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The document examines the evolution of industrial policy in the digital age, using Kenya as a primary case study to illustrate the risks of 'industrial thinness.' It argues that while Kenya has successfully integrated into global digital service markets, the lack of national control over data and algorithmic infrastructure leads to a form of informational dependency similar to the 'resource trap.' The authors emphasize that digital transformation must integrate decent work standards and data sovereignty to prevent the reproduction of extractive economic models. The paper calls for coordinated national, regional (via the AfCFTA), and multilateral actions to ensure that digital dividends are captured locally rather than exported to global platform monopolies.

The briefing examines the tensions between WTO members over agricultural subsidies, public stocks, and export restrictions. It argues that for MC13 to be successful, the WTO must move beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments, specifically proposing an export restriction exemption for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to ensure food availability during crises.

The briefing examines the tensions within the WTO's MC13 negotiations, focusing on the need for binding commitments over non-binding declarations. It highlights a proposed export restriction exemption for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to combat food insecurity and details the deep divisions between developed and developing nations over domestic support and public stockholding of agricultural products.

The paper examines the evolution of industrial policy from physical factories to digital platforms, using Kenya as a primary case study. It argues that while Kenya has successfully integrated into global digital supply chains—becoming a major exporter of digital labor—it suffers from 'industrial thinness' because it lacks control over the data and algorithms that drive value. The authors contend that without robust data governance, labor protections, and regional cooperation, digitalization in low- and middle-income countries risks replicating extractive resource patterns. They advocate for a coordinated approach linking trade, labor, and industrial policies to ensure a 'just transition' and national value capture.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides free advisory and capacity development services to low-income governments and regional bodies to promote responsible private sector investment in agriculture. IISD focuses on creating legal frameworks that balance the benefits of foreign capital and technology with the protection of food security, land tenure rights, and natural resources. Their expertise includes developing model contracts for farmland investments, regional investment guidelines, contract farming templates, and policies for agricultural growth poles and zones.

The project aims to reduce community vulnerability to climate change and improve livelihoods by mainstreaming adaptation into national policies and development plans. In Mozambique, the focus is on community-based forest fire management and early warning systems. In Kenya, the project implements drought-resistant crops and improved agricultural techniques. In Rwanda, the effort centers on increasing the resilience of the hydropower sector through natural resource management and energy planning. Regional knowledge sharing involves pilot countries and observer nations Tanzania and Madagascar.

The project in Makueni District, Kenya, employs a multi-pronged approach to climate adaptation, including the use of drought-resistant crops, sand dams for water access, and micro-credit for income diversification. Led by the Centre for Science and Technology Innovations (CSTI) as part of the broader ACCESA regional project, the initiative aims to integrate these local adaptation measures into national sustainable development policies.

The Sustainable Development Timeline tracks the evolution of environmental and development milestones, starting with the 1962 publication of Silent Spring. It documents the rise of influential NGOs like Greenpeace and the Environmental Defense Fund, the establishment of international frameworks such as the Montreal Protocol and the Kyoto Protocol, and the emergence of critical scientific warnings regarding ozone depletion and climate change. The timeline also highlights the intersection of social equity and environmentalism, noting the role of the Global South, the impact of the Millennium Development Goals, and the economic arguments for climate action presented in the Stern Report.

The paper examines the systemic vulnerabilities of pastoralists, who manage approximately 25 percent of the world's land area. It argues that conflict in these regions is driven by a combination of ecological shocks, the encroachment of agricultural frontiers, and the political marginalization of herding communities by state governments. Using a sustainable livelihoods framework, the authors identify threats to natural, financial, physical, human, social, and political capital. The document concludes that technical interventions alone are insufficient; sustainable peace requires integrating pastoralists into wider societal and political structures, protecting their mobility and resource access, and empowering their political representation.

The document provides a data-driven overview of the top 15 tea-producing countries as of 2016, categorizing them by production levels, Human Development Index (HDI), and their status regarding Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) compliance.

The Institute for Security Studies and partners hosted a workshop in October 2010 to discuss the balance between national security and the right to information, specifically focusing on the redrafted Protection of Information Bill in South Africa.

The document examines the rise of NGOs in Africa since the 1980s, driven by the perceived failure of states to provide basic services and maintain accountability. While NGOs have partnered with international agencies like the World Bank and UN to fill gaps in health and education, their increasing capacity has led to conflict with African governments. States often view autonomous NGOs as political challengers, leading to restrictive legislation in countries such as Kenya and Uganda. The author concludes that while NGOs offer a development alternative, they cannot substitute for the state's role in providing essential infrastructure and basic services.

The report assesses Kenya's development, noting its leadership in ICT and positive human development indicators despite low average incomes. It highlights critical barriers to progress, specifically a significant infrastructure deficit, corruption scandals, and low access to basic services compared to other lower-middle-income countries.

The document argues that tensions between the Somali Federal Government (SFG) and regional actors over the creation of the Jubaland state—comprising Gedo, Middle Juba, and Lower Juba—threaten national stability. While Kenya and Ethiopia seek a buffer zone to secure their borders against Al-Shabaab, the SFG views the current process as unilateral and unconstitutional. The briefing warns that these disputes over governance, clan representation, and sovereignty create security gaps that Al-Shabaab can exploit, as evidenced by the group's rapid takeover of Huddur following Ethiopian troop withdrawals.

The document examines the political landscape in Ethiopia after the death of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, noting his legacy of economic growth and strategic alignment with the West. While short-term destabilisation is deemed unlikely due to intact security infrastructure, the briefing highlights risks associated with the ethnic-based ruling coalition and the potential for parochial politics to emerge.

US and UK envoys visited Mogadishu to discuss the end of Somalia's transition period and allegations of corruption within the Transitional Federal Government. A World Bank report cited corruption totaling US$ 130 million, including the misuse of donor funding. The US government reaffirmed its intent to use targeted sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, against those sabotaging the peace process. Additionally, the US has offered a US$ 33 million bounty for seven Al-Shabaab leaders to potentially induce internal divisions within the group.

The report examines the challenges facing Kenya's constitutional devolution, specifically the 'unfettered power' of members of county assemblies (MCAs). It details how MCAs have used ambiguous impeachment thresholds in the Constitution and the County Government Act to blackmail county officials and engage in political extortion. The document also highlights significant financial irregularities, citing the misuse of billions of shillings in sitting allowances, travel, and vehicle purchases, while personnel emoluments far exceeded development allocations in the 2013 fiscal year. The authors call for urgent reforms to the devolution architecture and the impeachment process to prevent political elites from subverting public service delivery.

The briefing examines the failures of state-led amnesty and reintegration processes for defectors from groups like Boko Haram and al-Shabaab in Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, and Cameroon. It highlights how torture, extrajudicial killings, and a lack of transparency by security forces drive defectors away from official channels and toward civil society organisations or direct community return. Additionally, it notes that providing livelihood assets, such as motorcycles in Kenya or livestock in Cameroon, can spark community hostility and perceptions of favouritism.

The document examines the emergence of the Sabaot Land Defence Force (SLDF) in 2006, which resulted in approximately 600 deaths and the displacement of half the Mount Elgon district's population. It argues that while military intervention routed the militia, lasting peace requires addressing root causes including colonial disinheritance of Sabaot communal lands, inequitable land distribution, and the availability of small arms.

The research identifies a complex set of drivers for al-Shabaab recruitment, including religious identity, socioeconomic conditions, and political circumstances, and provides recommendations for the Somali government and international actors to counter these trends.