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This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and violence negatively impact human development in South Africa. Drawing on the Birth to Thirty (Bt30) cohort study, it argues that childhood adversity creates a cumulative risk that undermines health, education, and economic productivity in adulthood, thereby hindering national development.

This policy brief evaluates the first cohort of African Youth Ambassadors for Peace (AYAPs), who served a two-year tenure ending in February 2022. It examines their role in mainstreaming youth into the African Union's (AU) peace and security agenda, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their activities, and provides recommendations for future cohorts to sustain and upscale youth participation in peacebuilding.

This fact sheet describes a project implemented by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) from January 2022 to June 2023. The project aims to enhance the resilience of coastal and island states in Southern Africa by integrating ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) into national climate policy responses.

This guide and factsheet from WWF South Africa and the Anglican Church of Southern Africa provides educational resources for youth on environmental stewardship. It specifically details the three main aquifers supplying Cape Town (Table Mountain Group, Cape Flats, and Atlantis) and explains the hydrological process of groundwater filtration. The document advocates for sustainable water use and the protection of aquifers against over-extraction and pollution, framing environmental care as a spiritual mandate.

This report by WWF South Africa presents the economic rationale for transitioning from a linear 'take-make-waste' plastic packaging model to a circular plastics economy by 2050 in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa. Using computational general equilibrium (CGE) modelling, the study demonstrates that such a transition would lead to positive cumulative effects on GDP, employment, and consumer welfare across all three nations while significantly reducing the costs of environmental externalities.

This case study, produced by WWF South Africa in collaboration with Trace & Save, examines irrigation efficiency on six pasture-based dairy farms in the Southern Cape of South Africa. By analyzing 15 centre pivot irrigation systems between March and December 2021, the study identifies significant water wastage and explores the relationships between irrigation system variables, soil health, and water-use efficiency. It advocates for the use of water meters and scientific scheduling to reduce costs and environmental impact.

This report by WWF South Africa reviews Phase 2 (2016–2021) of its transformational partnership with the retailer Woolworths. The collaboration focuses on integrating sustainability into Woolworths' business operations and supply chains, specifically targeting water stewardship, sustainable agriculture, seafood sourcing, food waste reduction, and low-carbon pathways. The report details the environmental and social impacts achieved through collective action, such as alien vegetation clearing in water source areas and the transition of smallholder farmers to sustainable cotton production.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the role of the informal waste sector in African cities, advocating for an "inclusive circular economy" that integrates reclaimers into formal waste management systems. It analyzes the operational status, socio-economic challenges, and policy landscapes of reclaimers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, arguing that their inclusion is essential for sustainable urban waste management and poverty alleviation.

The 2020-21 WWF-SASSI Retailer/Supplier Participation Scheme report evaluates the progress of major South African seafood vendors in adopting sustainable procurement practices. It highlights the intersection of climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic, and consumer behavior in shaping a sustainable blue economy.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the necessity of a just transition for Latin American economies reliant on fossil fuel extraction. The authors argue that delaying the shift toward sustainable, low-carbon pathways increases economic vulnerability, while warning that the transition to renewable energy technologies creates new risks associated with the increased extraction of critical minerals.

The Institute for Economic Justice, representing civil society organisations, supports the Companies Amendment Bill 2021, specifically praising new requirements for wage gap disclosure, binding votes on executive pay, and company ownership transparency to address South Africa's extreme socio-economic inequality.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the development financing gap facing African countries during their COVID-19 recovery. It argues that African nations lack the fiscal space available to advanced economies, facing high debt burdens and unfair credit ratings. The document proposes that the G20 and other development partners implement coordinated debt relief, reallocate resources to de-risk private investment, and establish fairer credit rating mechanisms to support sustainable economic transformation.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework's 'Two-Pillar Solution' to address tax avoidance and the digitalisation of the economy. It argues that the current global taxation framework is fragmented, allowing multinational corporations to avoid taxes through profit shifting and the lack of physical presence. The document highlights that developing countries, particularly in Africa, suffer disproportionate revenue losses as a share of GDP and are underrepresented in the negotiations of the global tax deal. It calls for greater transparency, fairer thresholds for profit reallocation, and the potential move of negotiations to a neutral body like the United Nations to ensure equitable outcomes for poorer nations.

This research paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security across Africa, highlighting how economic shocks and trade disruptions exacerbated hunger. It analyzes the varying vulnerability of different income groups and regions, the role of protectionist policies, and the potential for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to build long-term resilience by increasing intra-continental food trade.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International detailing its international solidarity efforts between 2020 and 2021 to support environmental and human rights defenders facing authoritarianism and corporate exploitation.

This report examines how the African Union's Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can jointly foster resilient and sustainable economic recoveries in six specific African nations.

This statement from the Africa Policy Research Institute and other signatories condemns the travel restrictions imposed on Southern African countries following the detection of the Omicron variant. The authors argue that these bans are scientifically unjustified, racially biased, and economically damaging, while highlighting a systemic failure in global vaccine equity.

An open letter from South African marine scientists and legal experts to President Cyril Ramaphosa and government ministers urging the halt of offshore seismic surveys due to environmental risks and legal deficiencies.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) provides guidance and lessons for Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states on enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement, alignment with long-term development goals, and the use of quantifiable targets and evidence-based analysis to increase climate ambition and ensure effective implementation.

A statement by several African policy leaders criticizing the imposition of unilateral travel bans on Southern Africa following the detection of a COVID-19 variant, arguing that such measures are ineffective, economically damaging, and ignore the systemic inequities in global vaccine distribution.