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This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies and the Global Public Policy Institute argues that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is facing a profound legitimacy crisis following the January 2025 withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. The authors contend that to survive and restore stability, ECOWAS must move beyond its original economic mandate and the current intergovernmental status quo toward deeper political integration and supranationalism.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the geopolitical competition between global powers—specifically the US, China, and Russia—within Africa. It argues that African states are increasingly pursuing a strategy of non-alignment and diversification to avoid becoming proxies in global disputes, seeking instead equal partnerships and autonomy. The paper suggests that African agency can be enhanced by strengthening the African Union (AU), diversifying international partnerships, and prioritizing internal economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area.

This synthesis report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines climate change adaptation policies and locally-led adaptation (LLA) strategies in Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal. It highlights the gap between national climate goals (NDCs) and local implementation, emphasizing that while communities are actively adapting, they are often excluded from decision-making and lack the financial and technical resources necessary for sustainable resilience.

The March 2024 Peace & Security Council Report examines the transition of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) membership, the critical security situation in Abyei, the operational challenges of the African Standby Force (ASF), ongoing AU institutional reforms, and the response of ECOWAS to unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa.

This research paper examines the dynamics of synthetic drug markets in West Africa, using tramadol as a primary case study to analyze how criminal networks adapt to supply-side disruptions. The report highlights that law enforcement and regulatory efforts often lead to market displacement, increased prices, and the emergence of more dangerous synthetic substitutes rather than the total disruption of the trade.

This feasibility study by FSD Africa explores a mechanism to transfer non-sovereign asset portfolios from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to domestic institutional investors in Africa using a local currency solution. The goal is to free up MDB capital for new investments while deepening local capital markets and reducing foreign exchange risks for borrowers. The study focuses on seven markets in East and West Africa and proposes the creation of a permanent investment vehicle (SPV) managed by a professional Fund Manager to facilitate these transfers.

A briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) arguing against lifting the CITES trade suspension for Pterocarpus erinaceus (rosewood) in West and Central Africa, citing ongoing illegal trafficking and the risk of setting a dangerous precedent through 'special authorizations' and inadequate Non-Detriment Findings.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges of formalising the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector in West Africa and the Sahel. It argues that punitive crackdowns often increase fragility and criminal capture, recommending instead a supportive formalisation approach that addresses land rights, gender inequality, and the creation of decentralised service centres to reduce vulnerability to organised crime and violent extremist groups.

This policy brief examines the challenges of formalizing artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in West Africa and the Sahel. It argues that repressive measures often increase vulnerability to criminal capture and instead advocates for a holistic, support-based approach to formalization that addresses land rights, gender marginalization, and regional coordination to mitigate the influence of organized crime and violent extremist groups.

This report by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) analyzes the potential for decentralized renewable energy (DRE) to create green jobs in rural West Africa, specifically focusing on Ghana and Senegal. The study develops a standardized methodology to calculate direct employment using an 'employment factor' and compares current employment levels with 2030 projections under 'status quo' and 'future-oriented' policy scenarios.

This report by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) examines the potential for direct green job creation through Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) in Ghana and Senegal. It establishes a methodology for calculating an 'Employment Factor' to estimate jobs per kWp of installed capacity and provides scenarios for job growth by 2030 based on different policy approaches. The study highlights that DRE can serve as a catalyst for formalising employment in regions with high informal sector activity and can significantly increase induced employment through productive uses of energy.

This fact sheet, published by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification in October 2023, outlines the potential for decentralized renewable energy (DRE) to create green jobs in West Africa, specifically focusing on Ghana and Senegal. It advocates for public-private collaboration and specific policy interventions to catalyze employment and rural electrification.

This policy brief examines the vulnerability of Africa to transboundary and cascading climate risks, where climate impacts in one country affect others through trade, finance, migration, and shared ecosystems. It discusses the role of National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) in managing these risks and provides recommendations for the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to seek support via UNFCCC processes.

This policy brief examines the prevalence and risk factors of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cape Verde. It identifies significant gaps in victim identification, legal frameworks, and prosecution, while noting an increase in child sexual exploitation and abuse materials (CSEAM) uploads since 2019.

This policy brief examines the prevalence and risk factors of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Cabo Verde. It highlights a significant gap between official data and actual prevalence, noting that OCSEA is likely drastically underreported due to social stigma and weak identification processes. The document identifies systemic failures in legal frameworks, law enforcement capacity, and victim support, while recommending regional harmonization of laws and increased collaboration between governments and the technology sector.

This research paper examines illicit financial flows (IFFs) stemming from migrant smuggling in Senegal and Sierra Leone. It analyzes how smuggling proceeds are generated, moved through formal and informal channels, and laundered into legitimate sectors. The report highlights a significant gap between the existence of anti-money laundering policies and their practical implementation, noting that financial intelligence units in both countries lack the resources and expertise to effectively 'follow the money' in smuggling cases.

This policy brief examines the intersection of rapid urbanization and transnational organized crime in Bamako and Lagos, focusing on how illicit arms trafficking fuels urban violence. It identifies the actors, routes, and drivers of arms proliferation and recommends integrated governance and security interventions to mitigate these threats.

This policy brief examines illicit financial flows (IFFs) resulting from migrant smuggling in Senegal and Sierra Leone. It highlights a systemic failure to employ 'follow the money' investigative techniques, noting that smuggling revenues are frequently laundered through cash-based informal systems and invested in formal sectors like real estate and hospitality. The document identifies significant institutional gaps, including underfunded Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) and corruption within law enforcement and the judiciary, and provides recommendations for strengthening regulatory frameworks and regional cooperation.

The report examines the regulatory and economic landscape for renewable energy in Nigeria, arguing that while immediate economic and security crises may limit large-scale public climate investment, the government can achieve 'easy wins' by reinstating fiscal incentives for solar products and leveraging existing agricultural and infrastructure programs to advance the energy transition.

This meeting report describes a remote training workshop held on November 23–24, 2022, by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) for members of Women in Mining of West Africa (WIMOWA). The workshop focused on gender equality and local content in the mining sector, specifically addressing women's participation in direct employment and local procurement.