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This synthesis paper by FSD Africa examines the application of the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach within the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Network. Based on seven case studies, the document provides guidelines for market facilitators to achieve systemic, sustainable, and scalable change in financial markets to reduce poverty. It emphasizes the need for facilitators to act as neutral, technically competent third parties who address root causes of market failure rather than symptoms, while managing the tensions between donor requirements and the flexibility needed for market systems development.

This report by GreenCape identifies business opportunities for value addition from industrial organic wastewater in the Western Cape, South Africa. It highlights the potential for recovering resources like biogas, starch, and whey from the agro-processing sector, while noting significant barriers related to wastewater volumes and capital requirements.

This report is a submission by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) to the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee into the Funding of Political Parties. It examines how the lack of regulation in private political funding and the abuse of state resources in South Africa undermine institutional capacity, foster political corruption, and enable 'state capture'.

This briefing by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that the mining industry represents a significant, untapped opportunity for gigaton-scale carbon emissions reductions. It highlights that while mining is inherently energy-intensive, the transition to renewable energy is now economically viable due to falling costs of solar PV and wind, which can replace expensive diesel generation at remote sites and reduce reliance on fossil-fuel-dominated grids.

This policy briefing examines the institutionalisation of pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance within African institutions, specifically the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It explores the tension between universal governance norms and the need for African-led ownership and localisation to avoid neo-colonialism.

The document examines the failure of mining community trusts in South Africa to deliver broad-based empowerment, highlighting the risks of the 2016 Mining Charter III's new state-managed agency and contrasting the success of the Bafokeng with the maladministration seen in the Bapo Ba Mogale and Bakwena Ba Mogopa communities.

The Allianz Climate and Energy Monitor 2017 ranks G20 member states on their attractiveness for low-carbon electricity infrastructure investments and assesses their investment needs to meet Paris Agreement temperature limits. While OECD countries like Germany, the UK, and France remain the most attractive destinations due to stable policy frameworks, emerging markets such as China, India, and South Africa show significant growth in renewable installations but face high investment needs to create climate-resilient power infrastructure.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines four strategic priorities for the government of Lesotho under Tom Thabane to ensure stability and economic growth, focusing on agricultural diversification, revenue independence, human rights compliance for US trade access, and labor upskilling.

This research paper analyzes the political instability in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) caused by President Joseph Kabila's efforts to delay elections, a phenomenon termed 'le glissement' (slippage). The author argues that the UN and South Africa, both key historical peacebuilding partners, are currently failing to provide the necessary support to prevent a return to civil war and ensure the implementation of the December 2016 political agreement.

A statement by the World Resources Institute regarding Ikea's commitment to halve food waste by 2020 and its joining of the Champions 12.3 global coalition to address the economic, social, and environmental impacts of global food loss and waste.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs on 12 June 2017, detailing the failure of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) to meet national air quality standards. The CER argues that postponements of minimum emission standards (MES) granted to Eskom and Sasol have hindered progress, and that the national air quality monitoring network is severely dysfunctional.

This report summarizes the Sixth Annual Meeting of the San Giorgio Group, held on 8-9 May 2017 in Venice. The discussions focused on scaling up green, low-emissions finance by improving climate finance tracking, evolving financial architecture in emerging markets, overcoming funding constraints for cities, utilizing innovative financial instruments, and enhancing climate risk disclosure to accelerate the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the opportunities and constraints of transitioning to low-carbon energy in Africa, focusing on West Africa and Nigeria. It argues that while the continent has vast renewable potential, progress is hindered by fragmented governance, inadequate investment, and a lack of coordination between niche projects and national grids.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of civic technology and open data in driving accountability in South Africa. It argues that technology alone is not a solution for social change and proposes the 'accountability stack' framework, which prioritizes human-centric problem solving over the mere delivery of digital tools.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) requested a meeting with the Department of Environmental Affairs to discuss Eskom's non-compliance with emission standards. Based on a report by Professor Eugene Cairncross analyzing data from April 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, the CER highlights widespread violations of PM10, NOx, and SO2 limits across multiple power stations and calls for stricter monitoring and reporting guidelines.

A collection of five South African case studies detailing value-addition methods for livestock value chain residues, focusing on biogas production, insect protein, and composting.

A letter from MacRobert Attorneys to the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) regarding the environmental authorisation for a 600 MW coal-fired independent power plant for KiPower (Pty) Limited in South Africa. The letter confirms the developer's intent to conduct a Climate Change Impact Assessment (CCIA) following a specific court judgement.

This report, developed by FHI 360 and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, provides an inventory and summary of digital technologies used to enhance resilience, primarily in Asia. It details a wide array of tools—ranging from mobile apps and IoT sensors to big data analytics and geospatial mapping—designed to support disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term livelihood stability for vulnerable populations.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the governance of marine and coastal resources in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region. It advocates for the adoption of integrated spatial planning, ecosystem-based management, and inclusive, community-led conservation models to support a sustainable 'Blue Economy'. The author emphasizes that marine conservation must be integrated with socio-economic development agendas to ensure the resilience of biodiversity and the livelihoods of coastal populations.

This policy briefing examines why 'technology for transparency and accountability' (T4T&A) initiatives in Africa have failed to achieve large-scale impact despite expanding mobile networks and falling costs. The author argues that failures stem from a poor understanding of technology, a lack of user research, and a tendency for non-tech organisations to build custom tools from scratch rather than using existing ones. The document recommends shifting from short-term pilots to building a supportive innovation ecosystem that emphasises iterative learning and stronger links between technologists and accountability actors.