Search Climate Insights Directory

A case study examining the risks associated with natural gas development in Mozambique and Tanzania within the context of a global low-carbon energy transition.

This policy brief, produced as part of the 'Youth and Social Justice Futures: Identifying Future Skills and Training in Africa' project, outlines strategic recommendations for Malawi to improve youth empowerment, education, mental health, and disaster resilience. The document is based on participatory action research using Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizons Framework, incorporating the perspectives of Malawian youth to envision inclusive and resilient future pathways.

This policy brief, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs as part of the 'Youth and Social Justice Futures' project, outlines strategic priorities to empower Tanzanian youth. Based on foresight workshops using Youth Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizons Framework, the document advocates for technological integration, unrestricted access to information, and comprehensive employment policy reforms to address challenges such as educational exclusion, outdated curricula, and limited youth representation in decision-making.

This policy brief, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs as part of the 'Youth and Social Justice Futures' project, advocates for the integration of Zambian youth into the nation's socio-economic development. Based on workshops using Futures Literacy Labs and the Three Horizon Framework, the document identifies critical gaps in youth employment, political representation, education, and technological access. It proposes four strategic priorities: increasing youth representation in civic and public institutions, enhancing climate-resilient agriculture through agri-tech, reforming education to prioritize practical skills and entrepreneurship, and ensuring equitable internet connectivity.

This report by FSD Africa evaluates the Africa Regulatory Support Programme (ARSP), which provided technical assistance to capital markets regulators across Africa from September 2018 to March 2023. The document outlines key lessons from interventions in eight countries and three regional blocs, emphasizing the need to balance international best practices with local context, the challenges of regulatory and market capacity, and the importance of sequencing and clustering interventions for maximum impact.

This feasibility study by FSD Africa explores a mechanism to transfer non-sovereign asset portfolios from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to domestic institutional investors in Africa using a local currency solution. The goal is to free up MDB capital for new investments while deepening local capital markets and reducing foreign exchange risks for borrowers. The study focuses on seven markets in East and West Africa and proposes the creation of a permanent investment vehicle (SPV) managed by a professional Fund Manager to facilitate these transfers.

This briefing note by the Global Resilience Partnership and Transitions Research examines the landscape of urban resilience solutions in informal contexts across the Global South. Based on a review of approximately 130 solutions, the report identifies a significant gap in urban climate investment—where only 1.2% of urban climate finance flows to adaptation and resilience—and highlights that most non-governmental solutions are still in early development stages. It provides recommendations for municipalities, funders, and policymakers to scale these innovations through better coordination, hybrid financing, and the integration of informal settlements into city planning.

The INVESTING IN RESILIENCE Project Portfolio 2024 outlines the activities of the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), which identifies and scales locally-led resilience innovations in the Global South through challenge fund competitions. The document highlights several active projects focusing on climate adaptation, food security, and sustainable finance across Africa, Asia, and South America, while detailing the funding requirements needed to scale these initiatives.

This policy brief by the Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA) advocates for the integration of Gender Transformative Approaches (GTAs) into policies and programs across Southern Africa to build equitable and resilient livelihoods. It argues that traditional gender mainstreaming fails to address the root causes of inequality, such as entrenched social norms, and proposes a shift toward GTAs that challenge and change these structures to enhance community and ecosystem resilience against climate change and food insecurity.

The Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge is a joint initiative by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) and Shockwave Foundation to identify and scale innovative, nature-positive agricultural solutions in East Africa. The program provides selected winners with mentoring, leadership training, and connections to private investors to transform seed-level ideas into sustainable, funding-ready businesses.

The Resilient Agriculture Innovations for Nature (RAIN) Challenge is an initiative by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) and Munich Re Foundation to identify and scale nature-positive agricultural innovations in East Africa. The program provides selected not-for-profit organizations with mentoring, leadership training, and communications support to transform seed-level ideas into sustainable business models attractive to private investors.

The December 2023/January 2024 edition of the Peace & Security Council Report evaluates the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) performance in 2023, highlighting a trend toward discussing thematic issues over sensitive country crises. It examines the challenges of consensus-based decision-making, the upcoming 2024 AU chairship and PSC membership elections, and the potential impact of the UN's New Agenda for Peace on African security architecture.

This research paper identifies three priority policy measures to transform food systems and improve nutritional outcomes while adapting to climate change, based on reviews of several countries in Eastern and Southern Africa.

This briefing note by the Institute for Security Studies examines the outlook for natural gas in Africa up to 2043, highlighting the tension between significant proven reserves and a global market facing slowing demand and potential supply gluts.

This background note from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes Africa's energy export and import trends under a 'Current Path' forecast up to 2043, highlighting the contrast between a few major energy exporters and a majority of countries dependent on imports.

This briefing note examines the current state and projected future of hydropower in Africa up to 2043. It highlights the gap between the continent's vast untapped potential and its current installed capacity, while detailing specific large-scale projects in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and the DR Congo.

This report by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the role of smallholder farmers in global food security, their productivity, and their adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. It highlights that small-scale farms, particularly those between two and five hectares, produce a significant portion of the world's food and often exhibit higher land productivity and biodiversity than larger farms. The document emphasizes the importance of integrating smallholders into modern agrifood supply chains and providing financial resources to scale climate-smart agricultural practices, especially in Africa.

This research paper by FSD Africa analyzes the integration of gender strategies within the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of 31 African countries. Using the IUCN's Environment and Gender Information (EGI) framework, the study finds that while most African NDCs mention gender, there is a significant lack of gender analysis, sex-disaggregated data, and gender-responsive budgeting. The paper highlights a disconnect between the mobilization of climate finance and gender intentionality, noting that countries with high funding levels often fail to prioritize gender-responsive budgets.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the integration of the ocean-climate nexus within the UNFCCC process, evaluating progress from the 'Ocean Super Year' of 2022 through COP27 and looking toward COP28. It emphasizes the need for African stakeholders to shift the global dialogue from negotiation to concrete implementation, leveraging regional initiatives and policy frameworks to drive ambitious ocean-climate action.

This report examines the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on MEFMI member states in sub-Saharan Africa, detailing how public health measures and external shocks led to GDP declines and increased fiscal pressure.