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The document argues that while Africa views migration as a demographic and development issue, the European Union has increasingly adopted a securitised approach. It identifies four key entry points for strengthening the Africa-EU partnership: remittances, legal labour migration pathways, international protection, and voluntary returns and readmissions.

The document argues that Southern Africa urgently needs climate adaptation funding, specifically for planned relocation, to protect populations from slow-onset climate impacts. It highlights a significant gap in adaptation finance, noting that most funding is directed toward mitigation or countries with high institutional capacity rather than the most vulnerable. The author advocates for planned relocation as a last-resort, voluntary, and developmental tool, warning against the poor outcomes associated with forced or poorly managed historical resettlements.

The document examines the shift in Mozambique's strategy from treating the Cabo Delgado insurgency as a criminal matter to accepting international military support. It details the failures of the Russian Wagner Group, the role of the Dyck Advisory Group, and the subsequent deployments of Rwandan forces and the SADC Military Mission (SAMIM). While foreign troops have achieved quick gains, such as recovering Mocímboa da Praia, the brief highlights a critical lack of transparency regarding bilateral agreements and warns that insurgents are now dispersing into smaller groups in southern districts.

The policy brief examines the lack of a uniform definition of violence prevention in South Africa, presenting perspectives from children, researchers, NGOs, government officials, and private sector partners. It argues that effective prevention requires moving beyond criminal justice responses to address structural drivers such as poverty, inequality, and patriarchy through a collective, multi-layered social compact.

The document evaluates the Eyethu Soccer League, a gender-tailored intervention for young men in Cape Town designed to reduce violence, HIV risk, and substance use. Despite being well-resourced and based on cognitive-behavioural therapy, a cluster randomised controlled trial involving 1,200 participants found few effects on risk behaviours, with no reported changes in violence perpetration or mental health. The brief concludes that social skills-based programmes are often unable to disrupt the structural factors shaping negative outcomes and recommends that public safety policies avoid 'easy wins' in favour of evidence-based, structurally integrated, and early-childhood interventions.

The review finds that effective violence prevention in South Africa must be context-responsive, culturally relevant, and trauma-informed, often requiring multilevel interventions that combine social support with economic empowerment. It highlights that while laws and policies provide essential building blocks, sustainable change requires community mobilisation and the addressing of structural determinants like poverty and spatial marginalisation.

PARI and the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) support the Companies Amendment Bill, 2021, specifically the amendments to Section 56 regarding the definition and disclosure of 'true owners' of companies. They argue that current limitations in the Companies Act, which only require the recording of director information, allow public servants to hide conflicts of interest and avoid financial disclosure obligations. The submission asserts that beneficial ownership transparency would help detect fraud, collusion, and corruption in public procurement, and enable the identification of senior public servants who fail to disclose company interests. PARI recommends that South Africa adopt a model without a minimum shareholding threshold for disclosure, similar to Botswana, and that the resulting data be freely and publicly available in an open format.

The briefing examines the gap between South Africa's policy goals for affordable energy and the reality for low-income households. It identifies two primary failures: the lack of a clear definition for "affordable energy" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program. The document reveals that in 2019, while national grants covered 9.8 million households for basic services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving approximately 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in 2019 alone.

The document argues that the South African government has failed to fulfill its 1998 commitment to provide affordable electricity to poor households, small businesses, and farmers. It identifies two primary causes: a lack of a clear definition for "affordable electricity" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy. While the national budget allocated funds for 9.8 million households to receive 50kWh of free electricity in 2019, only 2 million households actually received it. The briefing highlights that municipalities are responsible for registering low-income households and distributing these funds, but a lack of oversight has led to an estimated R6 billion in missing funds and millions of eligible households paying for electricity out of pocket.

The document examines the legal frameworks governing the appointment and removal of senior officials in South Africa's criminal justice system, specifically the NPA, SAPS, DPCI, and IPID. It argues that these processes are currently susceptible to political manipulation and patronage, which undermines the rule of law and institutional legitimacy. The author highlights a lack of rigorous selection criteria and the absence of independent oversight panels, noting that the President and Ministers often exercise unchecked discretion. To remedy this, the document proposes the institutionalisation of independent selection panels, the adoption of more specific 'fit and proper' criteria, and the implementation of non-renewable terms of office to prevent favour-seeking. It also suggests that removal processes should be guided by independent boards chaired by judges to ensure impartiality.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of energy transition progress in Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam. It highlights the role of independent think tanks in driving policy breakthroughs, such as coal phase-outs and renewable energy targets, while identifying systemic barriers including political resistance, grid limitations, and financing gaps. The document argues that while technology strategies (renewables and electrification) are converging, national implementation is shaped by distinct local political and social factors.

The report analyzes the systemic failure of South Africa's public administration due to the unchecked power of political office-bearers over personnel decisions. It proposes a reform model that divides appointment and removal into four stages—process planning, process administration, short-listing, and appointment—to create a functional segregation of duties. For the public service, it suggests empowering the Public Service Commission (PSC) as an independent check. For municipalities, it proposes the creation of independent personnel committees involving professional associations. To overcome political resistance, the author advocates for a 'covering-in' statutory mechanism to implement these reforms incrementally across different organs of state.

The report identifies a crisis in South Africa's public procurement system, characterized by systemic corruption, political interference, and a lack of professional capacity. It argues that the current legal regime is overly complex and fragmented, often prioritizing rigid compliance over operational efficiency and developmental goals. The authors propose several reforms: the creation of a single regulatory authority, the adoption of a principles-based strategic procurement approach, and the introduction of 'qui tam' mechanisms to incentivize whistleblowers through financial rewards for recovering defrauded state funds.

The report argues that South Africa's state is in crisis due to systemic corruption and patronage, which are enabled by the unchecked power of politicians over public administrative appointments and procurement. It proposes a 'path to professionalisation' through the creation of independent checks and balances, specifically by dividing appointment processes into stages managed by independent bodies like the Public Service Commission. For criminal justice institutions (NPA, SAPS, DPCI, IPID), it advocates for transparent selection panels to insulate leadership from political interference. Regarding public procurement, the report identifies a crisis of non-compliance and capacity, proposing a single coherent statute, a unified regulatory authority, and the introduction of 'qui tam' mechanisms to incentivise private citizens to report and sue for procurement fraud.

The research argues that while food insecurity provides the motivation for urban unrest, the actual occurrence of collective action is contingent on the presence of organizational networks and the level of state repression. Using a combination of cross-national data from urban Africa (1990–2014) and individual-level survey data from Johannesburg, the author finds that food insecurity increases the likelihood of unrest, particularly demonstrations and strikes. However, the study challenges the notion that food is a uniquely potent driver of unrest compared to other living expenses and finds no evidence that food insecurity leads specifically to more violent behavior.

Zimbabwe has increased its climate ambition by raising its 2030 emission reduction target from 33% to 40% per capita compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Unlike its first NDC, which focused only on energy, the revised version is economy-wide, covering Energy, Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU), Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU), and Waste. The document emphasizes that Zimbabwe is highly vulnerable to climate change, with 70% of its population reliant on rainfed agriculture, and identifies four priority adaptation areas: climate-smart agriculture, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and sustainable water management. Implementation of these goals is conditional on international financial support, with mitigation costs estimated at US$4,834.47 million.

The guide outlines a church service and Sunday School activities designed to promote 'water discipleship'. It combines liturgical elements—such as prayers and a sermon—with educational content on the hydrological cycle and groundwater. The text specifically addresses the water-scarce reality of South Africa, highlighting the disparity between those facing 'Day Zero' conditions and those with excessive water use, while urging the adoption of water-wise practices to ensure generational justice.

The guide details the ecological threats posed by invasive alien plants in the Cape Floral Region, including water depletion and biodiversity loss. It outlines legal obligations under the Biodiversity Act and CARA, provides a structured four-step planning process, and describes four primary control methods: manual, mechanical, chemical, and biological. The document also emphasizes health and safety protocols for herbicide use and the importance of long-term ecological rehabilitation.

A comprehensive manual for land owners and managers in the Cape Floral Region on the identification, legal obligations, planning, and removal of invasive alien plants, including safety protocols and rehabilitation strategies.

The report identifies a lack of demand for post-consumer recyclate (PCR) and poor packaging design as primary barriers to a circular plastics economy in South Africa. It highlights a fragmented value chain where brand owners and retailers hold the most influence but often prioritize cost and marketing over sustainability. The study emphasizes the need for mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations to fund infrastructure, integrate informal waste collectors, and incentivize the shift from virgin polymers to recycled content.