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India's engagement with Africa has evolved from a post-colonial focus on decolonisation and non-alignment to a pragmatic 'enlightened national interest' approach. This modern strategy is driven by India's need for energy security, specifically crude petroleum, and its ambition for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Trade has grown significantly, with bilateral trade reaching $39 billion in 2008–09, and Indian investment has expanded across hydrocarbons, mining, agriculture, and ICT. India continues to support African capacity building through the ITEC programme and the Pan-African e-network project, aiming to marry its traditional idealistic goals with contemporary economic and strategic needs.

The Indian Ocean contains 13 percent of the world's coral reefs, with over 65 percent currently at risk from local threats, primarily overfishing. Projections indicate that by 2050, all areas in the region will be considered threatened due to the combined impact of local pressures and climate-related stressors such as thermal stress and acidification. While 19 percent of reefs are within marine protected areas, only 11 percent of the region's reefs are in MPAs with effective or partially effective management.

The document examines the complex interdependence between Northern and Southern Sudan as the South moves toward independence. It highlights the critical role of oil co-management, as Southern Sudan derives 98% of its income from oil exports that must travel through Northern infrastructure. The author argues that while the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) provided a path to secession, significant risks remain, including unresolved border disputes in Abyei, the potential for continued insurgency in the North, and the fragile internal governance of the South. Regionally, the document notes the potential for a new independent South Sudan to shift the balance of power within the Nile Basin Initiative, potentially challenging Egypt's historical dominance over Nile water rights.

The seminar highlighted the economic interdependence of Northern and Southern Sudan, noting that while oil and water resources are critical for the viability of both regions, they could serve as unifying factors for peace. Key challenges identified include the governance of the oil sector, the distribution of Nile basin water, the status of the Abyei region, and the presence of Darfur rebels in the South.

The document clarifies administrative and technical requirements for bidders responding to a Call for Expressions of Interest for the implementation of the Kenya National Climate Change Response Strategy (NCCRS). Key administrative clarifications include the requirement for original signed Non Disclosure Agreements by 15 April 2011 and the flexibility for consortiums to propose different configurations for different subcomponents. Regarding the technical scope, the document notes that Subcomponent 9 is dedicated to coordination across the project, and Subcomponent 4 focuses on MRV baseline and reference scenarios for all potential mitigation actions prioritised by the government. The publisher states that budgets, timeframes, and the specific sequencing of the nine subcomponents are still subject to discussion with the Government of Kenya and shortlisted suppliers.

The IISD Global Connectivity Program examines how the 'global connectivity system'—including ICTs and internet governance—can facilitate the flow of knowledge and leadership required for sustainability. The program identifies key trends such as the rise of 'smart' systems for resource efficiency, a global digital economy that exceeds the agriculture and energy sectors in consumption and expenditure, and the shift toward networked, social-media-driven information exchange. IISD emphasizes the need for open, accessible communications infrastructure to gather environmental data and monitor resources, while simultaneously seeking to minimize the negative environmental impacts of ICTs.

The report examines the state of ICT and Internet policy in West Africa, highlighting the transition from state-led telecommunications to private-sector-driven growth. It details a survey conducted across seven West African countries and Kenya, which reveals overwhelming support for national multi-stakeholder Internet governance forums (IGFs). The findings emphasize that while mobile penetration has grown rapidly, significant gaps remain in broadband access, digital literacy, and regional interconnectivity. The document argues for a holistic policy approach that integrates Internet governance with sustainable development goals, including environmental stewardship and e-governance, while advocating for a shift from top-down government control to inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue.

The document is a workshop report detailing the regional dimensions of conflict in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. It examines how the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), the illegal exploitation of natural resources, and forced displacement create a cycle of instability. The report analyzes the role of regional bodies like the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) and the East African Community (EAC) in promoting sustainable peace, while highlighting systemic challenges such as weak governance, impunity for human rights violations, and a dependence on external funding.

The document argues that rule of law (RoL) development in Africa is primarily a political rather than a technical exercise, criticizing the traditional 'institutional capacity development' model used by donors. It advocates for a shift toward service-delivery and problem-solving approaches that recognize legal pluralism, engage legitimate local justice providers, and address the political interests of domestic elites who may oppose RoL reforms. The report highlights specific challenges such as extreme pre-trial detention rates, gender-based violence, and the complexities of international criminal justice via the ICC, while suggesting that sustainability is best achieved through community-driven projects and the integration of international human rights law into national domestic legislation.

The report examines the potential secession of Southern Sudan, highlighting unresolved issues such as border demarcation and oil revenue division. It assesses the risks of the new state becoming a 'weak state' with limited control over its borders and the proliferation of small arms, while also noting opportunities for regional economic integration and trade with Kenya and Uganda.

The document details a seminar presentation by Chief Superintendent Vance B Gariba and a response by Dr Emmanuel Kisiangani regarding the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). It examines the historical context of Somalia's instability, the mandate and achievements of AMISOM—including the training of over 2,000 Somali police—and the systemic failures of the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The discussion highlights critical gaps in AMISOM's mandate, such as the lack of civilian protection, and suggests that long-term stability requires transformative institutional building and potential political engagement with Al Shabaab leaders.

The document details a workshop on the regional dimensions of conflict in the Great Lakes Region, analyzing how factors like the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW), illegal exploitation of lootable natural resources, and forced displacement create a self-perpetuating cycle of instability. It examines the role of regional bodies like the ICGLR and EAC in promoting peace and highlights the critical need for good governance, human rights protections, and coordinated regional strategies to address the root causes of violence.

The report analyzes how the Somali diaspora, estimated at 1-1.5 million people, supports its country of origin through private remittances, collective fundraising, and private investment. It highlights the critical role of the 'hawala' money transfer system and the significant impact of diaspora-funded social services in education and health. The document argues that while the diaspora is a vital lifeline, its effectiveness is hindered by security concerns, counter-terrorism regulations in host countries, and a lack of coordination. It recommends that the UN act as a facilitator by providing matching funds, improving the regulatory environment for transfers, and expanding professional return programs like QUESTS/MIDA.

The report examines the role of 'best practices' in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), an African Union instrument designed to improve governance through voluntary peer review. Analyzing 12 Country Review Reports (CRRs), the authors identify 146 practices across four themes: democracy and political governance, economic governance and management, corporate governance, and socio-economic development. The document argues that while the APRM lacks a clear conceptual definition of 'best practices,' these identified successes are essential for fostering 'African solutions to African problems' and providing non-coercive incentives for governance reform.

The report analyzes urban sanitation trends across Sub-Saharan Africa, China, India, South East Asia, and Latin America, while examining the technical and social interactions between these systems and menstrual waste disposal. It finds that menstrual products, particularly those with super-absorbent materials, frequently cause blockages in water-borne sewerage systems and reduce the design life of on-site pit latrines. The document argues that menstrual management is largely ignored in sanitation design, leading to privacy issues for women and operational failures in infrastructure. It recommends the use of solid waste streams for menstrual product disposal and the design of 'women-friendly' facilities that include private waste bins and hand-washing stations.

The document argues that Africa is disproportionately vulnerable to climate change despite being among the lightest polluters. It highlights critical threats to water and food security, the potential for climate change to act as a 'threat multiplier' for conflict, and the urgent need for improved climate information and financial compensation from developed nations for adaptation.

The document examines how natural resources—both through abundance and scarcity—fuel social and armed conflicts in Africa. It argues that traditional peace processes often fail by focusing on 'high politics' (like power-sharing) while ignoring the underlying political economy of resource distribution. Using the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (IC/GLR), and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) as examples, the author advocates for integrating natural resource management into diplomatic and mediation frameworks to achieve sustainable peace.

The workshop examined how global financial regulatory shifts following the 2008 crisis affect Southern Africa. While South Africa dominates the regional financial services market, the adoption of Basel III—driven by South Africa's G20 membership—may create new barriers to trade by increasing capital requirements for riskier assets, potentially reducing funding for infrastructure and cross-border lending in the region. Discussants highlighted regulatory failures at national, governance, and global levels, noting that while some reforms are irrelevant to smaller SADC nations, the dominance of South African banks ensures these global standards are transmitted regionally. The report suggests that SADC countries face significant capacity gaps in macro-prudential supervision and non-bank regulation, proposing regional cooperation or a common regulator as a viable alternative to individual national efforts.

The document analyzes China's 'exceptionalism' in Africa, a policy framework based on the 1955 Bandung conference principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and mutual benefit. While this approach seeks to differentiate China from Western powers by emphasizing political equality and a non-donor-recipient model, the author identifies three primary challenges to its sustainability: the tension between non-interference and the protection of economic interests, the gap between nominal sovereign equality and actual power asymmetry, and the lack of central government control over autonomous sub-state and private actors.

The document critiques the African Union's (AU) decision to increase AMISOM forces from approximately 6,300 to 8,000 troops following Al-Shabaab bombings in Kampala in July 2010. It argues that the mission lacks the resources and political support necessary to succeed, noting that the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) lacks national legitimacy. Drawing parallels to failures in Afghanistan and previous UN missions in Somalia, the authors suggest that military intervention alone cannot resolve the crisis. They recommend a holistic strategy centered on an all-inclusive political process involving Al-Shabaab, Hizbul Islam, Puntland, and Somaliland, alongside the involvement of regional actors like Ethiopia and Eritrea, before transferring the mandate to a fully resourced UN mission.