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This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for a shift in how organised crime is perceived and combated in Southern Africa. It advocates for moving away from rigid, narrow definitions toward a business-centric, network-based approach that recognizes the symbiotic relationships between criminal networks, state officials, and legitimate businesses. The author recommends the adoption of a regional protocol to harmonise legal procedures and the use of social network analysis to better disrupt transnational criminal markets.

This policy brief by the Omega Research Foundation, published by the Institute for Security Studies in June 2016, examines the manufacture and trade of electric shock devices in South Africa. It argues that a lack of trade controls on these devices—including stun belts, shields, and batons—facilitates torture and ill-treatment, contradicting South Africa's constitutional and international human rights obligations. The document details the activities of South African companies exporting these devices globally and recommends a comprehensive ban on body-worn and hand-held direct contact electric shock equipment.

This March 2016 issue of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report, published by the Institute for Security Studies, analyzes the effectiveness of the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council. It examines the limited impact of the PSC's open sessions on migration and natural resources, the socio-economic recovery and security challenges in Somalia, and the policy failures regarding the proposed military intervention in Burundi. Additionally, it features an interview with mediator Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah on the AU's capacity to resolve conflicts.

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report Issue 79 analyzes several African security crises, including institutional instability in Guinea-Bissau, the military approach to al-Shabaab in Somalia, contested elections in Chad and the Republic of Congo, and the AU's diplomatic efforts in Burundi. It also features an interview with Ambassador Frederic Ngoga Gateretse on early warning systems and structural conflict prevention.

This October 2015 report from the Institute for Security Studies examines the relationship between the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN), focusing on peacekeeping funding, counter-terrorism efforts, and specific crises in South Sudan, Mali, and Somalia. It also analyzes the risks associated with a series of upcoming elections across the African continent.

This report by Hans Romkema of the Life & Peace Institute analyzes the conflict dynamics in the Kivu provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). It argues that while foreign interventions and refugee influxes have exacerbated the situation, the root causes are grounded in long-term bad governance, disputes over land and customary rights, and ethnic tensions. The author examines the internal divisions within the RCD-G, the structure of the Mayi-Mayi militias, and the challenges of the DDRRR (disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reintegration, and resettlement) process, particularly regarding the FDLR. The report concludes that sustainable peace requires a focus on governance, the unification of the army, and cooperative economic and security relations between the DRC and Rwanda.

The Nairobi Protocol, signed on April 21, 2004, is a regional agreement among eleven states in the Great Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa to prevent, control, and reduce the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW). It establishes comprehensive legal, operational, and administrative frameworks to combat illicit manufacturing and trafficking, regulate civilian and state ownership, and enhance sub-regional cooperation through information sharing and mutual legal assistance.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the fragile peace process in Burundi as of February 2009, focusing on the implementation of the 2006 ceasefire agreement between the government and the PALIPEHUTU-FNL rebels.

This 2002 situation report by the Institute for Security Studies provides a detailed overview of refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) populations across Africa. It defines the legal distinctions between refugees and IDPs, provides statistical data on populations of concern to the UNHCR as of 2000/2001, and analyzes regional trends in displacement driven by conflict, drought, and economic decline.

This report provides three guidance papers to support the curriculum design of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, an initiative of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). It focuses on the leadership roles of policymakers and senior officials, a step-by-step methodology for developing justice sector training curricula, and the use of immersive simulation scenarios for specialized rule of law training.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the design, implementation, and evaluation of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) projects across six countries in West and Central Africa. Based on data from 133 projects, it identifies a significant gap between global policy and local practice, noting that while there is high investment in community-based initiatives, there is a critical lack of evidence-based evaluation and a failure to address the broader structural drivers of extremism.

This August 2016 discussion paper by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Natural Justice proposes a set of draft conservation standards to protect the human rights of indigenous peoples. The authors argue that while international law provides a broad framework, there is a lack of practical, rights-based guidance for conservation actors, leading to documented cases of evictions and abuses in the name of biodiversity protection.

This report by Natural Justice and Kalpavriksh analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks affecting Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ conserved territories and areas (ICCAs). It identifies systemic threats to these areas, including a lack of legal recognition for customary land rights and the imposition of exclusionary conservation models. While noting positive developments in international law and specific national initiatives, the report argues that state institutions often continue to undermine ICCAs through discriminatory legislation and inaccessible judicial systems. It provides comprehensive recommendations for governments and international bodies to recognize the self-determination of Indigenous peoples and support the integrity of ICCAs through both legal reform and non-legal support mechanisms.

The provided text consists of the professional CVs and qualifications of a consultancy team proposed for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of gas exploratory drilling in Blocks L4 and L13 in Lamu County, Kenya. It details the expertise of five specialists: an ESIA specialist, a socio-economist, a hydrologist, an environmental chemist, and a GIS specialist, listing their academic backgrounds, professional affiliations, and extensive project histories in the energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors across East Africa and beyond.

This guide provides an introduction to the social and environmental safeguards and standards associated with REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). It details the frameworks established by the UNFCCC and other international bodies, such as UN-REDD and the World Bank, to mitigate risks to forest-dependent communities and Indigenous peoples while enhancing the social and environmental benefits of carbon-focused forest conservation.

This report by Natural Justice details trends in threats against environmental defenders in Africa from January 2022 to December 2024, based on data from the African Environmental Defenders Fund. It highlights a high prevalence of non-lethal attacks, particularly in East Africa, driven by extractive industries and government interests, and examines the specific gendered violence faced by women defenders.

This report by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) and UNIDO ITPO Germany examines the role of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) in enhancing agricultural productivity and addressing global food system challenges. It identifies key barriers to productivity, such as lack of access to finance and clean energy, and presents 15 case studies from emerging markets demonstrating the application of solar PV, hybrid systems, and biomass technologies for irrigation, cooling, and processing.

This report by ENGIE Energy Access argues that current grant funding for energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa is fragmented, insufficient, and misaligned with market realities. It proposes a strategic roadmap to refocus funding on core household electrification, optimize grant instruments for different market segments, increase the total volume and share of grants in the capital mix, and transition toward coordinated programmatic platforms to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030.

The NREA Toolkit is a comprehensive guide designed by GOGLA and SolarPower Europe to assist in the establishment and management of National Renewable Energy Associations (NREAs). It provides practical frameworks for organizational setup, membership growth, strategic communication, governance, financial sustainability, resource mobilization, and evidence-based policy advocacy to support the growth of the solar energy sector.

This report analyzes the economic status and integration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting significant disparities in GDP growth, business competitiveness, and trade patterns among its 15 member states. It identifies infrastructure deficits, corruption, and regulatory barriers as primary inhibitors to regional growth and trade efficiency.