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This policy brief by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the challenges of community participation in the Integrated Development Planning (IDP) process within South African municipalities. Based on action research from the COMPACT programme conducted between 2022 and 2024, the document identifies systemic failures—such as tokenistic engagement, poor meeting organization, and institutional fragmentation—that lead to community disillusionment. It provides a series of recommendations to shift the IDP from a compliance-driven exercise to a genuine developmental tool, emphasizing the need for better coordination, youth engagement, civic education, and the institutionalization of feedback loops.

This policy brief by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the functionality of ward committees in South Africa, based on action research conducted between 2022 and 2024 across 12 municipalities. It identifies systemic failures in resourcing, political neutrality, and institutional support, while providing recommendations to transform these committees into effective channels for participatory democracy.

This policy brief proposes a trade-aware Just Transition framework for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to manage the shift toward low-carbon, climate-resilient development. It argues that for the Caribbean, the transition is a structural regional transformation rather than a sector-specific phase-out of fossil fuels. The document outlines six guiding principles—social justice, effective governance, inclusive participation, economic resilience, alignment with climate goals, and green financing—and applies them to both at-risk sectors (energy, tourism, agriculture, forestry, transport) and growth sectors (blue economy, circular economy, orange economy).

The African Climate Foundation and Dalberg developed the NDC Investment Planner (NIP) to help African governments translate Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from broad policy frameworks into bankable project pipelines. The NIP provides a structured, three-stage process—Identify, Evaluate, and Select and Act—to align climate ambition with investment logic and economic transformation goals.

The African Climate Foundation (ACF) Strategy 2026–2030 outlines a shift from a 'proof of concept' to a continental platform focused on ensuring Africa's climate transition is shaped by African agency. The strategy prioritizes three core areas—energy access, climate resilience, and green industrialisation—supported by cross-cutting enablers in sustainable finance and international partnerships. ACF operates as a support institution rather than a direct implementer, utilizing strategic grantmaking, fiscal hosting, and incubation to strengthen the capacity of African governments, coalitions, and communities.

The African Climate Foundation (ACF) outlines its 2026–2030 strategy to shift from a phase of expansion to one of systemic integration. The foundation aims to ensure Africa's climate transition is driven from within by supporting local institutions, coalitions, and governments through strategic grants, financial hosting, and incubation. Its framework focuses on three priority areas—energy access, climate resilience, and green industrialization—supported by cross-cutting levers in sustainable finance and international partnerships.

The report advocates for a shift in African food systems toward agroecology through catalytic philanthropic investment. It outlines a three-tiered strategy targeting local innovations (niche), policy and governance (regime), and structural regional barriers (landscape), emphasizing that systemic change requires coupling bottom-up innovation with top-down reform to address food insecurity, climate vulnerability, and structural inequality.

The African Climate Foundation's (ACF) 2026–2030 strategy focuses on shifting from broad programmatic support to integrated systems work to ensure Africa's climate transition is shaped by African agency. The strategy prioritizes three areas: clean energy access, climate resilience, and green industrialization, supported by sustainable finance and international partnerships. ACF utilizes an 'investment platform approach' combining policy reform, pipeline development, and capital connection, delivered through strategic grantmaking, fiscal hosting, and incubation.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), supported by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and Promethium Carbon, has designed two financial instruments—a carbon credit-backed bond and a carbon repo facility—to address the supply-demand imbalance and liquidity challenges in South Africa's voluntary carbon market (VCM). These instruments aim to transform carbon credits into investable assets to mobilize private capital for climate mitigation projects.

This briefing by GreenCape examines the commercial challenges facing the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) agriculture sector, specifically regarding large-scale, centralised models. It argues that the industry is caught in a "Commodity Trap" by attempting to displace low-cost bulk proteins and synthetic fertilisers. The document recommends a strategic pivot toward high-performance, functional additives and bioactive soil amendments to justify premium pricing and overcome scaling and regulatory hurdles.

This case study by GreenCape examines the challenge of PET, PETG, and PVC shrink sleeves on PET food and beverage bottles in South Africa. It details how these materials disrupt the PET recycling process and advocates for a transition to floatable polyolefin materials to improve circularity.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the transition to electric two- and three-wheelers (E2W and E3W) for last-mile delivery in South Africa. It analyzes the economic viability, operational strategies, and environmental impacts of replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles with electric micro-mobility solutions, highlighting the role of innovative financing and charging infrastructure in overcoming high upfront costs.

The 2026 Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes the transition of the Western Cape's agricultural sector toward sustainable, resource-efficient, and technologically enabled production. It identifies key investment opportunities in regenerative agriculture—specifically biological crop protection and biostimulants—and smart farming through digital farm management systems, driven by stricter international export regulations and a need for cost efficiency.

This case study describes a three-year strategic partnership between the Anglo American Foundation and GreenCape to catalyse the Black Soldier Fly (BSF) industry in South Africa. The initiative focused on unifying a fragmented sector through the establishment of a formal industry body, the Southern African Mass Insect Rearing Organisation (SAMIRO), and providing regulatory and investment support to bridge the gap between BSF's potential for organic waste upcycling and industrial scaling.

The 2026 Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape outlines renewable energy (RE) investment opportunities in South Africa, identifying a potential market of R161.2 billion by 2030. The report focuses on large-scale RE projects and behind-the-meter (BTM) solutions, while detailing the transition from public procurement to a private offtake market and the structural unbundling of Eskom.

The report 'Boom and Bust Coal 2026' by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the global coal plant pipeline in 2025, highlighting a growing disconnect where coal capacity continues to increase—driven primarily by China and India—while actual coal-fired electricity generation declines due to the rapid expansion of wind and solar power.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the adoption of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework within the South African corporate and financial sectors. It specifically promotes the LEAP (Locate, Evaluate, Assess, and Prepare) approach as a practical methodology for companies to identify nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks, and opportunities, thereby shifting financial flows toward nature-positive outcomes.

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa describes the establishment and purpose of Small-Scale Fishing Zones (SSFZs) in South Africa. These zones are designed to protect the livelihoods of coastal communities, empower small-scale fishers through co-management of marine resources, and contribute to global biodiversity targets such as the 30x30 goal.

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa outlines the concept and implementation of Small-Scale Fishing Zones (SSFZs) to support coastal communities and marine conservation in South Africa. It describes SSFZs as co-managed marine areas that prioritize small-scale fishing practices to enhance socioeconomic resilience and contribute to global biodiversity targets.

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa describes Small-Scale Fishing Zones (SSFZs) as a mechanism to protect the livelihoods of coastal communities and preserve marine biodiversity in South Africa. It outlines the legal framework, the role of co-operatives, and the potential for these zones to contribute to global conservation targets like the '30x30' goal through the recognition of Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs).