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This report conclusion by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes developmental trajectories for Senegal, identifying key economic and social challenges and proposing sectoral scenarios to accelerate growth. It emphasizes a holistic development strategy aligned with the African Union's Agenda 2063 to reduce poverty and increase GDP.

This research paper provides an introduction to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), detailing its founding mandate, member state composition, natural resource endowments, and the current geopolitical and developmental challenges facing the region.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines gender discrimination within the family sphere in Africa, focusing on child marriage, the unequal distribution of unpaid care and domestic work, and disparities in divorce and inheritance rights.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges faced by African raw commodity producers, specifically focusing on the lack of value addition in the cashew and cocoa sectors, regional agricultural growth forecasts through 2043, and a widening gap between local crop production and food demand.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the 'educational funnel' in Africa, detailing the significant attrition rates from primary through tertiary education. It highlights a severe educational crisis in sub-Saharan Africa compared to North Africa and other global regions, noting that the region is forecast to miss several Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 targets by 2030.

This report analyzes the projected impacts of a specific 'Agriculture scenario' for Africa by 2043, comparing it against a 'Current Path' forecast. The scenario envisions a significant increase in agricultural production, reduced food import dependence, and substantial poverty reduction, though it notes that these gains depend on technological adoption and climate factors.

This report examines the state of women's political representation across Africa, highlighting significant gender gaps in parliament, local government, and executive roles, while noting relatively better progress in the judiciary. It identifies structural and cultural barriers to women's participation and argues that increased female leadership correlates with lower corruption, higher social spending, and more effective climate policies.

This research paper analyzes the potential economic and social impacts of reducing gender gaps in education and labor force participation across Africa by 2043. It compares a 'Gender scenario' against a 'Current Path' forecast, finding that aggressive reductions in gender inequality would significantly increase GDP, raise GDP per capita, reduce extreme poverty, and improve child health and human development indices across the continent.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the potential economic impact of achieving full gender parity in Africa by 2043. It compares a 'Gender Equality scenario' against a 'Current Path' and a 'Gender scenario', focusing on GDP growth, per capita income, and poverty reduction across different African regions and income levels.

The document explains that Africa has failed to achieve a modern agricultural revolution due to a combination of historical, geographical, and policy factors. It highlights that poor soil quality (55% unsuitable for most agriculture), high disease burdens, and a lack of investment in smallholder farmers have led to the world's lowest agricultural yields, despite interventions by the World Bank, AU, and AGRA.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the landscape of education financing in Africa, detailing expenditure levels, the distribution of funds across educational levels, and the challenges of spending inefficiency and declining donor support.

A policy brief detailing the rapid expansion of the Islamic State–Sahel Province (IS-SP) between 2019 and 2026. It highlights a significant increase in manpower, the adoption of structured governance in Mali, and the first use of combat drones in a January 2026 attack on Niamey's airport. The report attributes this growth to the collapse of regional security following coups in the Sahel, rivalry with al-Qaeda's JNIM, and strategic guidance from IS Core.

This annexure from the Institute for Security Studies compiles various economic estimations from international organizations regarding the potential impacts of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on trade, GDP, employment, and poverty reduction across Africa.

This introduction to the Africa Manufacturing Forecast examines the continent's struggle with industrialisation, noting a stagnation in manufacturing value added and a decline in global market share. It outlines current strategic efforts to reverse this trend through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the adoption of green and digital technologies, and the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to move Africa up the global value chain.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the disproportionate impact of climate change on Africa, detailing the frequency of climate-related disasters, the vulnerability of populations due to socio-economic factors, and the resulting threats to food security, health, and regional stability.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers for the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the projected economic and social development of Africa by 2043 under a 'Combined scenario' compared to a 'Current Path'. The Combined scenario, which integrates policy coherence, governance, and strategic investment, projects significantly higher GDP growth, increased GDP per capita, and a dramatic reduction in extreme poverty.

This research paper outlines the 'Demographics and Health Scenario' for Africa, a model designed to accelerate the continent's demographic transition and enhance its demographic dividend through targeted interventions in fertility, mortality, and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WaSH) infrastructure.

This briefing examines how the United States and Nigeria are repurposing civilian policy instruments, specifically the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and civil aviation frameworks, to establish security and surveillance capabilities. By integrating decommissioned U.S. Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) equipment into Nigerian civilian infrastructure, the two nations are creating a "shared awareness" corridor that provides the functional capabilities of a virtual base without the political complications of formal military basing or treaties.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the barriers to integrating gas infrastructure within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and proposes a strategic framework to unlock regional prosperity through harmonized regulations, a dedicated infrastructure fund, and strengthened regional governance.

This research paper examines the drivers and consequences of youth emigration from West Africa, focusing on the 'japa' phenomenon in Nigeria. It identifies high unemployment, political exclusion, and insecurity as primary drivers of the exodus of people aged 15 to 35, which results in a significant brain drain in healthcare, technology, and education sectors.