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The report analyzes the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the DRC, CAR, and Chad, linking arms availability to historical instability, ethnic conflict, and poor governance. It assesses various disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) efforts, noting that while some institutional frameworks exist, they are often undermined by a lack of resources, political mistrust, and the persistence of non-state armed groups. The author argues that sustainable peace requires integrating disarmament with socio-economic development and regional cooperation.

The World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think tank, reported total revenue of $25,345,212 and total expenses of $21,237,532 for the 2005 tax year. The organization operates seven primary programs focusing on climate change, urban mobility, ecosystem protection, and environmental governance. Its largest program expenditure was for the People and Ecosystems Program ($4,443,154), followed by the Institutions and Governance Program ($3,450,686). WRI maintains a staff of over 130 experts and partners with nearly 400 organizations globally.

The report examines the 'spaghetti bowl' of overlapping regional economic communities (RECs) in southern and eastern Africa, focusing on the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the East African Community (EAC). It highlights the institutional tensions caused by multiple memberships and the pressure from EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. The authors argue that SACU should be positioned as a core 'fast-tracking' anchor for regional integration, but emphasize that it must first 'get the basics right' by improving trade facilitation, statistics, and its internal institutional framework before expanding.

The report examines the shift from traditional state-centric security to 'human security,' noting that modern conflicts are increasingly linked to poverty and occur within poor states. It argues that while trade and aid can theoretically promote stability, in practice, unfair trade rules and misused aid often exacerbate instability. The author proposes six objectives for the international community and the Commonwealth to ensure these policies 'do no harm' and support enduring peace.

The seminar, titled "Understanding Terrorism in Africa: Building Bridges and Overcoming Gaps," was held on 19-20 May 2007 at the University of Cairo. It aimed to address discrepancies in the definitions, roots, and strategies for combating terrorism, while analyzing the impacts of the "War on Terrorism" across different African regions. The event focused on creating an "African Voice" in global terrorism debates and strengthening the African Research Network on Terrorism and Counter Terrorism (ARNTACT). Future follow-up seminars were planned for Abuja, Nigeria, to focus on domestic terrorism and Nairobi, Kenya, to assess counter-terrorism strategies.

The report examines the investment climate in Kenya from the perspective of South African firms, highlighting Kenya's role as a strategic hub for East Africa. While South African companies are attracted by Kenya's skilled workforce and strategic location, they face significant hurdles including poor infrastructure, high electricity costs, corruption, and local resentment toward perceived South African economic dominance. The document analyzes the socio-economic landscape of Kenya, the trade imbalance between South Africa and Kenya, and the specific operational difficulties encountered by investors, such as red tape and insecurity. It concludes that while South African firms can be successful through local partnerships and sensitivity to Kenyan business culture, the Kenyan government must implement structural reforms in infrastructure and governance to sustain foreign direct investment.

The document assesses how water management impacts poverty in Africa, highlighting a significant gap between political rhetoric and actual investment. It argues that current trends will leave millions of Africans without safe water and sanitation by 2015. The authors propose a conceptual framework focusing on four dimensions of poverty reduction: enhancing livelihood security, reducing health risks, reducing vulnerability, and promoting pro-poor economic growth. The report emphasizes the importance of 'green water' (soil moisture) alongside 'blue water' (rivers and lakes) and calls for Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) that places poverty at its center. Key recommendations include public sector reform, stimulating internal capital investment, and adapting to climate change, which is projected to increase water stress for 75 to 250 million Africans by 2020.

The 2006 elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ended a three-year transition, resulting in the inauguration of Joseph Kabila. While the process was generally free and fair, it revealed a deep regional divide and was marred by violent clashes in Kinshasa and renewed conflict in North Kivu led by General Nkunda. The document highlights critical needs for military reform and improved state governance to prevent social unrest and ensure long-term stability.

The paper explores the creation of markets for ecosystem services (MES) to address the decline of nature's regulating, supporting, and cultural services. It argues that while provisioning services are easily priced via property rights, indirect services are often public goods requiring government intervention and innovative valuation. The author proposes that multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) can provide the necessary institutional structure and trading platforms to implement pro-poor MES, potentially bundling services like carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation to reduce transaction costs and align with Millennium Development Goals.

The document lists the signature, ratification, and deposit dates for 53 African entities regarding the AU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism. As of 23 June 2006, 48 countries had signed the convention, while 36 had completed ratification or accession and deposited their instruments.

The report analyzes the bidirectional relationship between biodiversity conservation and conflict in the Albertine Rift. It distinguishes between local-level conflicts directly caused by conservation interventions—such as restricted resource access and unequal benefit sharing—and regional armed conflicts driven by deep-rooted socio-economic and political factors. The document reviews several conflict-analysis methodologies, including 'Do No Harm' and 'Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment', to propose a multi-step framework for making conservation projects more conflict-sensitive throughout their project cycle.

The paper examines NEPAD as a holistic development initiative for Africa, contrasting it with earlier plans like the Lagos Plan of Action and the Abuja Treaty. It highlights NEPAD's focus on globalisation, good governance via the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), and its specific administrative structures. While the author notes progress in policy development and some specific projects, such as the West Africa Gas Pipeline and e-School Initiative, the report concludes that overall implementation is hindered by inadequate capacity in regional economic communities and a lack of sufficient funding from developed partners.

The document analyzes the intersection of global counter-terrorism efforts and regional instability in the Horn of Africa. It highlights how the US 'war on terror' has been a 'double-edged blade,' providing resources for security but also empowering authoritarian regimes to label political opponents as terrorists. The author details the rise of radical Islamism in the region, the limitations of national and regional legislative responses, and the failures of US strategies in Somalia, specifically the backing of warlords which inadvertently strengthened the Union of Islamic Courts.

The report details a March 2006 workshop in Arusha, Tanzania, involving 48 stakeholders to identify interventions for four EAC energy access targets. The primary findings emphasize the need for decentralized planning at district and municipal levels, increased regional cooperation to share costs, and the development of public-private partnerships. The workshop resulted in 14 recommendations adopted by the EAC Council of Ministers and Heads of State in April 2006, focusing on harmonizing energy policies, mobilizing resources, and mainstreaming energy access into national planning frameworks.

The author contends that the MDGs provide 'political camouflage' for aid agencies and oversimplify development by targeting visible symptoms like hunger and disease instead of productivity and growth. The paper argues that focusing on universal primary education may divert resources from more commercially valuable technical and vocational training. To address these gaps, the document proposes 'African Millennium Growth Goals' centered on improving commercial infrastructure, investing in rural economies, enhancing technical skills, increasing domestic lending, and reducing bureaucratic corruption.

The document assesses the progress and deadlocks of the Doha Round negotiations as of November 2005. It highlights significant stalemates in agricultural market access, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), and services, while detailing specific disputes over fisheries subsidies, intellectual property rights (TRIPS), and the implementation of special and differential treatment for developing countries. It also reviews the impact of the 2005 expiry of textile and clothing quotas and the ongoing efforts to improve the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding.

The report analyzes the Democratic Republic of Congo's transition toward national elections scheduled for 2006. It details the legislative progress, the operational challenges of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), and the critical role of security sector reform. The authors identify significant security threats from armed groups in Ituri, North Kivu, and Katanga, as well as political tensions involving the UDPS. Three scenarios are presented: a successful transition under the current '1+4' leadership, a transition with new leadership, or a total breakdown of order.

The expiration of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA) quotas has shifted the global textile trade from a protected regime to a competitive market, leading to fears that China and India will dominate US and EU markets. African nations, despite preferential access through AGOA and EBA, face significant market share declines and job losses. The document argues that African countries must improve efficiency, diversify economies, and leverage South-South cooperation to survive the transition.

The document examines the role of economic valuation in creating markets for ecosystem services, detailing various valuation methodologies and providing global case studies of payment schemes for watershed functions and biodiversity. It argues that while market-based instruments can be effective, their success depends on robust legal frameworks, property rights, and institutional capacity, particularly in developing countries.

The report examines the conflict in Ituri, driven by Hema-Lendu ethnic tensions and exacerbated by Ugandan and Rwandan interests. It details the Disarmament and Community Reinsertion (DCR) process, noting that while robust MONUC operations and an ultimatum from Ambassador William Swing increased disarmament numbers to over 11,000 by late April 2005, the stability remains tenuous. Key risks include delays in UNDP reinsertion projects, the continued activity of the UPC-K, and the predatory behaviour of underpaid FARDC troops.