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This policy briefing examines how the entry of Chinese investors into Zambia's mining sector, characterized by different operational standards and close ties to the presidency, challenges the effectiveness of the country's regulatory framework, which relies heavily on self-reporting and consensus.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) details a scenario-planning exercise conducted in May 2010 to explore the future of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The authors identify key certainties and uncertainties—such as the impact of the global financial crisis and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations—to project four potential futures for the organization, ranging from deeper integration to total collapse.

This research paper summarizes a February 2010 roundtable discussion hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) regarding the progress and future prospects of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The discussion, featuring representatives from the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the APRM Secretariat, and civil society, evaluates the mechanism's achievements in promoting governance and accountability across Africa while identifying systemic failures in implementation, funding, and leadership.

This research paper evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), highlighting its achievements in promoting governance and self-reflection among African states while warning of current crises regarding transparency, leadership integrity, and the marginalization of civil society.

This 2010 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the tensions between South Africa's reliance on coal for energy security and its commitments to climate change mitigation. It analyzes the dominance of the state utility Eskom, the challenges of transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and the potential for regional energy cooperation within Southern Africa to diversify the electricity supply mix.

This 2010 training manual by the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive framework for law enforcement agencies in Eastern and Southern Africa to identify, investigate, and prosecute environmental crimes. It covers the foundations of environmental law, the technical processes of inspection and evidence gathering, and the legal requirements for criminal prosecution, emphasizing a participant-centered learning approach for police, customs officials, and prosecutors.

This 2010 research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute estimates the carbon footprint of smallholder diesel and electric irrigation pumps in five Sub-Saharan African countries. The study finds that emissions from these pumps are currently a negligible fraction of national agricultural emissions and are unlikely to become significant even under high-adoption scenarios, though local water resource stress may pose a more immediate environmental risk.

This report, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in November 2009, provides a technical and strategic analysis of the negotiations surrounding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) leading up to the COP 15 summit in Copenhagen. It examines the evolving scope of REDD, financing options, measurement and verification systems, and the institutional frameworks required to implement these mechanisms in developing countries.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the structural and institutional weaknesses of law enforcement in Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia. It identifies common challenges across these states, including politicization, severe resource shortages, corruption driven by poor pay, and a lack of public trust. The document provides specific recommendations for legislative reform, increased budgetary allocations, and the adoption of specialized units to improve human rights and victim support.

This research paper analyzes farmer adaptation to climate change in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It finds that access to credit, extension services, and climate awareness are key determinants of adaptation. The study recommends that governments improve access to markets and information, and invest in R&D for technologies such as irrigation and crop development to support farmers.

This policy brief examines the crisis in the prison systems of Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia, highlighting how colonial-era infrastructure, chronic underfunding, and retributive sentencing policies lead to severe overcrowding and systemic human rights violations.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the integration of governance education within African universities. Based on a 2008 scoping study and a 2009 workshop, the paper argues that while higher education is critical for national development, governance education has been historically neglected. It identifies systemic challenges—including resource scarcity, 'brain drain', and political interference—and proposes regional cooperation and ICT integration as pathways to improve the quality and relevance of governance training to support initiatives like the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This research paper examines the role of human rights in African international relations, arguing that while there is a robust framework of regional and international treaties, human rights often remain a "variable concern" subordinated to national interests and geopolitical strategies. The author analyzes the tension between international monitoring mechanisms and the pursuit of "African solutions to African problems," specifically highlighting the controversy surrounding the ICC arrest warrant for Omar Al-Bashir and the influence of China's non-interference policy on the continent.

This research paper by Mireille Affa’a Mindzie, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in August 2009, examines the role of human rights in African international relations. It analyzes the tension between the formal commitment to international human rights standards and the practical application of these standards in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, where national interests and the pursuit of 'African solutions to African problems' often take precedence.

A statement by African civil society organizations urging African States Parties to the Rome Statute to maintain their commitment to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and reject an African Union (AU) decision to withhold cooperation in the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

This 2009 policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the criminal justice system in Zambia, identifying systemic weaknesses across policing, prosecution, the judiciary, and prison services. The document highlights a critical dichotomy between the constitutionally recognised legal system and the widely used customary law, alongside pervasive issues of underfunding, capacity shortages, and human rights abuses.

This foreword introduces a country review of crime and criminal justice in Sierra Leone, produced as part of the second phase of the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI). The initiative aims to complement the NEPAD/APRM process by providing empirical evidence on criminal justice systems to encourage reforms that enhance human security and democracy.

This executive summary details the state of the criminal justice system in Zambia, highlighting systemic failures in policing, the judiciary, and the prison system. It identifies pervasive corruption, severe resource shortages, and human rights violations as primary obstacles to the rule of law and public security.

This document outlines the human development status of Zambia, noting improvements in rural poverty, primary education enrolment, and child mortality between the late 1990s and mid-2000s. However, it highlights significant ongoing challenges, including high overall extreme poverty, declining girls' school attendance ratios, rising maternal mortality, a high number of AIDS orphans, and an inefficient justice system.

This document is a master questionnaire developed by the African Human Security Initiative (AHSI2) to assess the efficacy of the criminal justice system in selected African countries, specifically as a complement to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It provides a structured framework of questions and indicators to evaluate state capacity, adherence to international human rights standards, and the functionality of policing, prosecution, the judiciary, and prison systems.