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This report explores how cell captive insurance structures can address structural constraints in sub-Saharan African (SSA) insurance markets, such as fragmentation, lack of innovation, and limited capacity for specialised risks. It identifies four primary use cases—specialised risk management, retail innovation, market participation, and offshore financial centre development—and provides a decision framework for regulators to design appropriate legal and supervisory structures.

This working paper models the impact of removing fossil fuel subsidies across 26 countries and reviews 60 research papers to estimate global greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. It finds that subsidy removal alone leads to a national average emission reduction of 6 per cent, which increases to 13.2 per cent when combined with a modest energy tax and investments in renewables and energy efficiency.

This research paper assesses the progress and challenges of the institutional reform process of the African Union (AU) led by Rwanda's President Paul Kagame. Based on the 2017 'Kagame Report', the reforms aim to address inefficient bureaucracy, funding shortages, and overlapping mandates. The paper analyzes specific achievements, such as the reduction of AU commissioners and the restructuring of NEPAD and the APRM, while highlighting significant resistance from member states—particularly within SADC—and the ongoing struggle for financial autonomy through the Kigali Financing Decision.

The June 2019 Bonn negotiations aim to build a foundation for higher climate ambition ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit. Key priorities include refining the Paris Rulebook's tools and rules to prevent double-counting of emissions, integrating IPCC science into national commitments (NDCs), and addressing the funding and operational effectiveness of the Green Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the Warsaw International Mechanism for loss and damage.

This report by FSD Africa and Cenfri examines the remittance landscape in Nigeria, identifying it as the highest recipient of remittances in Africa. While formal flows are significant, the sector is characterized by high informality, regulatory volatility, and infrastructure gaps that hinder the reduction of transaction costs and the expansion of financial inclusion.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for "subsidy swaps," the process of redirecting government financial support from fossil fuels to clean energy. It argues that while removing fossil fuel subsidies can reduce emissions, a swap is necessary to ensure permanent reductions and provide economic, social, and health benefits. The document analyzes the global context of these shifts and provides case studies from India, Indonesia, Zambia, and Morocco to demonstrate the feasibility of reallocating resources to renewable energy and energy efficiency.

The April 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical stability challenges across Africa, focusing on the fragility of peace deals in the Central African Republic and South Sudan, the trend of constitutional amendments to extend presidential terms, and the escalating crises in Cameroon and Sudan.

This guide provides policymakers with a framework for designing retail tariffs and subsidies to incentivize private sector investment in mini-grids, primarily in Africa. It highlights the 'viability gap' where high costs and low rural revenues hinder commercial viability. The document details various tariff approaches (uniform, cost-reflective, and case-by-case) and subsidy structures (input, output, and auction-based), emphasizing that confidence in timely disbursement and a balance between verification and effectiveness are key to successful implementation.

The report 'Bùng nổ và thoái trào 2019' by Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, and Greenpeace analyzes global coal power plant trends in 2018. It highlights a general decline in new coal capacity, particularly in India and China, while noting a resurgence of construction in China due to the reactivation of previously frozen projects. The report also details the record-high closure of coal plants in the US and the growth of renewable energy in India and Vietnam.

The 'Boom and Bust 2019' report by Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, and Greenpeace tracks the global coal plant pipeline, noting a general decline in construction starts, pre-construction activity, and plant completions in 2018. While global trends show a shrinking pipeline and record retirements, China remains a significant exception due to the resumption of previously shelved projects and industry proposals for continued expansion.

This March 2019 report by Global Energy Monitor, Sierra Club, and Greenpeace analyzes global trends in coal-fired power plant capacity. It highlights a general decline in new construction and pre-construction activities, alongside record retirements, while noting that China remains a significant outlier due to the resumption of previously suspended projects and its role as a primary financier of coal infrastructure globally.

This March 2019 report by Global Energy Monitor, the Sierra Club, and Greenpeace analyzes global coal power plant trends, highlighting a general decline in new construction and planning, contrasted by specific policy shifts in China and continued development in Southeast Asia.

This report analyzes local procurement policies (LCPs) in the mining sector, examining how governments can increase the purchase of goods and services from domestic suppliers to foster industrial development and economic diversification. It details various ways to define "local"—through geography, value addition, or ownership—and evaluates demand-side and supply-side policy instruments, ranging from mandated percentages and targeted lists to supplier development programs and access to finance. The document emphasizes that LCPs are most effective when supported by a conducive business climate, reliable data, and complementary capacity-building measures for local firms.

This March 2019 issue of the Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to stabilize Libya, the integration of its rapid response capabilities, shortcomings in election observation in Nigeria and Senegal, and the challenges of restructuring Africa's strategic international partnerships. It also features an interview on the grassroots protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Algeria.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political instability in Guinea-Bissau leading up to the March 2019 legislative elections. It argues that while elections are a step toward legitimacy, long-term stability requires deep institutional reforms to address the structural weaknesses and constitutional ambiguities that fueled the 2015 political crisis.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute defines and operationalizes 'equitable resilience' to address the failure of traditional resilience concepts to account for power relations and social inequalities. Based on a review of 171 articles from 2005-2015, the authors propose a framework consisting of four interconnected elements—recognizing subjectivities, ensuring inclusion and representation, working across scales, and promoting transformative change—to ensure that climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction lead to socially just outcomes.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the progress and challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ahead of the 32nd AU summit. While political momentum is high, the document highlights a gap between the ceremonial launches and the technical reality, as critical tariff schedules and rules of origin remain unfinalized.

This IISD report presents the results of a 2018 online survey of 72 respondents from 54 developing countries regarding their investment treaty negotiation processes. It examines trends in treaty renegotiation, the impact of investment disputes, the use of model treaties, ratification procedures, and the specific government agencies involved in leading and supporting these negotiations.

The February 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the election of four new members to the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC), the 2019 AU chairmanship of Egypt, and South Africa's upcoming 2020 chairmanship. It also analyzes the viability of a new peace deal in the Central African Republic, the humanitarian focus on refugees in 2019, and the escalating political crisis in Sudan.

This report examines the gendered impacts of kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) subsidies and their subsequent reform in Bangladesh, India, and Nigeria, focusing on the welfare, productivity, and empowerment of women and girls in low-income households.