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The German government's announced 'paradigm shift' in migration policy aims to transform Germany into a modern immigration country by attracting skilled workers while curbing irregular migration. However, the analysis suggests that this shift is limited in practice, as legal pathways for African migrants remain constrained by strict qualification requirements and are likely to be conditioned on increased cooperation in the repatriation of individuals without residency rights. The document highlights a contradiction between the goal of new partnerships and proposals to outsource asylum procedures to North Africa, while noting that Germany's economic need for approximately 400,000 immigrants annually drives its interest in diversifying labor sources toward Africa.

The document analyzes Germany's attempt to transition toward a modern immigration country by easing access for qualified workers, particularly from Africa, to address domestic labor shortages of approximately 400,000 immigrants per year. However, the authors argue this shift is undermined by a continued focus on 'return offensives' and the potential externalization of asylum processing. The paper highlights that structural barriers—such as strict skills recognition and limited consular capacity in countries like Ghana and Nigeria—persist, while the linking of legal pathways to readmission cooperation creates tension with West and Central African partners. It also notes a new, though potentially fragmented, focus on the nexus between climate change and migration.

Tunisia faces stagnant economic growth, high youth unemployment, and a large informal sector despite strong human capital. The report identifies a 'Current Path' of slow growth and vulnerability to food price shocks and climate change, while proposing three alternative scenarios. These scenarios emphasize that improving governance, reducing inefficient subsidies, and enhancing education quality are foundational to any successful transition. The 'Sustainability & Equality' pathway is highlighted as the most effective for reducing extreme poverty and carbon emissions, while 'Going for Growth' offers the highest GDP increase through FDI and industrial promotion.

The report evaluates three development scenarios for Tunisia—'Going for Growth', 'Leapfrogging', and 'Sustainability & Equality'—against a baseline 'Current Path' for 2040. All three scenarios are projected to increase GDP and reduce extreme poverty, with 'Going for Growth' offering the highest GDP boost (30%) and 'Sustainability & Equality' providing the most significant reductions in extreme poverty, inequality, and carbon emissions. However, the report highlights critical trade-offs: 'Going for Growth' and 'Leapfrogging' are expected to increase carbon emissions and leave the country vulnerable to international food price shocks, while all scenarios must contend with increasing industrial, municipal, and agricultural water demand in a water-stressed environment.

Tunisia has achieved high adult literacy and education levels, ranking ninth in Africa for average years of education. However, the system faces significant bottlenecks in upper secondary completion due to language policies requiring French for science subjects. Quality is declining, evidenced by falling PISA scores and a drop in baccalaureate pass rates from 52% in 2016 to 41% in 2018. There are also stark geographical disparities, with resources concentrated in Greater Tunis and coastal areas, leaving rural regions like Kairouan underserved. The report argues that the curriculum is disconnected from job market needs, contributing to economic instability and the historical drivers of the Freedom and Dignity Revolution.

The document analyzes poverty trends in Tunisia, noting that while extreme poverty (US$1.90/day) is largely eliminated, poverty measured at higher thresholds is projected to increase until 2030. It highlights significant disparities in rural areas and among children, and argues that inefficient energy subsidies threaten fiscal sustainability, suggesting a shift toward targeted social assistance and universal child allowances.

The report examines Tunisia's agricultural sector, highlighting low crop yields, high food dependence, and significant crop waste. It argues that state intervention has prioritised food security over agricultural development, hindering productivity. Furthermore, it details the severe threats posed by climate change, including rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and reduced agricultural output, which threaten the country's economy, infrastructure, and public health.

The report analyzes Tunisia's demographic transition, noting a decline in fertility rates and an aging population. While the country experienced a peak demographic dividend in 2011, an opaque economic system has prevented these human capital gains from translating into income growth and formal employment. The report warns that a shrinking youth bulge may reduce social unrest, but an aging population will increase healthcare costs for non-communicable diseases.

A collaborative study by international scientists found that the extreme heatwave in the Western Mediterranean from 26-28 April 2023 was likely made at least 100 times more probable by human-induced climate change. The event, which saw temperatures up to 20 degrees higher than normal and broke national records in Spain and Portugal, would have been at least 2°C cooler in a world 1.2°C colder. The researchers note that climate models likely underestimate the increase in extreme heat in Western Europe, suggesting their findings are conservative.

The document analyzes Turkey's 'niche diplomacy' in Africa, focusing on its 'Ankara consensus' for development aid, its growing role as an arms exporter (particularly drones), and its trade relations. It highlights a distinction between North African and Sub-Saharan African perceptions of Turkey, noting that while Turkey is seen as a non-colonial partner, its overall trade and aid volumes remain modest compared to major global powers. The brief suggests that Turkey's influence is currently driven more by its status as a rising donor than as a primary trading partner.

The SRMI-Resilience program aims to deploy 2.16 GW of renewable energy and reduce GHG emissions by 55.01 million tons of CO2eq across Ethiopia, Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Seychelles, Somalia, Tajikistan, and Tunisia. The initiative combines technical assistance, public investments in grid resilience, and risk mitigation instruments to unlock an estimated USD 1.8 billion in private investment. Key adaptation goals include providing 3.2 million people with electricity to power cooling systems during heat waves and upgrading grid infrastructure to withstand climate hazards like floods and cyclones.

The paper examines the transformation of German-African energy relations, moving from a focus on energy poverty and development aid to a complex mix of energy diplomacy, strategic resource interests, and hydrogen technology. It highlights a tension between 'green objectives' (renewables) and 'fossilist objectives' (LNG imports), while warning against 'energy colonialism' in large-scale projects. The author advocates for a transition toward 'energy justice' and a value-chain approach to hydrogen to ensure equitable benefits for African nations.

The AfCFTA aims to boost intra-African trade by eliminating 97% of tariff lines, but commercially significant trade is delayed primarily by ongoing negotiations on Rules of Origin (RoO). To maintain momentum, the Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) was launched in October 2022 as a pilot involving eight countries: Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Tunisia. While political will is high and many countries have developed national implementation strategies, challenges remain, including clashes between national interests and pan-African goals, dependence on external donor funding for expertise, and concerns over productive capacity disparities. The document highlights that 'smaller' countries fear domination by 'bigger' economies like South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria, while some, such as Kenya, anticipate significant tariff revenue losses. Recommendations include seeking political solutions to stalled technical negotiations, institutionalising support through African multilaterals like the AfDB and Afreximbank, and coordinating industrial policies to build complementary production structures across the continent.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) 2022 Annual Results Report details the organization's progress across three impact areas: reducing climate risk, promoting sustainable resource use and resilient ecosystems, and improving health and well-being. Key achievements include contributing to the COP27 decision to establish a loss and damage fund, developing the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption (GEIC) indicator adopted at COP15, and implementing water management master plans in Bolivia. The report highlights the use of digital tools like LEAP, WEAP, and Trase to inform policy in various regions, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Organizationally, SEI reports an increase in scientific publications, a diversification of funding sources, and the implementation of a global monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) procedure.

The GCF is the largest multilateral climate finance contributor to African states, but its portfolio is heavily weighted toward mitigation (59%) over adaptation (41%), despite urgent regional needs. While the GCF has effectively leveraged co-financing, particularly through Multilateral Development Banks, it faces significant challenges in direct access, with only 18 Direct Access Entities (DAEs) accredited across 13 countries. The evaluation highlights cumbersome and rigid procedural barriers, including an English-only policy and high transaction costs, which hinder access for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Fragile, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) states. Gender-related co-benefits are growing, but engagement with indigenous peoples remains limited. The report recommends shifting the portfolio toward adaptation, streamlining accreditation and fee structures, and increasing regional presence in Africa.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) is seeking concept notes for projects in Africa that leverage local and indigenous knowledge for climate resilience. Up to five projects will be selected for grants of up to $150,000 over a maximum of three years. Projects must align with themes such as gender equality, social inclusion, resilience financing, ecosystem-based approaches, climate knowledge, and youth empowerment. Priority is given to organisations founded and led within Africa, with a strong emphasis on locally-led adaptation and the inclusion of marginalised groups.

The MENA region increased its operational renewable energy capacity by 57% since May 2022, adding 6.9 GW of solar and wind power. While there is a massive pipeline of 361 GW in planned projects, 60% of this capacity is earmarked for green hydrogen production and export rather than domestic decarbonization. The region remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels, with oil and gas providing over 90% of electricity, and 18 of 23 analyzed countries planning to expand their gas and oil power fleets. To fully decarbonize the electricity sector by 2050, the region would need to add 19 GW of solar and wind capacity annually.

The document analyzes the Mediterranean's electricity grid infrastructure, identifying four main interconnection zones and various proposed projects like the EuroAsia and EuroAfrica Interconnectors. It highlights how geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean, hinder integration while suggesting that the energy transition and EU demand for renewables could drive cooperation. The author proposes guidelines for enhancing interconnectivity, emphasizing the need for political alignment and regulatory cooperation.

The document analyzes a planned US$245 billion expansion of gas infrastructure in Africa, highlighting a significant imbalance where investment in LNG export terminals and pipelines far outweighs investment in domestic power generation. It warns that these projects, often driven by Europe's short-term energy crisis following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, risk becoming stranded assets while failing to address low electricity access in countries like Nigeria, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

The report highlights a significant imbalance in African gas infrastructure, where investments are heavily skewed toward LNG export terminals rather than domestic electricity generation. With an estimated $245 billion in total gas infrastructure investments underway or planned, the document warns of 'stranded assets' as the world transitions to clean energy and European demand fluctuates. It details the current and projected capacities of LNG terminals, pipelines, and gas-fired power plants, noting that while countries like Nigeria, Mozambique, and Tanzania pursue massive export projects, they continue to face severe domestic electricity shortages.