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This briefing outlines the key agenda items for the 18th African Union (AU) Summit held in Addis Ababa from 23-30 January 2012, including leadership elections, budget approvals, and the inauguration of a new headquarters building.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) maps the investment landscape of South Africa as of January 2012. It examines the impact of the global economic crisis on foreign direct investment (FDI), analyzes the government's industrial policies such as the New Growth Path (NGP), and provides a detailed catalogue of financial and fiscal incentives designed to attract investment and create jobs. The document also includes survey results from provincial investment promotion agencies (IPAs) regarding the effectiveness and awareness of these incentive schemes.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesizes the findings of the IPCC's SREX report specifically for African policymakers. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and disaster risk management (DRM), emphasizing that disaster risks in Africa are increasing due to both climate change and socio-economic factors such as rapid urbanization and poor governance. The document provides regional observations and projections for temperature and precipitation extremes across Africa and advocates for the integration of DRM and climate change adaptation into national development planning to build long-term resilience.

This 2012 report synthesizes the IPCC SREX findings for Africa, highlighting that disaster risk is increasing due to higher exposure of vulnerable populations. It details observed and projected increases in temperature and dryness across various sub-regions, warns that current extremes will become the 'new normal' by 2100, and emphasizes the high vulnerability of the agricultural sector and coastal cities. The document advocates for a shift from reactive to proactive, transformational disaster risk management that integrates local knowledge, high-level political leadership, and international financial support.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises key findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for ecosystem management. It examines the interplay between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and ecosystem resilience, advocating for ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as a cost-effective strategy to reduce disaster risk and support sustainable development.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises findings from the IPCC SREX report specifically for the water sector. It examines how climate extremes—such as floods and droughts—interact with human vulnerability and exposure to create disaster risk, and provides a framework for integrating disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA) to build long-term resilience in water management systems.

This report documents the 5th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held from 28–30 November 2011 in Gaborone, Botswana. The conference brought together commandants from African Staff Colleges to discuss the impact of globalisation on human rights, the proliferation of small arms, gender equality in the military, and the standardisation of military education to support the African Standby Force (ASF) and peace support operations (PSOs).

This report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the independence, accountability, and performance of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in South Africa. It identifies a systematic tendency to decline to prosecute as the central issue affecting the organization, noting that this trend is not caused by a lack of resources or excessive workloads, but rather by the inappropriate exercise of prosecutorial discretion.

The 'Protocolos Comunitarios Bioculturales: Kit de Herramientas para Facilitadores Comunitarios' is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice in 2012. It provides a framework and a set of participatory tools to help Indigenous Peoples and local communities document their customary laws, values, and governance systems into 'biocultural community protocols'. These protocols are designed to empower communities to manage their territories, protect their collective biocultural heritage, and negotiate on equal terms with external actors such as governments, corporations, and NGOs.

Biocultural Community Protocols: A Toolkit for Community Facilitators is a comprehensive guide published by Natural Justice in 2012. It provides Indigenous peoples and local communities with a framework to document their customary laws, values, and decision-making processes into 'biocultural community protocols'. These instruments are designed to help communities secure their rights and territories, manage interactions with external actors (such as governments, researchers, and companies), and advocate for the stewardship of their collective biocultural heritage.

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.

This research paper examines how rural communities in semiarid South Africa adapt to intersecting stresses, including water scarcity, disease, and institutional limitations, arguing that climate adaptation must be understood within broader social and political contexts to avoid maladaptation.

A statement issued by the Global Climate and Health Alliance on December 4, 2011, during the UNFCCC's 17th Conference of the Parties in Durban, South Africa. The document calls upon public health organizations, professionals, and ministries to take concerted action to protect public health from the threats of climate change.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the potential socio-economic impacts of increasing investment in basic education across Africa. Using the International Futures (IFs) modelling system, the authors simulate a scenario where African nations adopt the enrolment and completion growth rates of the continent's best-performing countries. The analysis suggests that a modest increase in GDP allocation to education could lead to significant long-term gains in GDP, poverty reduction, and public health, although these benefits would be realized over several decades.

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2011-12 provides a comprehensive overview of the activities of the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) in South Africa. It details a significant increase in EMI capacity, particularly Grade 5 field rangers, and tracks national statistics on criminal and administrative enforcement. The report highlights a rise in section 24G administrative fines and a focus on proactive industrial compliance, while also documenting the ongoing crisis of rhino poaching and the illegal trade in cycads. It further outlines specific court cases, legislative developments, and capacity-building efforts for inspectors and prosecutors.

This report surveys the diverse methodologies used to calculate and report 'leverage ratios' in climate finance, highlighting the lack of a universal definition. It examines how various institutions—including the World Bank, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF)—measure the ability of public funds to catalyze private and other public investments, and proposes a more rigorous framework for assessing financial effectiveness.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the relationship between the South African government and the private sector regarding economic activity and development in Southern Africa. It argues that while both parties share an interest in regional stability and growth, their efforts are hindered by a domestic legacy of mistrust and ideological differences. The author explores the role of 'economic diplomacy' and the proposal for a business code of conduct to align corporate behavior with national developmental goals.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the internal, regional, and international security implications following the death of Muammar Gaddafi on 20 October 2011. It examines the challenges facing the National Transitional Council (NTC) in managing armed militias and oil revenues, the risk of arms proliferation across the Sahel and Maghreb, and the geopolitical opportunities for South Africa and the African Union (AU) to influence the transition and strengthen regional security mechanisms.

In a speech delivered on November 10, 2011, at the South African Institute of International Affairs, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Alain Juppé discussed the necessity of a new global governance framework that integrates Africa's emerging influence. He outlined four primary shared challenges—economic crisis, development, security, and the environment—and advocated for the reform of the UN Security Council and the creation of a World Environment Organisation to better reflect current global realities.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the challenges and opportunities of integrating agriculture into an international climate change agreement under the UNFCCC. It highlights the 'triple dividend'—the potential to simultaneously improve food security, enhance adaptive capacity, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions—while detailing the diplomatic tensions between developed and developing nations regarding trade, financing, and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.