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The paper argues that despite Kenya's strong economic performance as a regional hub, the 2017 elections exposed deep-seated vulnerabilities in its democratic institutions and a persistent reliance on ethnically based identity politics. While the Supreme Court's initial annulment of the election results was seen as a victory for the separation of powers, subsequent political brinkmanship by leaders Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga led to contested results and reported deaths. The author concludes that economic growth alone is insufficient to ensure stability, and that Kenya requires inclusive development and strengthened institutions to move beyond ethnic polarization.

The report finds that while executive education (ExEd) is in high demand and improves employee skills, innovation, and customer service within sub-Saharan African financial institutions, it remains overly theoretical. Graduates report increased professional mobility but dissatisfaction with pay, particularly when self-funding. The document recommends shifting toward practical, African-centered curricula and establishing partnerships with international business schools to enhance prestige and effectiveness.

The report finds that while Kenyan women are rarely direct perpetrators of violent acts, they provide critical 'invisible infrastructure' for al-Shabaab through recruiting, intelligence gathering, and logistics. Involvement is driven by a complex interplay of poverty, socio-political marginalisation, and personal relationships. The study highlights severe impacts on women, including sexual violence in camps and psychological trauma from terror attacks and heavy-handed counter-terrorism (CT) operations. Current P/CVE responses are criticised for being gender-neutral and overly securitised, leading to mistrust between the state and affected communities.

The document challenges the narrative that water scarcity directly causes violent conflict, asserting instead that the 'politics of water'—including corruption, marginalization, and poor state management—increases conflict risks. While Africa faces significant physical water stress, with 65% of the population experiencing occasional stress and 82% of the continent being arid or semi-arid, empirical research suggests that scarcity often leads to cooperation rather than violence. Conflict typically emerges when water is treated as a 'club good' distributed based on political weight or social networks rather than need. This is particularly evident in the disparity between urban and rural access, the prioritization of cash crops for irrigation, and the rise of informal service providers, such as gangs and militias, who exploit water needs for profit in weak states.

The paper analyzes the UN's efforts to create global frameworks for migration and refugee management via the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). It highlights that while the GCR benefits from established international law and the leadership of the UNHCR, the GCM is a more politicized, state-led process lacking a foundational legal base. The author expresses concern over the minimal participation of African states and the African Union in the GCM process, arguing that this lack of engagement may lead to a framework that favors Global North interests, such as border security and return policies, over the socio-economic needs and mobility of African citizens.

The document analyzes the divergent priorities between the EU, which focuses on stemming irregular migration and border control, and African nations, which prioritize development, employment, and legal mobility. It critiques the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) for using aid conditionality to secure readmission agreements and argues that a lack of AU consensus, combined with restrictive bilateral agreements, hinders a coherent continental approach to migration.

The paper examines how climate finance is decentralized in Ethiopia and Kenya, specifically analyzing the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) facility and the County Climate Change Funds (CCCFs). It assesses the extent to which these funds align local community priorities with national climate policies and development plans, focusing on the impact of decision-making authority and jurisdictional levels on investment prioritization.

The document outlines six key tips for managing country-led development assistance: prioritizing in-country leadership by nationals, utilizing co-developed and flexible Theories of Change, aligning budgets with long-term goals, preferring local suppliers, and integrating monitoring and learning into ongoing strategic planning.

The document outlines nine key lessons for engaging the private sector in climate projects, emphasizing the need for context-specific approaches, strong public policy, and the use of innovative financial instruments. It argues that public sector leadership is essential to reduce risks and demonstrate the business case for private investment, particularly in adaptation projects which are typically seen as riskier than mitigation projects. Case studies from countries like Indonesia, Kenya, India, and Colombia illustrate the effectiveness of risk-sharing mechanisms, pilot projects, and the inclusion of private actors in the design phase of project lifecycles.

This research paper examines the 'use of country systems' (UCS) approach by multilateral development banks (MDBs) in Africa, analyzing the benefits of utilizing domestic processes over external conditionalities and the challenges that hinder its implementation.

In remarks delivered at the UN General Assembly, Manish Bapna emphasizes that open government is essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change. He warns that trust in government is at a historic low and that civic space is under attack, citing specific instances of activists being targeted in India, Kenya, and Mexico. Bapna calls for the Open Government Partnership (OGP) to make civic space a central component of National Action Plans and highlights examples of successful citizen engagement and transparency efforts in Argentina, Spain, Nigeria, and Indonesia.

The paper outlines how the UK can align its trade policy with the Paris Agreement to capitalise on a low-carbon market estimated at £1.0–1.8 trillion annually by 2030. It identifies UK strengths in offshore wind, gas turbines, and financial services, and proposes a structured approach to FTAs. The authors categorise FTA provisions into 'triple wins' (tariffs, services, and standards), 'policy coherence' (intellectual property and procurement), and 'policy cooperation' (sustainable development chapters, private standards, and environmental taxes). It concludes with a checklist for policy-makers to ensure trade deals support climate-resilient development.

The paper examines the alignment between national budgets and NDC commitments in four sub-Saharan African countries. It finds that while some ministries show rising budget projections, there are significant discrepancies between planned and actual spending. The analysis reveals that limited domestic resources are allocated to NDC actions, with a heavy reliance on international donor support. The author suggests that programme-based budgeting and Medium-Term Expenditure Frameworks offer opportunities to better track and report climate spending, though current precision remains low.

The report argues that for transitional justice to be effective in South Sudan, the African Union must move beyond the mere establishment of a hybrid court to support a coordinated, victim-centred strategy. This includes the Commission for Truth, Reconciliation and Healing (CTRH) and the Compensation and Reparation Authority (CRA), alongside traditional reconciliation mechanisms. The authors emphasize that security, psychosocial support, and the inclusion of civil society and the diaspora are essential preconditions for success. Drawing on lessons from other African nations, the report highlights the limitations of international trials and the critical importance of tangible reparations and local ownership to ensure the non-recurrence of violence.

The paper examines the role of South Africa and Kenya as regional economic gateways and the impact of private sustainability standards on SME participation in value chains. It identifies significant barriers for SMEs, including high certification costs, lack of awareness, and limited technical capacity, while highlighting the potential for multinational corporations to support supplier development. The authors provide recommendations for the G20 to facilitate open markets, improve SME financing, and harmonise sustainability standards to prevent them from becoming non-tariff barriers.

The document outlines five critical factors for building climate-resilient water infrastructure: effective communication of risks, inclusive stakeholder engagement, strategic use of entry points, adopting a systemic approach beyond individual projects, and building institutional capacity. It draws on case studies from Colombia, Africa, Mozambique, St. Vincent, and Nepal to demonstrate how these factors mitigate the risks associated with long-lived infrastructure and climate uncertainty.

The report examines the application of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to improve fund transfers in emerging markets, distinguishing between public DLT (like Bitcoin) for consumer remittances and private DLT for inter-institutional clearing and settlement. It argues that while public DLT can bypass traditional intermediaries, it faces hurdles in liquidity and 'costs at the edge'. Conversely, private DLT offers a more secure and scalable model for financial institutions to settle obligations domestically or internationally, potentially reducing entry barriers and enhancing KYC/AML processes.

The document argues that while using country systems (UCS) respects sovereignty and promotes national ownership, MDBs are hindered by financial, reputational, and technical risks. It recommends moving away from 'one-size-fits-all' safeguards toward tailored approaches, strengthening local capacity, and empowering MDB country offices to manage risks more effectively.

The document examines the South African e-commerce landscape, noting that while the market is growing—with online user penetration expected to reach 60.1% by 2021—it remains primarily a middle-class instrument. It identifies significant supply-side barriers, including high data costs and unreliable logistics, and demand-side barriers centered on a lack of trust in online payments and delivery. The author argues that while the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2002 provides a foundational legal framework, South Africa lacks a single overarching e-commerce law and needs further policy interventions in education, financial services, and infrastructure to fully leverage the digital economy for poverty alleviation and women's empowerment.

EcoPost, founded by Lorna Rutto in 2009, converts discarded plastic from Nairobi's streets into durable building materials, reducing the demand for timber and mitigating deforestation. The company employs approximately 250 plant workers and 2,000 casual collectors, providing health benefits and salaries above the national average.