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The document examines the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as a political process, highlighting the tensions between governments and civil society in pioneer countries. It identifies systemic failures in the APRM's operational guidelines, specifically regarding timeframes, research methods, and the development of Programmes of Action (POAs). The authors propose the 'COPPER' principles (Candid, Open, Planned, Participatory, Exemplary, Rigorous) to ensure a credible review and provide a detailed strategy for civil society to influence the process through evidence-based written submissions and media engagement. The report concludes that the APRM's success depends on presidential leadership, transparent governing councils, and a shift in focus from merely identifying problems to crafting detailed, accountable solutions in the POA.

The report examines the early experiences of five African nations implementing the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It highlights a tension between government-led processes and the need for independent civil society oversight to ensure candid self-assessments. While Ghana is praised for its independent governing council and robust research, Kenya's experience warns of civil society fragmentation and personal gain. Rwanda's process is noted for being heavily government-driven in a restrictive political climate, and Mauritius is presented as a case of failure due to a lack of political will and institutional capacity. South Africa's process is critiqued for unrealistic timelines and government attempts to sanitize findings, though it is noted for its extensive use of the internet and indigenous languages for outreach.

The document provides a comprehensive analysis of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), focusing on the experiences of pioneer countries. It details the official guidance documents, the five stages of the review process, and the critical roles of national institutions like the Focal Point and National Governing Council. A significant portion of the text is dedicated to '80 Lessons for Success,' offering strategic advice on planning, governance, media engagement, and the use of the Self-Assessment Questionnaire. It emphasizes the necessity of civil society leadership, transparency, and rigorous research to ensure the mechanism's credibility and effectiveness in fostering good governance across Africa.

The briefing examines the role of ethnic markers in Kenya's post-election violence, noting that while identity cards do not explicitly state tribe, cultural naming conventions allow perpetrators to identify and target individuals. It highlights the resulting mistrust in public sectors like healthcare and education, and argues for a neutral national identification system, the devolution of power, and the elimination of neo-patrimonial politics to ensure long-term stability.

The document examines the tensions between trade liberalization and climate goals, proposing that the EU integrate ambitious environmental standards into trade agreements and that WTO rules be subordinated to international climate agreements.

The document examines the tensions between trade liberalisation and climate mitigation, proposing that the EU and WTO shift from a market-access focus to one that prioritises environmental standards, technology transfer, and the principle of mutual supportiveness between trade and climate regimes.

The document examines how international trade contributes to climate change, primarily through transport emissions, and explores whether trade mechanisms can be repurposed to support sustainability. It discusses specific tools such as 'fair miles' labeling, the liberalization of environmental goods and services, and the implementation of energy efficiency technical standards. The text highlights a conflict between the EU's 'A Global Europe' strategy—which emphasizes market liberalization—and its climate commitments, arguing that intellectual property rights and trade barriers often hinder the transfer of clean technologies to developing nations. Furthermore, it analyzes the legal uncertainty within the WTO regarding carbon footprint labeling and border tax adjustments, calling for a 'mutual support' principle where trade rules are interpreted to facilitate, rather than obstruct, multilateral environmental agreements.

The document presents diverse perspectives on how trade affects climate change, arguing that while the transport sector is a major emitter, trade can support climate goals through environmental goods and technical standards. However, it warns that the EU's 'Global Europe' strategy and rigid intellectual property rights may undermine climate policies in developing nations. It calls for the WTO to formally recognize the primacy of climate regimes over trade rules to ensure that environmental measures are not blocked by trade disputes.

The report examines the challenges of scaling up and replicating social and environmental enterprises, contrasting the 'large scale' goals of international donors with the modest growth ambitions of local entrepreneurs. It identifies a gap in recognition and reward programmes, which often act as catalysts but lack proactive strategies to create the enabling environments necessary for systemic transformation. Based on SEED award winners, the report warns that forced scaling can risk over-extension or environmental degradation and recommends tailored support, longer-term engagement, and peer learning to foster sustainable growth.

The document evaluates the South African Army's role in the evolving African security architecture, focusing on the African Standby Force (ASF) and SADC Brigade. It analyzes the nature of African conflict, the necessity of rapid deployment capabilities, and the impact of cultural intelligence and professionalization on mission success. The report highlights significant challenges for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), including budget constraints, human resource crises due to HIV/AIDS and aging personnel, and the risks associated with the privatization of security. It concludes that while the SANDF possesses high technical capabilities, its effectiveness as a lead nation is hindered by structural deficiencies and a lack of political prioritization of defense funding.

The report argues that successful mesoscale agricultural water management (AWM) depends heavily on 'soft components' such as initial social capital, participatory methodologies, and capacity building. Through meta-analyses and case studies in regions like India, Kenya, and Ethiopia, the authors find that participatory projects generally outperform top-down technocratic approaches. However, the report highlights a critical gap in the systematic monitoring and economic valuation of these social and environmental gains, noting that conventional cost-benefit analyses often ignore externalities and changes in natural and social capital.

The 'Integrating Climate and Development' project, running from March 2008 to December 2009, aims to fill the gap in concrete analysis regarding the integration of climate policies into development plans. Focusing on Thailand as part of a global initiative, the project employs national expert teams and multi-stakeholder steering committees to identify climate strategies consistent with sustainable development. The final output consists of national and regional synthesis studies detailing strategic options for the involved countries and regions.

The document describes a scoping phase (January to November 2008) for a programme aimed at building long-term capacity in universities, research institutes, government, industry, and NGOs to manage climate change risks. The initiative focuses on developing research capacity, enhancing science-technology-policy networks, and stimulating science-policy dialogue to integrate climate risk management into national development policies. Proposed activities include forming national advisory groups, providing short courses on adaptation and vulnerability, hosting international experts, developing curricula, and establishing joint research fellowships. The programme is designed to support the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Nairobi Work Programme and National Adaptation Programmes of Action.

The report examines the use of eminent domain to establish protected areas (PAs) in East Africa, highlighting how irregular land acquisitions and degazettement threaten biodiversity. It argues that PAs are only sustainable when established through transparent, inclusive, and accountable processes that respect private property rights and provide fair compensation.

The report provides a comprehensive review of Sustainable Public Procurement (SPP) practices globally, noting that while OECD member states lead in national program implementation, local governments in both developed and developing regions are highly active. It identifies critical barriers to SPP, such as the traditional 'best value for money' mindset and high upfront capital costs, and argues for a shift toward full-life costing. The document analyzes the compatibility of SPP with international trade agreements like the WTO's Agreement on Government Procurement and details specific national efforts in countries such as Brazil, China, India, and South Africa, emphasizing the need for dedicated legal frameworks and multistakeholder collaboration to scale sustainable purchasing.

The document examines the proliferation of the private security industry in Africa, linking its growth to state weakness and the exploitation of natural resources. It analyzes the legal status of private contractors under international humanitarian law (IHL), provides case studies on domestic regulation in South Africa and Swaziland, and presents the Swiss Initiative as a model for inter-governmental cooperation to promote respect for human rights and IHL.

The paper examines the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) as a model for transitional justice and peace building. It argues that while the TRC succeeded in creating a public space for debate and uncovering hidden atrocities, it struggled with conceptual ambiguities regarding 'truth', 'justice', and 'reconciliation'. The author contends that the TRC's focus on individual perpetrators and restorative justice often overlooked the structural inequalities of the apartheid system. Ultimately, the document suggests that truth commissions are insufficient on their own for sustainable peace and must be complemented by long-term societal transformation and economic reconstruction.

The document examines the long-term conflict in Sudan, focusing on the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) as a framework for governance and peace. It details the interests of the Government of Sudan (GOS), the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A), and international mediators like IGAD. The paper analyzes the CPA's protocols on power-sharing, wealth-sharing, and security, while highlighting the critical role of the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) process in post-conflict reconstruction.

The document examines Malawi's strategic dilemma of belonging to both the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It highlights that while the private sector favors COMESA's rules of origin, trade data shows SADC, particularly South Africa, is a more significant export destination. The briefing discusses the technical impossibility of belonging to two customs unions and the pressure from the European Commission to choose one regional economic community to secure European Development Fund (EDF) funding. It concludes that Malawi is likely to remain in both free trade areas in the short term to avoid revenue loss and maintain development funding, while potentially pursuing a split strategy where SADC focuses on development and COMESA on trade.

The report examines the 'aid for trade' concept, which aims to help developing countries, particularly least-developed countries (LDCs), build supply-side capacity and infrastructure to benefit from the multilateral trading system. It analyzes the recommendations of the WTO Task Force on Aid for Trade, the role of the African Group, and the impact of other initiatives like the Enhanced Integrated Framework (IF) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the EU. The author argues that for aid for trade to be effective in southern and eastern Africa, it must be driven by the recipient countries, integrated into national development strategies, and delinked from market access concessions in the Doha Round.