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This commentary by the World Resources Institute argues that climate action is only politically viable if it is 'people-centered,' meaning it purposefully unlocks social and economic benefits, targets them to enhance equity, and ensures a just transition for workers and vulnerable communities. The document provides evidence that bold climate action can deliver significant global economic gains, job creation, and public health improvements while mitigating the disproportionate impacts of climate change on the poor.

The December 2019–January 2020 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council's (PSC) effectiveness in conflict prevention, the challenges of its membership election process, the AU's efforts to rationalise its numerous external partnerships, and the progress of its Youth, Peace and Security agenda.

The 2019 Energizing Finance report by Climate Policy Initiative and Sustainable Energy for All analyzes finance commitments for electrification and clean cooking in 20 high-impact countries (HICs). It finds that current investment levels are severely insufficient to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and highlights a critical funding gap for clean cooking and a continued, though slightly declining, reliance on fossil fuel investments.

The executive summary of the 'Energizing Finance: Understanding the Landscape 2019' report analyzes sustainable energy finance from 2013 to 2017, highlighting significant funding gaps for electricity and clean cooking access, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the continued investment in fossil fuels.

This research paper evaluates the suitability of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) for the African context. It examines the GCR's objectives, the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), and the challenges of implementing these non-binding frameworks in countries like South Africa and Tanzania, highlighting a critical gap between international policy and the fiscal and political realities of host states in the Global South.

The 'Building a Resilient Future Outcome Document' records the proceedings of a one-day event held on 22 September 2019 in New York City, convened by the Global Resilience Partnership. The event brought together over 500 practitioners to identify actions and partnerships to accelerate climate adaptation and resilience, specifically responding to the UN Climate Action Summit's Call for Action. The document outlines high-level messages, specific commitments from seven thematic action sessions, and a roadmap for building a global movement to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related shocks.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI). It compares the APRM with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to provide recommendations for improving the APRM's governance, transparency, and engagement with civil society.

This report synthesizes the results of ten projects funded under Round 1 (R1) of the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), which were supported by USAID. The projects focused on transforming risks from climate shocks and stresses into opportunities across sub-Saharan Africa and South and Southeast Asia. The synthesis evaluates progress across four Impact Pathways: policy influencing, finance and investment, innovation and scaling, and knowledge and partnership. Key outcomes include the support of over 5 million beneficiaries, the development of innovative digital and financial tools, and the empowerment of vulnerable groups, including women and people with disabilities.

The Resilience Insights report by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP) synthesizes evidence from innovation challenges and partner programs to identify effective strategies for building resilience in vulnerable communities. It emphasizes a shift from reactive to systemic, transformative approaches, highlighting five key intervention areas: nature-based solutions, empowerment of marginalized groups, information/technology, inclusive finance, and low-cost infrastructure. The report argues that effective programming must be systemic, layered, inclusive, and long-term, moving beyond short-term project cycles to achieve sustainable, non-linear transformational change.

This report examines the design and implementation of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) projects in Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. Based on data from 148 projects implemented by 117 organisations, the study finds that P/CVE work in East Africa often overlaps with general peacebuilding and developmental aid, with a heavy focus on youth, women, and community awareness. The report highlights significant challenges, including distrust between civil society and governments, a lack of standardised monitoring and evaluation (M&E) methods, and the impact of climate change on intercommunal violence.

The September 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the coordination between the African Union (AU) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), the challenges of the AU's 'Amnesty Month' initiative, and specific political crises in the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Africa, and Cameroon.

Friends of the Earth International expresses deep disappointment with the July 16 revised version of the UN's legally binding treaty on transnational corporations and human rights, arguing that the text is too weak and fails to establish international jurisdiction to hold corporations accountable.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the July 16, 2019, Revised Draft of the UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, arguing that it dilutes the focus on transnational corporations and fails to establish direct obligations for these entities to be regulated and prosecuted.

The April 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical stability challenges across Africa, focusing on the fragility of peace deals in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, the trend of constitutional amendments to extend presidential terms, and the escalating crises in Cameroon and Sudan.

This synthesis report details a 2019 workshop in Ghana where farmers from East and West Africa discussed pathways to climate-resilient agriculture. Key findings highlight the need for better farmer self-organisation, increased seed ownership, and improved infrastructure to bypass middlemen. The report notes a strategic divide: East African participants focused on increasing productivity via research-led inputs, while West African participants prioritised agro-ecological methods and consumer market influence. Significant barriers identified include land tenure issues for women and youth, and the social stigma of farming which drives rural-urban migration.

This research paper evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), detailing its establishment in 2003 to improve governance through voluntary peer review. It describes a cycle of initial success, a period of decline between 2008 and 2016 characterized by leadership vacuums and financial mismanagement, and a recent phase of reinvigoration under the leadership of Professor Eddy Maloka and various African heads of state. While the mechanism has expanded its mandate to track Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals, the author argues that political reluctance to publish critical reports and a lack of high-level attendance continue to hinder its effectiveness.

This guide provides policymakers with a framework for designing retail tariffs and subsidies to incentivize private sector investment in mini-grids, primarily in Africa. It highlights the 'viability gap' where high costs and low rural revenues hinder commercial viability. The document details various tariff approaches (uniform, cost-reflective, and case-by-case) and subsidy structures (input, output, and auction-based), emphasizing that confidence in timely disbursement and a balance between verification and effectiveness are key to successful implementation.

This briefing note outlines a climate risk assessment of water resources in Uganda's Ruhezamyenda catchment, offering recommendations for integrating these findings into catchment-level planning and the national National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process.

This briefing tracks the integration of human rights into UN climate governance from 2010 to 2019. It highlights the progression from the Cancun Agreements to the Paris Agreement, where human rights, health, and the rights of indigenous peoples and vulnerable groups were explicitly recognized. The document details how COP decisions have mandated human rights considerations in capacity building, gender action, and loss and damage. It also reports that by December 2017, 76 Parties had referenced human rights in national reports and 24 countries had included them in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

This event report details the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) Global Meeting held in Cape Town from January 8-10, 2019. The meeting focused on the central question of how to ensure inclusive participation in the green economy, resulting in five core findings, a set of policy recommendations for the UN-PAGE Ministerial, and a framework for the GEC's ten-year strategy review.