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This concept note from the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) outlines a discussion for the 'Economic Justice Matters' series regarding South Africa's monetary policy. It critiques the South African Reserve Bank's (SARB) restrictive interest-rate cycle and its shift toward a lower inflation target, arguing that such policies may sacrifice sustainable growth and employment to prioritize price stability, especially when inflation is driven by global supply shocks rather than domestic demand.

This executive summary from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines policy coherence between the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030, drawing on research from nine countries. It argues that incoherence is driven by power asymmetries, vested interests, and the prioritization of economic growth over social and environmental goals, rather than simple coordination failures.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) submitted public comments on the Protected Disclosures Bill to the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on 14 May 2026. While welcoming the Bill's expansion of protections and the introduction of financial rewards for whistleblowers, PARI identifies significant risks regarding the security and administration of the proposed central disclosure database and the restrictive criteria for calculating financial awards.

A statement by Natural Justice arguing that African nations must accelerate their transition to sovereign renewable energy systems to avoid the economic instability and foreign control caused by global conflicts and fossil fuel dependency.

A report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzing the internal complexities and competing interests of the expanded 10-member BRICS bloc regarding global energy governance and the energy transition.

The document defines employment according to ILO standards and examines the 'working poor'—employed individuals living in extreme poverty. It highlights that in 2024, 6.9% of the global employed population lived on less than US$2.15 per day, with Africa experiencing higher rates. Specifically, 29.3% of Africa's employed population were working poor, with rates exceeding 70% in Madagascar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of social grants and large-scale employment schemes in Africa as tools to mitigate poverty and inequality in the face of limited economic absorption of the working-age population.

This report by FSD Africa argues that domestic capital market development is essential for African economies to mobilize long-term finance for climate adaptation, infrastructure, and demographic shifts, especially as bilateral aid and foreign direct investment decline. It suggests that while public equity markets are often prioritized, they are frequently impractical for smaller or frontier markets due to high costs and information asymmetries. Instead, the report advocates for a focus on strengthening the savings base through pension reforms and macro-financial stability, developing corporate bond markets, and utilizing hybrid public-private structures, guarantees, and pooled investment vehicles to channel institutional capital into infrastructure, housing, and MSMEs.

This report by GreenCape outlines the rationale and framework for establishing a voluntary, industry-led Circular Textiles Initiative in South Africa. The initiative aims to transition the domestic clothing and textile sector from a linear 'take-make-waste' model to a circular economy to reduce import dependency, create local jobs, and mitigate environmental degradation.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between India and Africa, arguing that while India possesses significant comparative advantages based on historical ties and shared developmental goals, there is a persistent gap between its strategic rhetoric and material outcomes. The author identifies structural constraints—including limited fiscal headroom, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and reputational risks—that have caused India to lag behind other global powers like China. The report recommends a coherent Africa strategy focused on low-cost, high-impact initiatives in health, education, and digital finance, utilizing 'anchor states' such as South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt to scale interventions.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the collapse of multilateralism in the Sahel, focusing on how military coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have led to the formation of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES) and a strategic pivot away from Western-led institutions toward partners like Russia and China.

This report by Ember examines the effectiveness of satellite monitoring in detecting methane emissions from global hard coal mines, noting a significant gap between theoretical detectability and actual observations.

An Ember report finds that global coal mine methane (CMM) emissions remained broadly steady between 2021 and 2023, despite an 8% increase in global coal production. The report highlights significant discrepancies between official UNFCCC-reported data and independent estimates, noting that six of the nine largest emitters failed to submit official 2023 CMM data.

The Global Coal Mine Methane Review 2026 reports that coal mine methane (CMM) emissions have remained steady at approximately 35 million tonnes despite rising coal production since the 2021 Global Methane Pledge. The report highlights a critical lack of transparency, estimating that 89% of emissions were unreported to the UNFCCC in 2023, and that 87% of global coal production relies on generic emission factors rather than direct measurements. While satellite monitoring is increasing, it currently captures emissions from only 10% of global hard coal production. The report concludes that existing technologies could reduce CMM emissions by 54-63% by 2030, with some measures available at no net cost, and that such reductions are affordable relative to industry profits.

This position paper by the Public Affairs Research Institute discusses the need for real-time citizen engagement in South African public procurement to combat corruption and opacity. It leverages the Public Procurement Act (2024) to propose three specific oversight mechanisms: the introduction of civic observers for high-risk procurement, the expansion of community-level social audits, and the adoption of open data standards for end-to-end transparency.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity demand and supply trends in 2025 and over the preceding two decades. It details the growth of low-carbon sources, specifically solar and wind, and the relative decline of fossil fuels, while noting the impact of weather and policy on national energy mixes.

This supplementary submission by the Just Transition in the Food System Group to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) argues that food insecurity in South Africa is a result of structural conditions and policy failures. It advocates for a rights-based food system transition focusing on agroecology, a Universal Basic Income Grant, improved land access for women, and aligned state budgeting to fulfill the constitutional right to food.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the historical structural challenges of African agriculture and models an 'Agriculture scenario' to demonstrate how a transition toward high-productivity, technology-driven farming could reduce food insecurity and poverty by 2043.

This research paper conclusion argues that African nations must prioritize domestic food security, smallholder farming, and sustainable practices over international exports to drive economic growth and reduce poverty. It emphasizes the role of AgTech, irrigation, and political leadership in overcoming systemic barriers such as credit scarcity and climate change risks.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines gender discrimination within the family sphere in Africa, focusing on child marriage, the unequal distribution of unpaid care and domestic work, and disparities in divorce and inheritance rights.