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The Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) Toolkit by Natural Justice is a guide for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Southern Africa to manage the use of their biological resources and Traditional Knowledge. It explains the ABS process, where users (industry or researchers) obtain consent from providers (communities) to use resources in exchange for monetary or non-monetary benefits. The document emphasizes the use of Biocultural Community Protocols (BCPs) to establish community rules and rights, and details the legal frameworks governing these processes, including the international Nagoya Protocol and South Africa's National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEMBA). It also addresses the role of intellectual property rights, the importance of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the necessity of sustainable resource stewardship to prevent biopiracy and biodiversity loss.

This research paper by Jodie Keane explores the nature of intra-Commonwealth value chains using a mixed-methods approach. It analyzes trade intensity, shifts in intermediate goods sourcing, and firm-level data to determine how Commonwealth members integrate into regional versus global value chains (GVCs). The findings suggest a prevalence of additive value chains and a specific tendency for Small Island Developing States to export within the Commonwealth.

The document examines the lack of progress in implementing the SADC univisa, despite the 1998 Protocol on the Development of Tourism. It identifies a conflict between economic goals—where tourism contributes 5.8% to SADC's GDP—and security concerns held by home affairs and security agencies. While a pilot group of countries (including South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe) has worked on harmonisation, political will remains low. The study suggests using the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA pilot as a model to overcome bureaucratic resistance.

The document analyzes the inefficiencies of national customs bond systems in Southern Africa, where transporters must purchase separate bonds for every border crossed, increasing costs and delays. It evaluates the regional transit bond (RTB) initiatives of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), noting that both suffer from poor implementation and a lack of stakeholder awareness. By comparing these to the successful Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) system, the study argues that a participatory management structure involving the private sector and financial institutions is essential for the successful deployment of a regional system, particularly in anticipation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).

The document reports on a November 2008 conference regarding regional integration in southern Africa. It argues that while EPAs have contributed to the fragmentation of regional economic bodies, they have also forced a necessary debate on the inefficiency of overlapping memberships in regional economic communities (RECs). The report notes a shift in preference away from linear integration models (like customs unions) toward simpler free trade agreements (FTAs) and infrastructure development. It specifically examines the roles of SADC, COMESA, and the EAC, as well as the Tripartite Alliance and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

The workshop report examines the challenges of regional integration in Southern Africa, noting that the linear European model of integration may not suit African contexts. Key obstacles identified include overlapping memberships in regional economic communities (RECs), the dominance of larger economies like South Africa, Egypt, and Kenya, and a heavy reliance on external donor funding. The report highlights the potential of the Tripartite FTA to resolve fragmentation and calls for a cost-benefit analysis of integration to align regional priorities with national interests.

The document outlines predictable trends and critical unknowns for the Southern African region, noting a decline in solar energy costs and increasing climate vulnerability, while questioning the pace of EV adoption, infrastructure availability, and the role of South Africa's auto-manufacturing protections.

The report argues that mine action in Southern Africa should transition from being treated as a technical 'special initiative' to a core development activity. It recommends that national governments take greater political ownership, establish clear communication frameworks with donors, and utilize local technical expertise. The author emphasizes the need for socio-economic impact assessments to prioritize resources and suggests that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) play a more prominent political role in international forums to secure continued support for the region.

This case study, produced by the SADC Secretariat and GIZ, examines the business constraints faced by Rice Milling Company (Pvt.) Limited (RMC), a Malawi-based firm that processes rice, milk powder, and salt for local and regional markets. The document details how government regulations, infrastructure deficiencies, and skill shortages hinder RMC's export capabilities and operational efficiency within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The document argues that marine and coastal ecosystems in Africa are under severe threat from climate change, including sea level rise and tropical storms, but can support community adaptation if protected and restored. It defines Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) as the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to enhance resilience to climate shocks. The statement provides eight key recommendations for COP27, focusing on incorporating EbA into Nationally Determined Contributions, securing innovative financing, improving community-led governance, and promoting nature-based solutions in coastal cities.

The document analyzes the role of renewable energy in the Southern African mining sector, highlighting how energy instability and the high cost of diesel generators drive mining firms toward hybrid and private renewable solutions. While South Africa faces challenges from a reliance on coal and potential 'bridging' fuels like shale gas and nuclear power, the declining cost of solar and wind technologies, supported by the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPPP), offers a viable path to reduce operating costs and increase energy security.

The report examines the systemic and internal obstacles facing opposition political parties in southern Africa, highlighting how dominant-party systems, state repression, and internal fragmentation undermine democratic accountability. It analyzes specific country cases—including Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa, Mauritius, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe—to illustrate the 'politics of incumbency' and the critical need for opposition parties to engage with civil society and reform internal governance to achieve democratic consolidation.

Zanele Twala, Country Director of ActionAid International South Africa, provides feedback on the South African APRM Monitoring Project (AMP) report. She argues that the APRM should be a tool for continuous analysis of democracy and good governance rather than a technical compliance exercise. Twala expresses concern over the polarization of civil society participation between elite think tanks and grassroots organizations. Regarding the report's findings, she supports the 'Red' rating for corruption, citing a lack of whistleblower protection legislation, and argues that basic education should have received a 'Red' rating due to a national crisis. She also notes a loss of momentum in the APRM process following the transition from President Thabo Mbeki to President Zuma and highlights threats to democracy, including the Protection of Information Bill and deteriorating government-media relations.

The document advocates for the use of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to help African coastal and island communities adapt to climate change impacts such as sea level rise and tropical storms. It provides a set of nine key recommendations for SADC stakeholders to integrate EbA into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), align biodiversity and ocean policies, and ensure the inclusion of local communities and gender equity in project design. The statement emphasizes the need for a regional SADC EbA strategy and a resource mobilisation plan to support sustainable investments across the region.

The EcoSanRes Programme, managed by the Stockholm Environment Institute from 2001 to 2010, focuses on developing sustainable sanitation systems that recycle organic waste for crop production. The programme operates through a network of regional knowledge nodes and international collaborations, such as the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance, to build capacity, conduct evidence-based research, and promote pro-poor sanitation solutions in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

The report argues that environmental improvements can enhance competitiveness and proposes a strategy for a European eco-efficient economy based on resource efficiency, new technology markets, and stable global carbon pricing. It emphasizes the need for integrated governance, support for SMEs, and international cooperation to prevent carbon leakage and drive global climate action.

The document discusses the role of 'pans'—shallow, temporary wetlands—in supporting wildlife movement and community water access in southern Africa. It highlights how climate change and land degradation are reducing water availability, leading to increased competition between humans and animals. The text argues that restoring these pans by removing sediment and reestablishing vegetation can maintain natural wildlife corridors and, when combined with separate water supplies for people, mitigate conflict.