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Between 20–22 June 2026, the Gulf of Guinea coast experienced severe flooding following intense rainfall, with over 140 mm falling in less than 24 hours in some areas. The event caused significant fatalities in Côte d’Ivoire (59 since May), Ghana (at least 34), and Togo (five). An attribution study found that observed 3-day rainfall intensity in the region has increased by approximately 23% since records began, making such events about five times more likely in the current climate (1.4°C warmer than pre-industrial levels) than in a cooler climate. While climate models support the trend of increasing precipitation, they systematically underestimate the observed increase, with models showing only a 4% increase in intensity. The study highlights that rapid urbanisation, the expansion of settlements into floodplains, and sea level rise exceeding the global average have compounded flood risks. Under a future warming scenario of 2.8°C, these heavy rainfall events are expected to become common occurrences.

The report projects Togo's development to 2043, highlighting a transition toward solar energy and urbanisation, while noting that population growth may outpace poverty reduction on the current path. It assesses how targeted improvements in agriculture, trade, and governance could significantly boost GDP per capita and reduce extreme poverty, though such growth is linked to increased carbon emissions.

The document outlines Rwanda's transition from a low-income country to its aspirations for high-income status by 2050. It details the 'Vision 2050' strategic plan, which focuses on human development, competitiveness, agriculture, urbanisation, and state institutions. While Rwanda has seen significant GDP growth—averaging 7.2% from 2009 to 2019—it faces structural challenges including high inflation, rising external debt, and a large informal sector. The report also notes the role of the Rwanda Energy Group and the use of Lake Kivu for biogas extraction to meet energy needs.

The document outlines a hypothetical 'Governance scenario' for Africa, defined by reductions in state failure and corruption, and improvements in democracy and gender empowerment. It argues that such improvements would lead to a significantly larger African economy by 2043, with substantial gains in GDP per capita and a reduction of 45.5 million people living in extreme poverty. The analysis highlights the role of digital technology in implementing efficient cash grant programs as a tool for inclusion, citing Egypt's Takaful and Karama program as an example.

The Combined Agenda 2063 scenario for Togo projects a significant increase in GDP per capita to US$5,969 by 2043, nearly doubling the overall economy to US$51 billion compared to the Current Path. While the scenario predicts a substantial reduction in extreme poverty—lifting an additional 3 million people—it also forecasts an increase in carbon emissions to 5 million tons by 2043. Agriculture and Free Trade are identified as the sectors with the highest potential for improving economic development.

The report analyzes Ghana's socio-economic landscape, projecting its development to 2043. It highlights a strong growth potential driven by natural resources but warns of persistent poverty, high public debt, and corruption. The analysis compares a 'Current Path' with several targeted scenarios—including Governance, Manufacturing, and AfCFTA—demonstrating that integrated policy interventions in education, health, and industrialization could significantly increase GDP per capita and reduce extreme poverty. It also addresses critical challenges such as the 'galamsey' illegal mining crisis affecting water and forests, and the need for a transition toward renewable energy to mitigate rising carbon emissions.

The document describes Burkina Faso as a landlocked West African nation facing severe political instability, characterized by six coups and ongoing jihadi violence. It highlights the country's status as the most affected by terrorism globally in 2023, resulting in millions of internally displaced persons and significant disruptions to health and education. Economically, the nation relies on subsistence farming and gold mining, while its geopolitical alignment has shifted toward Russia and the Confederation of Sahel States following its withdrawal from ECOWAS.

The report forecasts Benin's development to 2043, predicting a population increase to 21.2 million and GDP growth to US$66.3 billion under the Current Path. While GDP per capita is expected to rise to US$4,685, absolute poverty is projected to increase to 11 million people. Sectoral scenarios suggest that Free Trade and Leapfrogging have the highest potential for economic growth, while the Combined Agenda 2063 scenario could double the economy to US$117.2 billion but would increase carbon emissions to 10.1 million tons.

The document introduces ECOWAS as a regional economic community established in 1975 to promote economic integration and stability in West Africa. While it has achieved some success in facilitating free movement for citizens, the bloc currently faces significant threats from terrorism, climate change in the Sahel, and infrastructure deficits. The document highlights a critical geopolitical crisis where Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have announced their intention to exit the bloc by January 2025, citing sanctions and a failure to combat insecurity.

The document serves as a formal disclosure of environmental and social safeguard documents for a GCF-funded project in Togo. It identifies the project as 'Category B' and lists the specific locations and dates where the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), and Local Communities Plan (LCP) were made available to stakeholders across the Maritime, Centrale, Kara, and Savanes regions.

The report argues that public development banks (PDBs)—including national, regional, and multilateral institutions—are uniquely positioned to overcome structural and market barriers to climate risk insurance in EMDEs. It identifies key barriers such as data gaps, underdeveloped local capital bases, and fragmented regulatory frameworks. The document proposes a tiered approach where National Development Banks (NDBs) focus on local market development and project pipelines, Regional Development Banks (RDBs) coordinate risk pooling and shared data infrastructure, and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) provide catalytic capital and credit enhancement. Key recommendations include the use of targeted premium subsidies with sunset clauses, the bundling of insurance with loans, and the creation of regulatory sandboxes to foster innovation in parametric insurance.

The 'Enhancing Women’s Land Tenure through Shea Tree Mapping' project uses geo-tagging to record shea trees and link them to women producers in Ghana, Togo, and Benin. This digital visibility addresses the lack of formal proof of assets, which has historically hindered women's access to financial services for productive equipment like motorised tricycles. By mapping over 16,000 trees and 3,500 producers, the initiative aims to transition informal women's co-operatives into recognized enterprises and protect shea parklands.

The report examines the 'electrotech fast-track' for 74 Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) nations, arguing that rapid cost declines in solar, batteries, and electric end-use technologies allow these countries to bypass the 'fossil detour'. It highlights that 46% of CVF nations, by electricity demand, have already surpassed the US in solar penetration. The document details how solar is now less capital-intensive than fossil fuels and how decentralized solar-battery systems are becoming cheaper than grid extension for remote areas. It further argues that transitioning to electrotech reduces the $155 billion annual fossil fuel import drain and leverages CVF nations' strategic assets in critical minerals and manufacturing to gain geopolitical influence.

The report finds that tax incentives are a primary feature of investment laws in EMDEs, often driven by investment promotion agencies (IPAs) with limited involvement from ministries of finance (MoFs). This institutional disconnect leads to fragmented governance, revenue losses, and increased exposure to investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims. While some countries are moving toward centralizing incentives under unified legal frameworks, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms remain limited and disconnected from policy-making.

The report analyzes 105 national investment laws in EMDEs, finding that 67.6% explicitly provide incentives, with tax incentives being the most dominant. It highlights a systemic gap in coordination between Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), which typically lead the design and administration of these laws, and Ministries of Finance (MFs), which are often marginalized in the legal text. This fragmentation leads to risks of revenue loss, inefficient resource allocation, and exposure to Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) claims. The document notes a trend toward centralizing tax incentives into unified legal frameworks to improve transparency and fiscal discipline, as seen in Ghana and Honduras.

The evaluation concludes that the SAP has become operationally ineffective, failing to deliver on its promises of simplification and acceleration. While it has provided unintended value as a 'stepping-stone' for Direct Access Entities (DAEs) to build institutional capacity, it is now virtually indistinguishable from the standard Project Approval Process (PAP). The report recommends discontinuing the SAP in its current form and replacing it with a new, integrated access modality featuring delegated authority and a focus on replicating proven interventions rather than piloting new ideas.

The paper argues that while West Africa possesses over 300 Tcf of proven gas reserves, regional prosperity is hindered by regulatory fragmentation, bilateral financing that bypasses regional coordination, and global decarbonization risks. It recommends the adoption of a binding regional gas code, the creation of a 5 billion USD Gas Infrastructure Development Fund, and the establishment of a West African Gas Task Force to align national and external investments with a 10-year regional roadmap.

The research paper examines the increasing role of GCC countries—primarily the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—as major investors in Africa's energy transition and infrastructure. It identifies food security and economic diversification away from hydrocarbons as the primary drivers for Gulf states. While highlighting significant projects in renewable energy and mining, the paper warns that the current focus on large-scale, export-oriented developments may sideline local community needs and climate adaptation priorities unless African policymakers actively steer investments toward local beneficiation and regional integration.

The handbook traces G20 engagements with Africa from 2008 to 2025, noting a transition from ad hoc initiatives to structured partnerships, culminating in the African Union's permanent membership in 2023. While identifying successes in rural youth employment and financial inclusion, it highlights persistent implementation gaps in infrastructure and climate finance. The document maps G20 outcomes against AU Agenda 2063, finding strong alignment with economic integration but gaps in peace and institutional capacity. It also details South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency priorities, focusing on solidarity, equality, and sustainability through specific task forces on inclusive growth, food security, and AI.

Nigeria holds 33 percent of Africa's gas reserves and is implementing the 'Decade of Gas' (2021-2030) to transition toward a gas-powered economy. While the country is a top global LNG exporter, it faces significant internal challenges, including high gas flaring (188 Bcf in 2022), inadequate pipeline infrastructure, and poor payment discipline in the power sector. The document argues that natural gas can serve as a bridge fuel toward Nigeria's net-zero 2060 goal and a catalyst for African industrialization in sectors like fertilizers and petrochemicals. However, the global energy transition is leading International Oil Companies (IOCs) to divest from onshore assets, and geopolitical instability—specifically Niger's 2023 coup—threatens major cross-border projects like the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.