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This 2006 report by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines urine diversion as a sustainable sanitation alternative to help meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It details the technical, organizational, and economic aspects of separating urine from faeces to enable nutrient recycling in agriculture, drawing heavily on Swedish municipal experiences and international case studies from West Africa, China, and El Salvador.

This research paper by Oli Brown for the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the evolving relationship between environmental degradation, natural resource management, and global security. It traces the discourse from the Cold War era to the post-Cold War rise in intra-state conflicts, outlining four primary theoretical approaches to environmental security and proposing practical policy interventions to mitigate conflict driven by both resource scarcity and abundance.

This research paper provides an overview of the progress made toward establishing the African Standby Force (ASF) as of May 2005. It details the continental policy framework adopted by the African Union (AU) and examines the specific implementation efforts, capabilities, and challenges within three regional bodies: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The document highlights significant gaps between policy aspirations and operational capacity, primarily driven by funding shortages and limited national military capabilities.

This research paper examines the development and operationalization of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) within the African Union (AU). It distinguishes early warning from traditional state intelligence, emphasizing a focus on human security and open-source data. The document reviews the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the AU, the legal framework of the Peace and Security Council (PSC), and the varying stages of early warning system implementation across regional economic communities in West, Central, Southern, and East Africa.

This 2003 research paper examines the linkages between the information society and sustainable development, arguing that policy coherence is needed between these two often-isolated fields. It identifies six analytical frameworks: environmental information systems (EIS), eco-efficiency and innovation, negative environmental impacts of ICT, modifying consumer demand, public participation, and poverty reduction. While highlighting benefits like dematerialization, transport efficiency, and poverty mapping, the paper warns of the 'rebound effect' and toxic waste from ICT products.

This 1999 research paper examines the 'peace pyramid' model of conflict management in Africa, which positions the UN at the top, subregional organisations at the base, and the OAU as the intermediary. The author argues that while subregional bodies like ECOWAS and SADC are often more motivated to intervene in local conflicts, they lack institutionalised mechanisms and are built upon weak states. The paper concludes that sustainable security requires a focus on state-building, good governance, and the creation of permanent, impartial bureaucratic structures within subregional organisations rather than relying on ad hoc military responses.

This policy brief critiques the European Union's (EU) proposed intellectual property (IP) provisions within Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) for African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. The author argues that the proposals impose restrictive standards on copyright, plant variety protection, and enforcement that exceed TRIPS Agreement requirements and threaten the development and public interest of ACP nations.

This report examines how proposed WTO rules to ban fisheries subsidies could impact the sardinella fishery in West Africa (The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, and Senegal). It finds that sardinella stocks have been overfished since 2006, driven in part by fuel and capital subsidies that make otherwise unviable industrial and artisanal fleets profitable. While banning these subsidies could lead to long-term stock recovery and improved sustainability, it poses significant short-term socioeconomic risks to local communities and artisanal fishers, suggesting a need for transitional exceptions and improved monitoring and surveillance.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers for the Institute for Security Studies analyzes Africa's demographic transition, focusing on the 'demographic window of opportunity' defined by a worker-to-dependant ratio of 1.7:1. It details the varying timelines for different African regions to reach this threshold and the systemic requirements needed to convert population growth into economic dividends.

This research paper examines the peace and security efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), focusing on best practices, lessons learned, and the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

This report examines the proliferation of self-defence groups in West Africa, analyzing their role as sources of community resilience and their potential to create political and security risks. It aims to provide a framework for mitigating these risks and leveraging the benefits of such groups based on cross-continental experiences.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the factors contributing to youth radicalisation towards violent extremism across various regions of Africa, emphasizing that the phenomenon is complex and cannot be attributed to a single cause.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the rapid pace of urbanisation in Africa, with a specific focus on Nigeria. It highlights the disconnect between rapid population growth in cities and the lack of adequate urban planning, which has led to the proliferation of slums, infrastructure deficits, and economic instability.

This report evaluates the persistent security instability in West Africa since independence, citing a history of interstate wars, civil wars, and numerous coups. It identifies governance, climate change, and cross-border crime as primary drivers of conflict and state implosion in the region.

This policy brief from the Institute for Security Studies argues that drug trafficking in West Africa has evolved from a law enforcement issue into a crisis of statehood, threatening the democratic and humanitarian foundations of the region due to a lack of political will and an inadequate international response.

This report documents a one-day brainstorming session held on 4 May 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya, co-hosted by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), the African Leadership Centre (ALC), and Fahamu. The session aimed to map current discourses on gender, peace and security (GPS) in Africa, identify research gaps, and explore the creation of a pan-African think-tank to produce homegrown, evidence-based scholarship that moves beyond state-centric and Northern-led narratives.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes projects aimed at preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) in Central, East, and West Africa. It identifies critical gaps in funding duration, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) capacity, and the potential for P/CVE labeling to stigmatize target communities, while suggesting a shift toward longer-term funding and greater African state ownership.

This case study by Richard Cornwell examines the limitations of Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) processes in West Africa and the Great Lakes region. The author argues that technical DDR successes are often illusory if they are not preceded by planning for reintegration and a fundamental shift from a 'conflict economy' to a 'peace economy'.

This monograph captures the proceedings of a seminar held in Pretoria on 18-19 April 2000, titled "Security in Africa: French and South African Perspectives." The document explores the intersection of national identity, human security, governance, and economic development, with a specific focus on the evolving roles of France and South Africa in African security. It analyzes various conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, and West Africa, while evaluating the effectiveness of regional and international intervention frameworks such as the UN, OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS.

This policy brief analyzes the impact of April 2013 US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indictments against high-ranking Guinea-Bissau officials, arguing that while the move challenges a long-standing culture of impunity, it risks triggering further instability if not accompanied by a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the national criminal justice system.