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This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the maritime security challenges facing Benin in the Gulf of Guinea, focusing on piracy, illegal fishing, and environmental degradation. It examines the resource disparities between Benin's navy and other maritime agencies, the economic impact of insecurity on the port of Cotonou, and the transition from temporary security measures to a sustainable national maritime strategy.

This report, published by Natural Justice and Namati, synthesizes strategies and lessons from a 2013 symposium of 20 expert advocates working to protect community lands and natural resources across Africa. It provides a practitioner-focused guide to confronting threats such as state-driven mega-projects, large-scale land concessions, and exclusionary conservation. The document emphasizes the importance of community self-definition, the use of biocultural community protocols, and the necessity of multi-pronged advocacy strategies that combine legal education, community mobilization, and strategic engagement with government and media.

This 2015 report by Sustainable Energy for All, commissioned by the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), analyzes the intersection of energy access and gender inequality across the 15 ECOWAS Member States. It identifies systemic barriers that prevent women from participating equally in the energy sector and highlights how energy poverty disproportionately affects women and girls due to socially determined gender roles. The document serves as the foundational analysis for the development of the ECOWAS Policy for Gender Mainstreaming in Energy Access, aiming for universal energy access by 2030.

The briefing examines the political vacuum created by the downfall of Burkina Faso's former president Blaise Compaoré in West Africa. Compaoré acted as both a regional peacemaker and a source of instability, playing critical roles in the political crises of Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Mali, as well as in Western hostage negotiations in the Sahel. The document suggests that while his personal networks are irreplaceable, his departure provides an opportunity for ECOWAS to strengthen its institutional role in conflict resolution.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the political deadlock in Togo ahead of the 2015 presidential elections. It details the failure of political dialogues to implement the 2006 Global Political Agreement, the fragmentation of the opposition, and the perceived lack of neutrality in electoral institutions. The document also examines socio-economic tensions, including youth unemployment and land disputes, and the role of the international community in attempting to mediate the crisis.

This policy briefing analyzes the decline of Nigeria's regional and continental diplomatic influence, arguing that a 'perverse hiatus' between its domestic instability and its foreign policy goals has led the country to punch below its weight despite being Africa's nominally largest economy as of May 2014.

This research paper by Ivan Crouzel, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in August 2014, examines the relationship between electoral processes and political instability in Africa. It argues that elections often become critical moments of tension because they are primarily viewed as a means of accessing state resources. The author advocates for a shift from purely technical electoral support to a broader approach based on inclusive political settlements, multi-actor dialogue, and the strengthening of credible electoral management bodies and domestic observation networks to ensure legitimacy and peace.

This research paper by Ivan Crouzel for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the relationship between electoral processes and political instability in Africa. It argues that elections often crystallise tensions because they are viewed as the primary means of accessing state-owned resources, leading to acute competition in fragile regimes. The author contends that technical electoral support is insufficient and must be replaced by a broader democratic governance approach that prioritises inclusive political agreements, credible election management bodies (EMBs), and multi-stakeholder conflict prevention mechanisms.

This research paper by Khabele Matlosa examines the evolution of democratic governance in Africa, focusing on the relationship between the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG). It analyzes the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU), the challenges of implementing governance reviews and National Programmes of Action (NPoAs), and proposes strategic imperatives to enhance synergy between the AU's governance and peace architectures.

A research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzing the risk of political crisis in Togo due to the failure to implement electoral reforms proposed in the 2006 Global Political Agreement (GPA) ahead of 2013 and 2015 elections.

This case study examines the challenges and mechanisms for financing infrastructure in Africa, with a specific focus on the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It analyzes the shift from official development assistance and commercial bank lending toward alternative funding modalities, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), infrastructure bonds, sovereign wealth funds, and diaspora-led financing, to meet the massive capital requirements of regional development plans.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of African states in the international nuclear security agenda, specifically in the context of the Nuclear Security Summit process and the 2013 IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Security. It argues for increased African engagement and cooperation to balance the peaceful use of nuclear technology with security requirements.

This briefing is a concept note for a conference titled "The APRM +10: Reviewing a Decade of Peer Learning and Projecting a Future of Governance in Africa," scheduled for May 17–18, 2013, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event aims to bring together African civil society organisations (CSOs) and governance structures to appraise the first ten years of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and plan for its second decade.

This report documents a series of workshops organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) between 2008 and 2011. The workshops focused on the intersection of Internet policy, governance, and sustainable development, exploring how technical and policy decisions regarding the Internet impact social, economic, and environmental goals.

The 'Toolkit on Internet Public Policy Dialogue' is a guide published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in September 2012. It provides policy practitioners with a structured, multistakeholder approach to gathering evidence and securing public consent for Internet and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policies. The toolkit emphasizes 'adaptive policy making' to respond to the rapidly evolving technological landscape and provides eight specific tools—ranging from expert roundtables and policy mapping to online surveys and public forums—to facilitate inclusive dialogue across government, private sector, civil society, and academia.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the process of establishing a multistakeholder Internet public policy dialogue in Togo. It details the country's ICT landscape, the methodology used for public consultations between 2010 and 2011, and the resulting policy needs, emphasizing the gap between infrastructure growth and the lack of formal national ICT policy.

This research paper proposes and applies a rapid screening methodology to evaluate the potential of National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAFSIPs) in 14 African countries to generate climate change benefits across adaptation and mitigation.

This research paper analyzes the strategic challenges and opportunities facing South Africa during its second year as a member of the UN Security Council, focusing on its efforts to lead the African agenda and manage relations with other African states.

This 2012 guide by the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive reference for African State representatives negotiating the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) at the United Nations. It details the proposed scope of the treaty, including categories of conventional arms and types of international transactions, and outlines the criteria for authorizing arms transfers, such as risks to peace, security, and human rights. The toolkit also examines implementation requirements, including national authority systems, record-keeping, reporting, and the potential role of an Implementation Support Unit, while highlighting existing African regional and subregional obligations.

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.