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This report by Jenny Clover for the Institute for Security Studies examines the debate over Genetically Modified (GM) foods in Africa, specifically within the context of a food crisis in Southern Africa in 2002. The author argues that while GM technology offers potential productive gains, it cannot solve hunger on its own because food security is a complex issue involving economic, social, and political factors. The document highlights the tension between immediate humanitarian needs for food aid and long-term concerns regarding biodiversity, multinational corporate control of seeds, and trade restrictions, particularly with the European Union.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) criticizes Anglo-American Plc for its poor social and environmental record in South Africa, Zambia, and Peru, while highlighting the company's role as a funder of the Johannesburg Earth Summit and its presence in the official UK delegation.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's foreign policy toward Zimbabwe from 1994 to 2002, arguing that Zimbabwe has been of marginal interest to Pretoria despite deep historical, economic, and security links. The author identifies three phases of policy: an initial lack of specific policy, a period of brinkmanship and frustration (1994–1999), and a subsequent 'twin-track' approach of constructive engagement and containment starting in 2000. The paper highlights the economic devastation in Zimbabwe following the lapse of a 1964 Customs Agreement and the failure of the two nations to establish a cohesive regional security mechanism within SADC.

This research paper analyzes the 2002 multiparty elections in Zimbabwe, Lesotho, and Zambia, evaluating the democratic processes, legal frameworks, and the role of electoral commissions in the SADC region.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Southern Africa, focusing on the failures of disarmament and demobilisation in UN peacekeeping operations and the subsequent rise of illicit arms trafficking. It argues that the lack of effective weapons control during conflict resolution processes has fueled regional instability and criminal activity, while proposing a coordinated regional approach involving SADC, SARPCCO, and the OAU to manage stocks and reduce the culture of violence.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the evolution of security architectures in Southern Africa, tracing the transition from the informal Front-Line States (FLS) alliance to the formal structures of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), specifically the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, the Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), and the Southern African Police Chiefs Co-operation Organisation (SARPCCO).

This research paper by Mark Malan of the Institute for Security Studies examines South Africa's potential roles in resolving the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as of March 1999. It analyzes various scenarios—ranging from a firm peace agreement to the absence of a cease-fire—and proposes an unconventional 'Renaissance peacekeeping' model that co-opts belligerent statutory forces into a multinational operation.

The Zambia Country Study, published in January 1999 by the Stockholm Environment Institute, evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigation strategies for Zambia. The report establishes baseline and mitigation scenarios for the energy and forestry sectors up to 2030, identifying low-cost options to reduce CO2 emissions, such as improving household cooking efficiency and enhancing natural forest regeneration.

This research paper assesses Western efforts to develop African peacekeeping capabilities in the late 1990s, specifically focusing on the 'P-3 Initiative' (US, UK, and France) and Danish contributions. The authors argue that while these capacity-building programs provide tangible training and equipment, they are primarily driven by Western domestic political desires to avoid direct military or financial involvement in African conflicts. The document also details the institutional, financial, and operational limitations of African regional bodies like the OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS in managing peace and security independently.

This 1998 report by the Institute for Security Studies assesses the nature and origins of organised crime in South Africa, tracing its evolution from domestic street gangs to sophisticated transnational networks. It examines the impact of political transition, the role of state corruption, and the shift in police strategies from incident-driven responses to intelligence-led operations.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the growth of organised crime in South Africa following the transition to democracy in 1990. It analyzes the factors contributing to this growth, the nature of local and international syndicates, and the systemic weaknesses within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the broader criminal justice system that hinder effective countermeasures.

This research paper by Hussein Solomon of the Institute for Security Studies analyses the transition from the 1995 Draft Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons to the 1997 Draft Protocol on the Facilitation of Movement of Persons within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The author argues that the 1995 protocol was overly idealistic and failed to account for extreme economic disparities and security risks, whereas the 1997 protocol adopts a more realistic, incremental approach focused on bilateral agreements and the gradual elimination of obstacles.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the early development of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security. It argues that the Organ is currently underdeveloped, operating primarily at the summit level and through the military-focused Inter-State Defence and Security Committee (ISDSC), while lacking mechanisms for human rights and democratic governance. The authors propose a comprehensive structural overhaul, including the creation of a Political Co-operation Council, an Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, and a permanent multinational secretariat to move the Organ from a reactive 'fire brigade' role to a proactive regional security framework.

This report provides an overview of a workshop focused on rural electrification in four East African countries, specifically examining obstacles, potential solutions, and the role of bio-electrification, solar, wind, and hydro power.

This research paper, based on a lecture by Opa Kapijimpanga, argues that Africa's recurring debt crises are a structural consequence of its position in the 'periphery' of global capitalism. The author contends that debt sustainability is unattainable under neoliberalism and requires a fundamental 'delinking' from institutions and ideologies that reinforce dependency and underdevelopment.

The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) conducted various capacity-building initiatives, policy advocacy, and institutional partnerships in 2024 to address Africa's public debt burden, reform the global financial architecture, and promote sustainable debt management.

This research paper by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) analyzes the Public Finance Management (PFM) legislative frameworks of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, comparing them to the SADC PF Model Law on Public Financial Management. The study identifies a systemic gap between the existence of progressive PFM laws and their effective implementation, particularly regarding debt sustainability, parliamentary oversight, and the prevention of illicit financial flows (IFFs).

This research paper by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) examines the relationship between escalating sovereign debt in Africa and the subsequent erosion of human rights. The authors argue that high debt-servicing obligations force governments to implement austerity measures and cut spending on essential public services, thereby compromising basic needs and hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper analyzes debt trends, the impact of various relief initiatives, and the role of civil society, ultimately calling for a human rights-based approach to debt management and the cancellation of debts for highly indebted countries.

The 2024 Zambia Debt Profile by AFRODAD analyzes the drivers and consequences of Zambia's unsustainable national debt, which reached $25.5 billion by the end of 2023. The report details how excessive borrowing for unproductive infrastructure, combined with a high reliance on volatile copper exports and significant tax evasion, led to a sovereign default in November 2020. It highlights the severe impact of debt servicing on social sectors, specifically the crowding out of health and education budgets, and evaluates the challenges of restructuring under the G20 Common Framework.

A case study on a CDKN-supported pilot project in Uganda that tested the 'A-B-C-D Rural Electrification' model. The project demonstrated the technical and commercial viability of a distributed off-grid power model serving anchor customers, businesses, community facilities, and domestic households.