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This case study examines the regulatory barriers hindering the development of a regional fuel ethanol market within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), focusing on sugarcane as a primary feedstock.

This case study examines the lack of progress in implementing a SADC Univisa, a regional visa intended to boost tourism and business travel in Southern Africa. Despite a 1998 protocol and the potential for 3-5% annual growth in tourism, implementation is hindered by security concerns, bureaucratic inertia, and conflicting interests between economic ministries and security agencies. The document highlights the disparity in visa openness compared to East Africa and suggests using the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA pilot as a model for broader regional adoption.

This case study examines the non-tariff barriers and systemic inefficiencies at the Beit Bridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe. It details how inadequate infrastructure, IT failures, corruption, and bureaucratic redundancies cause significant delays for commercial trucks, increasing transport costs and consumer prices for goods such as fuel and sugar.

This 2012 case study examines the operational challenges faced by Aluminium Africa Limited (ALAF), a Tanzania-based aluminium and steel manufacturer. ALAF reports significant barriers to regional trade within the SADC area, including inadequate energy infrastructure (marked by power rationing and cost increases), inefficient border controls and port services in Tanzania, and regulatory uncertainty. The company also highlights difficulties in accessing skilled labour and foreign currency in markets like Malawi. While ALAF has invested in backup power and lobbied via the Confederation of Tanzania Industries, it notes a lack of tangible government action to resolve these systemic constraints.

This research paper by Amanda Lucey argues for the integration of peace and security into the discourse of South-South Cooperation (SSC), specifically in the context of the BAPA+40 conference. The author contends that while the original 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) focused on economic and social development, the contemporary African reality necessitates a holistic approach where peace and development are viewed as mutually reinforcing.

This policy brief examines the adaptation and integration of Chinese immigrants in Zambia, challenging the narrative of 'Chinese self-isolation' through survey data and comparative analysis. It argues that perceived isolation is often a result of workplace requirements rather than ethnocentricity and recommends that African governments and Chinese entities improve localization efforts.

This policy brief examines the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into Africa, focusing on the shift from resource trade to infrastructure and industrial cooperation. It highlights the opportunities for regional integration and industrialization, while warning of the financial risks associated with debt-based lending and the need for African governments to ensure project viability and local capacity building.

This 2018 policy brief by the SAIS China-Africa Research Initiative analyzes the nature of Chinese manufacturing investments in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Based on fieldwork from 2014 to 2016, the authors identify four distinct types of Chinese firms—categorized as 'geese'—investing in African manufacturing, ranging from large global supply chain actors to small opportunistic clusters. The report examines the impact of these investments on local value addition, technology transfer, labor relations, and the environment.

This policy brief examines the impact of Chinese investments in Tanzania's plastic recycling industry and the subsequent effects of China's 2018 import ban on waste materials. It highlights how Chinese firms have facilitated technology transfer and local business growth, while also noting significant environmental and health risks and a potential decline in local waste sourcing due to the import of cleaner waste from Europe and the US.

This research paper analyzes the impact of Chinese Development Lending (CDL) and World Bank Development Lending (WBDL) on the participation of 35 African countries in global value chains (GVCs) between 2000 and 2018. The author finds that while Chinese loans increase the overall intensity of GVC participation—primarily through infrastructure investments in transport and communications—World Bank loans are more effective at helping countries move toward higher value-added, upstream positions in production networks due to their focus on social sectors like education and health.

This research paper examines the expanding diplomatic and economic relationship between China and Africa, highlighting a shift from aid-driven engagement to a commercial partnership dominated by trade and investment. While noting the potential for African economic growth and infrastructure development, the document also addresses concerns regarding debt sustainability, the impact of cheap imports on local industries, and the lack of transparency in Chinese lending.

This research paper analyzes the macroeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Senegal and evaluates the fiscal and monetary policy responses implemented to mitigate economic decline. It provides a historical overview of Senegal's economic crises and structural adjustments from the 1970s through 2019 to establish a baseline for the pandemic's effects.

This report synthesises case studies from six sub-Saharan African countries to analyse government macroeconomic policy responses to the trade and employment shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It evaluates these responses against long-term goals of social inclusivity and climate resilience, while proposing strategies for recovery and debt management between 2021 and 2026.

This policy briefing, produced as part of the COVID-19 Macroeconomic Policy Response in Africa (CoMPRA) project, analyzes Tanzania's macroeconomic policy development and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It details the fiscal and monetary measures implemented by the government and the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) to avoid recession, the economic impacts of the pandemic on GDP and trade, and provides recommendations for future financial stability, social protection, and climate resilience.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of Tanzania's post-COVID-19 recovery strategies and its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). It argues that the COVID-19 response provides a critical window to integrate climate resilience into macroeconomic policy, particularly through 'green recovery' paths in agriculture, health, tourism, and water sectors. The paper highlights significant financing gaps, noting that the NDC requires $14.2 billion, with a heavy reliance on international development partners, and suggests innovative financing and public-private partnerships to bridge these gaps.

This report details Austria's diplomatic, trade, and development relations with Africa, particularly in the context of its 2006 European Union Council presidency. It outlines Austria's strategic focus on North Africa via the European Neighbourhood Partnership, its limited trade with the continent compared to the EU, and its targeted development assistance in East and Southern Africa.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines Germany's evolving foreign policy and economic relations with Africa, with a specific focus on its 'strategic partnership' with South Africa. It details the transition from Cold War-era ideological instrumentalisation to a post-2000 policy of concentrated bilateral aid and partnerships for reform, while contextualising these efforts within Germany's own domestic economic challenges and its role within the European Union.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the intersection between the G-20's global economic governance agenda and the development priorities of Africa, specifically as outlined in the African Union's Agenda 2063. It evaluates progress since 2010 in areas such as infrastructure financing and regional integration, noting that while the G-20 has mainstreamed development issues, African representation remains limited to South Africa as a permanent member.

This research paper by Professor Awadi Sadiki Mawenya, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in August 2008, examines the nature, causes, and economic impact of corruption within public procurement in Africa. It argues that corruption is a primary driver of poverty on the continent and proposes a holistic strategy for mitigation involving political will, legal frameworks, transparency, and the engagement of non-governmental actors.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) advocates for the scaling of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in the marine and coastal environments of Southern Africa. It highlights the vulnerability of SADC coastal communities to climate risks and identifies key barriers to EbA implementation, including policy silos, funding gaps, and lack of community inclusion. The document proposes the creation of a regional community of practice and a coordinated SADC strategy to enhance climate resilience and biodiversity conservation.