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The paper examines the dynamics of China-Africa economic cooperation, noting a significant increase in Chinese foreign direct investment (FDI) from $500 million in 2003 to nearly $15 billion by 2012. While acknowledging the role of Chinese firms in hiring local labour—such as the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation and Chinese National Minerals Corporation—the author highlights a lack of transparency regarding training, health, and environmental standards. The document reviews several academic and scientific initiatives, including the Confucius Institutes and the 20+20 Cooperation Plan, concluding that while these signal a move beyond purely commercial interests, they have often failed to yield tangible results. The author recommends the establishment of a tighter African regulatory framework and an autonomous monitoring mechanism to ensure sustainable and inclusive growth.

The policy brief examines the transition of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) from initial 'base' reviews to 'second-generation' periodic reviews. It identifies systemic weaknesses in the first-generation process—including excessive costs, cumbersome reporting, and poor implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPoAs)—and recommends institutional reforms to regain momentum. Key suggestions include maintaining National Governing Councils (NGCs) for institutional memory, improving continental leadership at the Secretariat, and tailoring future reviews to emphasize specific issues identified in previous assessments to ensure greater accountability.

The report argues that carefully designed investment contracts can bridge gaps in national legislation to ensure that large-scale agricultural investments in developing countries promote sustainable development. Drawing on research from UNCTAD and the World Bank, it identifies five key benefits—such as job creation and the integration of local farmers—and five primary risks, including land loss and poor environmental management. The document outlines a three-stage contractual process (preparation, negotiation, and monitoring) and provides specific legal options, such as 'satellite plantation' clauses and community development agreements, to ensure investors meet their social and environmental obligations.

The study identifies that while Kibera households are acutely aware of the health risks associated with charcoal and kerosene, several behavioural and structural barriers prevent the adoption of cleaner alternatives. Key findings highlight a lack of awareness regarding high-efficiency stoves, price misperceptions due to daily fuel purchasing habits, and the significant role of aspirational thinking and personality traits like risk-taking in technology uptake. The researchers also demonstrate that 'cultural probes' (disposable cameras) are effective tools for eliciting sensitive socio-cultural data in slum environments.

The document examines the Grand Inga hydropower project in the DRC as a catalyst for energy dialogue and regional integration in Southern Africa. While the project offers immense generation potential, it faces significant hurdles including the DRC's poor infrastructure, institutional instability, and the need for massive international investment. The author argues that for Inga 3 and the broader Grand Inga scheme to succeed, South Africa and the DRC must shift from national priorities toward regional planning, engaging other SADC members and international financial institutions to secure the necessary funding and transmission networks.

The document argues that populations in fragile states are highly vulnerable to climate variability due to geography, reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and weak governance. It aims to bridge the gap between peacebuilding and climate adaptation by guiding practitioners on how to utilize climate information to strengthen resilience and long-term stability in contexts where such data is often missing or weak.

The report examines the intersection of domestic law, international investment law, freshwater law, and human rights law in the context of large-scale agricultural investments in Africa. It highlights how foreign investors often secure formal statutory water rights through contracts and treaties that prevail over the informal customary rights of local communities. The document emphasizes the increasing pressure on water resources due to population growth and climate change, particularly in Southern and Northern Africa. It analyzes the role of river basin organizations, such as those for the Senegal, Niger, and Lake Chad basins, in managing transboundary water resources. The report concludes that host states must integrate these parallel legal regimes to ensure sustainable water management and protect the human right to water.

The SAIIA Youth Policy Committee condemns xenophobic violence in South Africa, emphasizing the historical support provided by other African nations during the apartheid era. The committee calls for a national discussion to address the causes of xenophobia and urges government and local leaders to employ political will and grassroots engagement to stop the violence.

The author reflects on Zambia's historical support for Southern African liberation movements and its use of a compulsory 'Civics' curriculum to pre-empt xenophobia from childhood. The text suggests that South Africa lacks a similar educational mechanism to teach citizens about the role other African countries played in its struggle, which contributes to recurring xenophobic violence. It recommends the creation of a Presidential Working Group on Xenophobia and calls for prominent African executives in South Africa to be more open about their origins to combat negative perceptions.

The document analyzes FDI inflows into the SADC region from 2003 to 2014, noting a heavy reliance on natural resources. It argues that the slump in commodity prices in 2014 necessitates a move away from 'dated ideological' policies like beneficiation toward global value chain integration and improved regional infrastructure to attract more diversified investment.

The report argues that climate change threatens to undermine development and peacebuilding progress in fragile states due to high exposure to risks, reliance on climate-dependent sectors, and existing vulnerabilities like weak governance. It advocates for a dual approach: implementing climate-resilient peacebuilding that accounts for climate risk as a conflict driver, and developing conflict-sensitive climate responses that avoid exacerbating tensions and instead promote peace.

The document details a training program held in September 2014 in Santo Domingo, aimed at improving the Dominican Republic's implementation of the IGF Mining Policy Framework. It focuses on two areas where the country was assessed as having low implementation: socioeconomic benefit optimization and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The report outlines expert presentations on tax and non-tax benefits, community engagement, and the formalization of ASM, while recording recommendations from government officials, mining cooperatives, and civil society to improve transparency, legal frameworks, and social license.

The document examines the critical role of National Governing Councils (NGCs) as the link between political leadership and technical research in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It identifies significant inconsistencies in NGC size, composition, and legal status across participating states, which hinder the consistency and legitimacy of Country Self-Assessment Reports (CSAR). The brief argues that meaningful independence from government, clear legal mandates, and robust technical support from the APRM Secretariat are essential for the mechanism's success. It recommends that the Secretariat develop coherent guidelines and that civil society organisations (CSOs) hold governments accountable for the composition of these councils.

The document examines how the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) evaluates judicial independence, arguing that the process relies too heavily on formal constitutional protections rather than the actual capacity of courts to issue autonomous judgements. Through analysis of reports from Uganda, Lesotho, and Tanzania, the author identifies a gap between the 'rhetoric' of separation of powers and the 'reality' of executive interference, underfunding, and selective compliance. The paper recommends shifting the APRM's focus toward 'judicial empowerment' and integrating the broader 'legal complex'—including law societies and legal scholars—into the assessment process to better understand the systemic pressures on the rule of law.

The paper examines how specific agricultural practices—including reduced tillage, crop rotations, legume intercropping, and modern inputs—impact crop yields and the probability of disastrously low yields for smallholder farmers in Zambia. It utilizes panel data from the Rural Incomes and Livelihoods Surveys (RILS) merged with geo-referenced historical rainfall and temperature data to analyze how these practices interact with varying climatic conditions.

The FCFA Zambia pilot study found that climate information is not currently used for long-term planning or infrastructure decisions in Zambia. While there is high demand for high-resolution projections, decision-makers often overlook the associated uncertainty. The brief recommends investing in 'adaptation ready' science, creating institutional incentives for collaboration between scientists and planners, and adopting interactive engagement methods like gamification to build trust and improve data flow. It also advocates for open data systems to break down departmental silos and the implementation of forecast-based financing to trigger early action before climate disasters occur.

The document highlights the vulnerability of sub-Saharan African port infrastructure to climate hazards such as sea level rise, storm surges, and extreme rainfall. It notes that while the industry is aware of climate change, this awareness is rarely translated into practical planning. The brief recommends establishing a close dialogue between climate scientists and port practitioners, reviewing port master plans, and providing designers with simple, quantified projections of climate variables to improve long-term resilience.

The report examines the gap between Africa's strong rhetorical commitment to regional integration and the limited actual progress achieved. Using APRM data from 17 countries, it identifies systemic barriers including reluctance to cede national sovereignty, overlapping memberships in multiple regional economic communities (RECs), inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of private sector involvement. While some blocs like the East African Community (EAC) show more progress, most have not advanced beyond free trade areas or customs unions, and intra-African trade remains low compared to trade with external partners like the EU and China.

The policy brief advocates for a shift in how protected areas (PAs) in Africa are valued, moving beyond biodiversity to include measurable economic contributions. It suggests that integrating ecosystem services into national development planning and adopting innovative financing—such as payment for ecosystem services (PES), carbon offsets, and 'wildlife-friendly' product certifications—can secure investment and improve local livelihoods. The authors emphasize that PAs must be co-managed with local communities to ensure equitable benefit sharing and sustainable resource use.

The 10th GCF Board meeting resulted in the accreditation of 13 new entities, including the World Bank and Deutsche Bank, despite civil society opposition. The Board approved a US$200 million pilot for Enhanced Direct Access, alongside other pilots for MSMEs and resource mobilization. Additionally, US$2.5 million was allocated for readiness support in nine countries, and the Fund's total signed contributions reached US$5.47 billion.