establishing a robust mining inspectorate, and developing a formalization roadmap for ASM.

This policy brief examines the gap between registered and off-register land rights in South Africa, defining land administration as the management function that executes land governance policies. It contrasts the formal common-law property system with customary and informal rights, noting that the latter lack formal registration, precise demarcation, and integrated information management. The brief evaluates two international models for bridging this gap: the World Bank and UN-Habitat's 'Fit-for-Purpose' approach, which emphasizes flexibility and affordability, and the 'Talking Titler' evolutionary design approach, which focuses on social networks and context-specific adaptability. While the Fit-for-Purpose model saw success in Rwanda, critics argue it may overlook local power dynamics in South Africa, suggesting that a more flexible, adaptive system may be necessary to address the country's complex land-rights situation.

Aptech implemented two water projects in Somaliland. In Hargeisa, a hybrid PV and generator system at three Laasdhure boreholes provides an additional 4 million liters of drinking water daily. In Dilla, a system of shallow wells with 0.37kw pumps and hybrid power provides 50m3 of water daily for community and livestock use.

The document analyzes the distinct paths toward statehood for Somaliland and the SADR, contrasting Somaliland's case of secession from Somalia with the SADR's struggle for self-determination against Moroccan occupation. It examines how the African Union's adherence to inviolable colonial borders, despite precedents like Eritrea and South Sudan, complicates these efforts. The authors argue that both territories seek to reclaim colonial-era boundaries rather than alter them, yet they face significant economic and political hurdles due to a lack of formal recognition.

The Somalia National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Framework provides a roadmap for reducing national and local vulnerabilities to climate change. It emphasizes the integration of adaptation into the National Development Plan (NDP-9) and peacebuilding initiatives, recognizing that climate shocks exacerbate conflict and poverty. The framework outlines a whole-of-society approach, prioritizing gender-responsiveness, vertical integration between federal and state governments, and the mobilization of climate finance. It identifies the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DoECC) as the lead coordinator and proposes the establishment of a National Climate Fund and a dedicated monitoring and evaluation system to track progress.

The report finds that East Africa remains fragile due to violent extremism, insurgency, and resource-based conflicts, despite governance progress in some states. It highlights the prevalence of unregistered firearms, particularly in Somalia, and the role of anocracies in driving political instability. The document maps the overlapping mandates of regional organisations like the EAC and IGAD and recommends stronger inter-REC coordination and standardised regional monitoring to address information gaps.

The paper examines the potential of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies to transform South Africa's commercial landscape by reducing dependence on physical currency. It highlights the risks of cash-in-transit (CIT) heists and ATM attacks, noting that 243 CIT heists occurred in 2019. While acknowledging challenges such as the third-highest global rate of cybercrime and a large informal economy, the authors argue that digital payment systems—similar to those adopted in China, Kenya, and the UK—could improve security and economic inclusivity. The document identifies barriers to e-commerce growth in South Africa, including high banking charges, lack of funding for SMMEs, strict labour laws, and expensive internet data.

The report examines the overlapping claims of Somaliland and Puntland to the Sool and Sanaag regions, highlighting how colonial legacies and clan identities create divergent visions of administration. It details recent military clashes in Tukaraq and the militarisation of Sanaag, while noting that economic and social ties persist despite political tensions. The author argues that a durable solution requires consulting local populations and moving beyond identity-based power-sharing.

The report provides an evaluation of corporate peacebuilding initiatives, arguing that most 'Business for Peace' (B4P) efforts have yielded few positive impacts and can sometimes exacerbate local conflicts. It presents seven key questions for firms to assess their impact on conflict environments, local definitions of peace, socio-economic structures, and supply chain links to conflict actors. The authors conclude that the most peace-positive strategy is often to avoid conflict regions entirely and that substantive progress requires binding, independently verified regulatory initiatives.

The report analyzes the high stakes of the 2017 Somaliland presidential elections, noting that while the country has a strong democratic record, it faces significant institutional decay and increasing corruption. It highlights the role of clan alliances in determining the outcome between the Kulmiye and Waddani parties and discusses the security risks posed by territorial disputes with Puntland and the rise of al-Shabaab in the region.

The analysis concludes that the 2016 drought in Somalia and Somaliland was primarily driven by natural variability and La Niña rather than climate change. While the autumn rains failed in both regions—representing a once-a-century event in Somaliland—climate change had a small effect on these dry extremes. La Niña increased the probability of a dry season and accounted for approximately one third of the precipitation deficit, though it was not well-predicted by seasonal forecast models.

Turkey has become a critical partner for the Somali Federal Government (SFG), providing significant humanitarian aid, military training, and private investment. While Turkish interventions in the Mogadishu airport and seaport have substantially increased government revenues, the briefing argues that this approach risks undermining peace by favoring specific clans and bolstering an unaccountable central government. The document highlights a tension between Turkey's goal of strengthening the state and the need for an inclusive political settlement that avoids zero-sum clan dynamics.

The analysis concludes that climate change had a small effect on the 2016 autumn drought in Somalia and Somaliland, with no significant trend in observed rainfall. However, a strong La Niña event significantly increased drought risks and explained approximately one third of the precipitation deficit. The severe food insecurity resulting from the drought was primarily driven by high human vulnerability caused by decades of conflict and political upheaval rather than meteorological factors alone.

The report examines Turkey's transition to an 'emerging donor' through its activities in Somalia, highlighting a 'multi-actor and multi-track policy' that combines humanitarian aid, development assistance, and strategic political engagement. While praised for its rapid delivery and respect for national ownership, the Turkish approach is noted for lacking structured monitoring and evaluation and being heavily concentrated in Mogadishu.

Phaesun GmbH and Horn Renewables have deployed 'Business Opportunities with Solar Systems' (BOSS) solutions in Somaliland since 2012, focusing on the commercial sector in non-electrified areas. Key implementations include solar charging stations for mobile phones and LED lamps, as well as solar cooling and freezing kits for fishermen and shop owners. By the end of 2015, the partnership established over 50 charging stations across 23 locations and installed 33 cooling kits. These interventions have enabled fishermen to preserve catches and achieve higher margins by selling fresh fish in cities. The project has also introduced solar-powered fans, TVs, and agricultural processing services, with plans to develop a 'solar market place' in a village square to further enhance community prosperity.