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The document argues that Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change despite being among the lightest polluters. It highlights critical threats to water and food security, the potential for climate change to act as a 'threat multiplier' for conflict, and the urgent need for improved climate information and financial compensation from developed nations for adaptation.

The report argues that traditional trade liberalization agendas are insufficient for addressing food security, particularly when risks stem from global market volatility. It suggests that a 'new agricultural deal' and differentiated treatment for developing countries are necessary to reconcile trade and food security.

The document argues that South Africa must transition from a coal-dependent energy system to a low-carbon economy to ensure energy security and maintain competitive advantage. It highlights the need for institutional and regulatory reform to allow clean electricity suppliers to enter a market currently dominated by coal and the national utility. The text notes that current energy and climate policies are undermined by a lack of coherence across government departments. Additionally, it identifies a significant funding gap for local infrastructure, noting that South African municipalities receive less than 10% of the country's climate finance.

The report analyzes how developing regions responded to the 200608 food crisis, noting a prevalence of short-term, often protectionist measures such as export bans and consumer subsidies. It argues that these immediate responses frequently conflicted with long-term goals of increasing agricultural production and that regional cooperation mechanisms were largely ineffective during the crisis. The author advocates for a 'new agricultural deal' at the global level and the institutional strengthening of regional agreements to provide credible collective economic security.

The document examines the tension between short-term food security measures and long-term economic sustainability in three developing regions. It contrasts strategies of food self-sufficiency with food self-reliance and argues that regional integration mechanisms failed to provide collective security during the 2006–08 crisis. The author advocates for a 'new agricultural deal' at the global level to reconcile trade liberalization with the vulnerability of developing countries.

The policy brief examines the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a pan-African framework designed to improve food security and environmental resilience. While international support has surged—including a $1 billion implementation fund and G8 commitments—the document highlights a critical gap in African leadership and policy capacity. It argues that without strengthening the expertise of those managing the policy process, Africa cannot fully optimise this support to achieve its target of 6% annual agricultural growth. The brief also notes that CAADP's inclusive structure provides a more legitimate and durable governance model for agricultural research and development (ARD) than previous programmes.

The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) faces existential threats driven by internal dissonance over revenue distribution and trade agreements. South Africa currently provides significant fiscal subsidies to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland (BLNS) through a revenue pool that is deemed unsustainable and procyclical. Tensions are further exacerbated by the interim Economic Partnership Agreements (IEPAs) signed by Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland, which South Africa and Namibia refuse to sign. The author argues that the dissolution of the customs union could occur if these trade differences are not resolved, potentially leading to the economic collapse of Lesotho and Swaziland. To ensure stability, the document proposes a regional development agenda and the creation of a development fund to reduce BLNS dependence on the revenue pool and preserve the common external tariff.

The report argues that the 2006–2008 global food crisis was a spike in a long-term trend of food insecurity in Southern Africa. It highlights the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) as the primary framework for coordinated regional responses, emphasizing long-term structural improvements over short-term reactionary measures. The analysis covers specific SADC and COMESA initiatives, the role of strategic grain reserves, and the impact of international trade subsidies on African agricultural productivity.

The report examines how trade liberalization in Southern Africa has produced mixed results for women, often exacerbating inequalities due to a focus on market-based criteria that ignore societal imbalances. It highlights that women dominate the informal economy in sub-Saharan Africa, where they face significant national, institutional, and legal hurdles. The document argues that regional trading arrangements (RTAs) are better suited to women's needs than large export markets and recommends that RTAs formally address informal cross-border trade through supportive institutional measures and a standardized yardstick for gender sensitivity.

The report examines South Africa's energy security, highlighting a critical over-reliance on coal-fired power generated by the state utility Eskom. It argues that this dependency creates a conflict with the country's climate mitigation goals and international commitments. The author identifies structural and institutional barriers—specifically Eskom's market dominance and a lack of coordinated government policy—that hinder the adoption of renewable energy. The report suggests that South Africa must shift from a 'business as usual' fossil-fuel path toward a 'business unusual' approach, leveraging regional hydroelectric and gas potential within the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) to ensure a sustainable and secure energy future.

The paper argues that trade policies are often gender-blind and can reduce the policy space for states to implement pro-gender development strategies. It highlights the critical role of the informal economy, where approximately 70% of traders in sub-Saharan Africa are women, and suggests that regional trade agreements (RTAs) are better suited to women's needs than large global markets. The authors identify institutional and legal hurdles—rather than social traditions—as the primary obstacles to women's business growth. The document recommends the adoption of a 'gender perspective' in trade analysis and the creation of a gender-sensitivity yardstick for RTAs to ensure that trade liberalization does not exacerbate existing inequalities, particularly in the agricultural sector.

The report examines energy security in Southern Africa, focusing on the need to expand electricity generation capacity and diversify away from coal. It identifies the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) as a key mechanism for regional cooperation to exploit vast hydropower potential in countries like the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Mozambique. However, the report notes that urgent short-term power shortages often lead countries, especially South Africa, to rely on quicker, coal-fired solutions, creating a 'lock-in' effect. It argues that for SAPP to succeed, the region must overcome significant regulatory risks, high upfront capital costs for hydropower, and a lack of cost-reflective pricing in national utilities.

The author argues that while information needs for climate adaptation are context-specific, responsive, proactive, and robust planning strategies overlap in their reliance on identifying vulnerabilities, hazards, and risks. The paper details the necessity of integrating historical observations, real-time data, and probabilistic forecasts to manage climate variability and long-term change, while emphasizing that 'no regrets' strategies can improve efficiency but may overlook critical trade-offs. It highlights the importance of participatory approaches and the need to plan for 'surprises'—low-probability, high-impact events—by moving beyond a sole reliance on historical records.

The study analyzes farmer adaptation to climate change in Southern Africa, identifying key drivers of adaptation and recommending policy interventions to improve farmer resilience.

The report examines the complexities of agricultural development in Southern Africa, highlighting the need for increased investment in infrastructure and the potential role of genetically modified organisms and supermarket cold chains. It notes the possibility of investment relocation driven by global climate mitigation policies, while warning of climate protectionism and the direct impacts of climate change. The document also emphasizes the need for transparent terms for foreign land access and the potential of Malawi's input subsidy model.

The report details a seminar on climate risk in Southern Africa, highlighting the vulnerability of agriculture, water, and health sectors. It emphasizes that while the region is least responsible for emissions, it is highly susceptible to climate-induced instability due to weak governance and reliance on rain-fed agriculture. Proposed solutions include multi-sectoral adaptation strategies, improved urban management, and strengthening governance capacities across the SADC region and the broader African continent.

The document identifies a significant gap between Mozambique's agricultural potential and its actual production, attributed to a lack of public investment following Structural Adjustment Programs and a restrictive land ownership regime. While the government has introduced a Green Revolution strategy involving tariff reductions and strategic reserves, the briefing argues that private sector investment is essential, requiring improvements in infrastructure, credit markets, and land tenure transparency.

The paper identifies national-level energy planning as a barrier to energy access in Africa and proposes regional integration to expand market size and diversify energy sources. It specifically critiques the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP) for its 'loose pool' structure and suggests creating a regional energy regulator and a regional bourse to increase transparency, reduce risk, and engage the private sector.

The document examines the intersection of global trade policy and food security in Southern Africa, arguing that reducing dependence on First World agricultural subsidies and improving domestic production capabilities are critical for long-term stability. It analyzes the potential impacts of the WTO Doha Round, specifically regarding preference erosion for African exports and the disciplining of export restrictions. The author highlights the risks posed by biofuel production and the limitations of current trade models in predicting gains for Africa, suggesting that a 'no deal' outcome at the WTO may not be entirely disadvantageous.

The document analyzes the decline of Zimbabwe's agricultural sector and its resulting food insecurity, identifying structural failures, hyperinflation, and land reform as primary drivers. It evaluates domestic support programs and trade policies, concluding that while Zimbabwe has the potential for self-sufficiency, it requires comprehensive reforms in infrastructure, technology, and regional cooperation to overcome current supply-side constraints.