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This SEI synthesis brief argues that low-carbon energy transitions must explicitly integrate gender and social equity to avoid marginalizing vulnerable groups. Through case studies in regions like the Lower Mekong and countries such as Zambia and Sweden, it demonstrates how political power dynamics, socio-cultural norms, and systemic barriers in job markets and technology adoption can perpetuate inequality despite technological advances.

SEI researchers developed a terminology card game as part of the Future Resilience for African CiTies and Lands (FRACTAL) project to help stakeholders in southern African cities, specifically Windhoek and Lusaka, overcome barriers in climate change adaptation planning. The game facilitates 'transdisciplinary knowledge integration' by helping participants distinguish between key concepts like weather, climate, adaptation, mitigation, and disaster risk reduction through a collaborative, non-threatening exercise. The activity is designed to build capacities and working relationships between city stakeholders and scientists to increase the uptake of science in policy.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs provides guidelines for implementing public-private partnerships (PPPs) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It distinguishes PPPs from privatisation, analyses the regional infrastructure landscape, and recommends the establishment of independent PPP units and formalised public consultation frameworks to attract investment and ensure sustainable project delivery.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) estimates the public funding required by 2030 to end hunger, double the incomes of smallholder farmers, and maintain agricultural greenhouse gas emissions within the limits of the Paris Agreement. Using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, the authors determine that donors must nearly double their current annual contributions to food security, supplemented by increased domestic tax revenue in low- and middle-income countries.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) estimates the public investment required to eradicate hunger, double the incomes of small-scale producers, and maintain agricultural greenhouse gas emissions within Paris Agreement limits by 2030. Using a computable general equilibrium model, the authors determine that donors must increase their annual contributions by 14 billion USD, complemented by 19 billion USD from low- and middle-income countries, to achieve these goals.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) estimates the public spending required to end hunger, double the incomes of small-scale producers, and maintain agricultural greenhouse gas emissions within Paris Agreement limits by 2030. It identifies a significant funding gap, requiring both an increase in official development assistance (ODA) and higher domestic taxation in low- and middle-income countries.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution presents Southern African states with an opportunity to transform their economic trajectories through a systemic innovation approach. It advocates for a 'just e-volution' that integrates the mining, automotive, and energy sectors to move toward a low-carbon economy, specifically suggesting a 'Green New Deal' for the SADC region to avoid becoming a dumping ground for obsolete internal combustion engine technology.

The Integrated Resource Plan (IRP 2019) is a strategic electricity infrastructure development plan for South Africa, designed to balance least-cost electricity supply and demand while considering security of supply and environmental impacts. The document updates the previous IRP 2010–2030 to reflect lower-than-expected GDP growth, declining electricity demand, and the deteriorating performance of Eskom's existing power plants.

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.

This guide provides a framework for the administration, regulation, and monitoring of rehabilitation and mine closure (RMC) obligations for mining operations in Papua New Guinea, emphasizing the need for progressive planning to ensure sustainable post-mining land use.

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.

This working paper models the impact of removing fossil fuel subsidies across 26 countries and reviews 60 research papers to estimate global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. It finds that subsidy removal alone leads to a national average emission reduction of 6 per cent, which increases to 13.2 per cent when combined with a modest energy tax and investments in renewables and energy efficiency.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for "subsidy swaps," the process of redirecting government financial support from fossil fuels to clean energy. It argues that while removing fossil fuel subsidies can reduce emissions, a swap is necessary to ensure permanent reductions and provide economic, social, and health benefits. The document analyzes the global context of these shifts and provides case studies from India, Indonesia, Zambia, and Morocco to demonstrate the feasibility of reallocating resources to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

This research paper examines the implementation of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in Africa, using Zambia as a primary case study. It analyzes the benefits of trade facilitation for landlocked lower-middle-income countries, the role of the TFA Facility and donor assistance, and the specific challenges and successes of trade facilitation reforms at four of Zambia's strategic border posts.

This working paper, produced as an input for the G20 Climate and Sustainability Working Group, examines how G20 nations can leverage Long-Term Strategies (LTSs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to meet Paris Agreement goals. It argues that integrating long-term visions with near-term targets drives sustainable economic growth and provides a roadmap to avoid carbon-intensive lock-in. The document provides frameworks for NDC implementation, guidance for updating NDCs by 2020, and strategies for G20 countries to support developing nations in overcoming capacity and financing gaps.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development presents a Mining Policy Framework (MPF) Assessment for Ecuador, conducted by the IGF at the request of the Ecuadorian government. The assessment identifies gaps in environmental management and post-mining transition within the large-scale mining (LSM) sector and provides recommendations for improving community consultations, national environmental standards, and the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate presents the Core Budget and country contribution requests for the 2019-2020 fiscal year and a preliminary request for 2020-2022. The document outlines efforts to streamline administrative processes, updates on staff recruitment for a Director of Science, and a request for Parties to consider voluntary increases in contributions to alleviate operational strain.

This document presents the operating budget request and country contributions for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the 2019-2020 fiscal year, as well as a preliminary request for 2020-2022. It details staffing changes, administrative updates, and a request for voluntary contribution increases to alleviate financial pressure caused by payment delays.

This report from the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines the council's activities and recommendations ahead of the 27th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-27) in Brasilia, Brazil. The EC provides guidance on the IAI Strategic Plan, the election rules for the Science and Policy Advisory Committee, and the establishment of flexible funding mechanisms for global change projects in the Americas.

This report from the Chair of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines the EC's activities and recommendations ahead of the 27th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-27) in Brasilia, Brazil.