Search Climate Insights Directory

This report identifies and ranks the supply-side market barriers that increase the cost and limit the access of formal remittance services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It analyzes the remittance value chain across the first, middle, and last miles, categorizing impediments into business case, regulatory, infrastructure, and consumer-related barriers. The study finds that SSA is the most expensive region globally for remittances, with an average cost of 9.4%, driven by a combination of rigid KYC requirements, a persistent preference for cash, and underdeveloped payment infrastructure.

The 'Innovations for Resilience Convening,' held in Munich in November 2017, brought together public and private sector partners to explore sustainable innovations that build resilience and enhance development outcomes. Co-hosted by the Global Resilience Partnership (GRP), World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and One Billion Coalition for Resilience (1BC), the event focused on the role of technology in addressing the increasing frequency of disasters and shocks, while identifying barriers to scaling these solutions globally.

This report details a workshop held on 19 April 2018 at the National Assembly in Windhoek, Namibia. Organised by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) as part of the APRM Sensitisation Project in Namibia (ASPIN), the event aimed to educate over 50 members of parliament (MPs) and staff on the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the role of parliament in the review process following Namibia's accession to the mechanism in January 2017.

This research paper analyzes the USD 18-36 trillion climate investment gap in developing countries and identifies key barriers to scaling finance, such as access to capital and investor skill gaps. It evaluates the roles of various public finance actors—including MDBs, bilateral DFIs, and National Development Banks—highlighting that while NDBs provide the largest flows, they often lack risk mitigation tools. The authors recommend that public actors adopt more flexible capital strategies, harmonize standards, and shift from project-specific finance to broader financial system development to better leverage private investment.

The African Borrowing Charter (2018), published by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD), is a policy framework designed to prevent unsustainable public debt accumulation in Africa. It establishes guiding principles for debt contraction, management, and transparency, while proposing a robust legal framework and a Fiscal Responsibility Act to ensure that borrowing supports inclusive development and protects future generations.

This report summarizes progress toward Goal 9 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which focuses on rewarding countries and jurisdictions that reduce forest emissions through public policies, results-based payments, and private-sector commodity sourcing.

This report details a civil society training workshop held on April 17-18, 2018, in Windhoek, Namibia. The event, part of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Sensitisation Project in Namibia (ASPIN), aimed to engage civil society in the Namibian APRM process. Organized by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the workshop provided guidance on the APRM's structure, the importance of early civil society submissions, and lessons from other African nations.

This policy brief examines the implementation gap of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) in national legislation, particularly in low-income countries. It identifies regulatory capacity and GDP per capita as primary barriers to implementation and proposes strategies such as regional collaboration, integration into national chemicals strategies, and alignment with the Agenda 2030 to increase global coverage.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the effectiveness of public investments in agriculture to improve food security, specifically focusing on farm support and rural development in low- and lower-middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.

This executive summary describes the role and impact of executive education (ExEd) within the financial sectors of sub-Saharan Africa. It identifies a growing demand for these non-degree graduate-level programmes to address the 'underdeveloped' nature of the continent's financial sector, while highlighting a need for more practical, less theoretical curricula and better alignment between education and employee compensation.

This synthesis paper by FSD Africa examines the application of the Making Markets Work for the Poor (M4P) approach within the Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) Network. Based on seven case studies, the document provides guidelines for market facilitators to achieve systemic, sustainable, and scalable change in financial markets to reduce poverty. It emphasizes the need for facilitators to act as neutral, technically competent third parties who address root causes of market failure rather than symptoms, while managing the tensions between donor requirements and the flexibility needed for market systems development.

This policy brief examines the barriers to upscaling Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in sub-Saharan Africa and proposes policy interventions to enhance food security and climate resilience.

A speech delivered by IISD President and CEO Scott Vaughan at the World Circular Economy Forum 2017 in Helsinki, discussing the need for macroeconomic indicators beyond GDP to properly value the circular economy, the potential for job growth, and the necessity of reforming fiscal incentives.

This report by the Global Subsidies Initiative of IISD and Gaia Consulting, written for the Nordic Council Ministers, estimates global fossil fuel subsidies at USD 425 billion and proposes a "SWAP" concept to redirect these funds toward sustainable energy, energy efficiency, and safety nets.

This report, developed by FHI 360 and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, provides an inventory and summary of digital technologies used to enhance resilience, primarily in Asia. It details a wide array of tools—ranging from mobile apps and IoT sensors to big data analytics and geospatial mapping—designed to support disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term livelihood stability for vulnerable populations.

This research paper examines the poultry value chain in Southern Africa, highlighting the dominance of vertically integrated South African firms and the obstacles preventing the formation of a coordinated regional value chain (RVC).

This market scoping study by Nathan Associates for FSD Africa examines the agricultural equipment leasing landscape in eight sub-Saharan African countries. It identifies systemic market failures across supply, demand, support functions, and regulatory environments that hinder the growth of leasing as an alternative to traditional asset financing for farmers and SMEs.

This case study examines FSD Tanzania's (FSDT) efforts to operationalise the Enterprise Growth Market (EGM), an alternative investment channel of the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) designed to provide long-term equity capital for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). FSDT provided approximately USD 1.36 million in grants to the Capital Markets and Securities Authority (CMSA) and the DSE to build regulatory capacity, increase public awareness, and support the listing of growth-oriented SMEs.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) outlines the evolution of China-Africa relations, tracing them from historical ties to contemporary economic, diplomatic, and security partnerships. It highlights the role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the shift in China's approach from 'non-interference' to active engagement in peace and security, while noting the impact of China's 'new normal' economic slowdown on bilateral trade and investment.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates whether the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) can effectively monitor the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While the authors identify strong normative and thematic alignment between the three initiatives, they argue that the APRM currently lacks the administrative capacity, funding, and technical rigor to handle the extensive monitoring responsibilities required.