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This case study provides a political-economy analysis of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional support programme for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). It examines the valuation of forests as global, regional, and local public goods, the challenges of forest governance in Southern Africa, and the implementation of a regional MRV (measurement, reporting, and verification) project to support carbon sequestration goals while balancing regional equity.

This case study examines the establishment and impact of Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) in Southern Africa, analyzing how these regional public goods facilitate regional integration through the cooperation of member states, NGOs, and the private sector.

This case study examines the development of the Regional Electricity Market (REM) within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), an association of national utilities from Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states. It analyzes the transition from a cooperative pool to a competitive market, the role of Independent Power Producers (IPPs), and the challenges posed by diverse national agendas and infrastructure deficits.

This report, part of the Political Economy of Regional Integration in Southern Africa (PERISA) project, examines regional integration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) through the lens of public goods rather than trade. It analyzes four case studies—water resource management, forestry (REDD+), transfrontier conservation areas (TFCAs), and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP)—to identify drivers of success and institutional barriers to integration.

This case study examines the SADC Payment Integration System, specifically the launch of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Integrated Regional Electronic Settlement System (SIRESS) in July 2013. The system aims to facilitate cross-border payments and financial integration across SADC member states, starting with a pilot in the Common Monetary Area (CMA).

This case study examines the political economy of the sugar sector within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the role of private-public partnerships, regional trade agreements, and the challenges posed by a distorted global market. It details the production capacities of member states and the mechanisms used to manage regional trade and protect producers from international dumping.

This case study examines the role of the Communications Regulators’ Association Southern Africa (CRASA) in harmonising telecommunications, broadcasting, and postal policies among member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights the active participation of private sector companies, such as Vodacom and MTN, within government delegations to provide technical expertise and influence regional regulatory frameworks.

This policy brief examines the African Union's (AU) security framework, its transition from the non-interventionist norms of the OAU, and its evolving partnership with the United Nations (UN) to maintain peace and security in Africa.

The World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA), represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), filed an internal appeal to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on 26 July 2013. The appeal challenges the DMR's refusal to grant access to records regarding seabed prospecting rights and strategies in South Africa's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which the DMR claimed would substantially and unreasonably divert its resources.

Carroll Muffett, President and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), provided testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives on July 24, 2013, regarding the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The statement argues that TTIP could undermine public health and environmental protections, particularly in the chemicals sector, by prioritizing the removal of regulatory barriers over safety standards. Muffett advocates for the retention of national rights to determine health protection levels and the exclusion of investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several community groups and NGOs, submitted comments on July 19, 2013, opposing Eskom's applications for exemptions and postponements regarding Minimum Emission Standards (MES). The CER argues that such applications are legally invalid because ambient air quality standards (AAQS) are already exceeded in the priority areas where most Eskom plants are located. The document highlights severe health risks, particularly from SO2 and mercury, and criticizes Eskom for failing to consider renewable energy alternatives or the decommissioning of worst-performing plants.

This briefing examines the economic and strategic relationship between South Africa and the European Union (EU) ahead of the 2013 EU-SA Summit, focusing on job creation, foreign direct investment (FDI), and regional integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

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 report analyzes the strategic importance of President Barack Obama's June 2013 visit to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. It frames the visit as part of a broader shift in US-Africa relations, moving from the strategic indifference of the 1990s toward a partnership focused on economic growth, democratic strengthening, energy security, and youth leadership development, while competing with China's significant trade presence on the continent.

A letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights to the Minister of Mineral Resources requesting urgent action to remedy a legal gap created by the commencement of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act, 2008 (MPRDAA), which effectively allows prospecting and mining to occur without approved environmental management plans.

This research paper examines the methodological approaches used to analyze the effects of trade liberalization on growth and poverty in South Africa, arguing that the debate is often polarized by an unrealistic focus on 'free trade' as a benchmark rather than evaluating trade policy against national development and industrial goals.

The National Water Resource Strategy (NWRS2), published in June 2013 by the Department of Water Affairs, provides a strategic framework for the protection, use, development, conservation, and management of South Africa's water resources over a five-to-ten-year period. The strategy aims to align water management with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030 to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality. It identifies South Africa as a water-stressed country facing challenges such as security of supply, environmental degradation, and resource pollution. The NWRS2 prioritizes equitable water allocation, water conservation and demand management (WCWDM), and the establishment of robust institutional arrangements, including nine Catchment Management Agencies and nine Regional Water Utilities. To implement these goals, the document estimates a total sector investment requirement of R700 billion over ten years.

Budget Vote speech delivered by Minister Edna Molewa of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWA) on May 21, 2013, outlining the department's focus on equity, redistribution, infrastructure development, and water security in South Africa.

This research paper examines why South Africa is a founding member of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) but remains absent from the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). The author argues that South Africa's reliance on general domestic transparency laws is insufficient for the specific needs of the extractive sector and suggests that the government's reluctance is tied to geopolitical perceptions of double standards between the global North and South.

This research paper analyzes the impact of the death of 13 South African soldiers in the Central African Republic (CAR) on March 23, 2013, arguing that the incident exposed failures in democratic transparency and institutional accountability within South Africa's foreign policy. The author suggests that to preserve its 'African agenda,' South Africa must move away from Cold War-era anti-imperialist prisms, improve intelligence partnerships with traditional powers, and proactively domesticate its foreign policy through democratic scrutiny.