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G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding
South Africa is identified as the second-worst performer among G20 non-OECD member countries due to a lack of transparency and continued support for fossil fuels. Total government support averaged USD 10.9 billion between 2017 and 2019, with the largest portion directed toward fossil fuel-based power. Support increased by 14% relative to the 2014–2016 average, driven largely by price support. The document highlights significant unquantified support, including billions in bailouts and loan guarantees for the state-owned utility Eskom, as well as carbon tax exemptions for major emitters like Sasol.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Africa First!
The document argues that while Africa has seen improvements in health indicators, it is falling further behind the rest of the world in average income and economic productivity. It identifies a 'unproductive structure' of economies dominated by low-end services and a slow demographic transition as primary barriers. To ignite a 'growth revolution' by 2040, the author advocates for a 'bottom-up' approach prioritizing basic infrastructure, a reduction in birth rates to achieve a demographic dividend, and the revitalization of the manufacturing sector to support agriculture and high-value services.
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Document type: Policy brief
South African peacebuilding needs new purpose
The document argues that South Africa's influence in global peacebuilding has waned since the late 2000s due to a lack of strategic coordination, political will, and effective financial mechanisms. It highlights the failure of the African Renaissance and International Cooperation Fund (ARF) to prioritise conflict resolution and the long-delayed establishment of the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA). The author recommends that the government professionalise its foreign service, expedite the Partnership for Development Bill, and align peacebuilding efforts with trade and investment priorities to reclaim its international standing.
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Document type: Policy brief
Evidence-led violence prevention
The document outlines a framework for evidence-led violence prevention, emphasizing that successful multisectoral collaboration requires skilled facilitation, deep contextual understanding, and the cultivation of trust. It argues against 'plug-and-play' programs, suggesting instead that interventions must be tailored to specific community needs—such as addressing gang violence in urban areas or gender inequalities in rural settings. The brief highlights that while diverse stakeholder groups (including government, researchers, and community members) may face more friction, they produce more creative and informed outcomes.
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Document type: Policy brief
Zimbabwe’s currency ‘curse’ and the economic malaise
The document analyses Zimbabwe's history of currency instability, from the failure of the US dollar peg and subsequent hyperinflation to the period of full dollarisation (200919) and the 2019 reintroduction of the Zimbabwean dollar. It argues that currency choice is secondary to macroeconomic fundamentals, noting that budget deficits and money creation have consistently undermined stability. The author suggests that if the new Zimbabwean dollar cannot be stabilised, the country should consider adopting the South African rand and joining the Common Monetary Area (CMA) to improve trade integration and competitiveness.
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Document type: Policy brief
Community mobilisation to support positive parenting
The document details a project in Touwsranten, South Africa, that integrated household-level parenting programmes with community-led social activation. This synergistic approach led to a decrease in corporal punishment, reduced child behavioural problems, and improved parent mental health. The project utilised action research and a steering committee to develop contextually relevant activities, such as a parenting manifesto and community events, to foster a collective commitment to non-violent parenting.
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Document type: Policy brief
How civil society can contribute to effective prosecutions
The document argues that the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) was severely damaged by political interference and poor leadership during the state capture years, leading to a loss of public trust and diminished performance. It proposes the creation of a civil society network to support prosecutorial reform, advocate for transparent leadership appointments, and educate the public on the NPA's mandate. Drawing on a similar initiative in Mexico, the brief suggests that coordinated civil society action can help institutionalise merit-based appointments and establish effective complaints mechanisms to ensure the NPA operates without fear, favour, or prejudice.
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Document type: Policy brief
NATURAL JUSTICE STRATEGY
Natural Justice's 2020-2022 strategy shifts from siloed programs to three integrated streams: affirming rights to lands and resources, defending rights against environmental impacts, and standing with communities through legal empowerment. The organization aims to strengthen the capacity of African Indigenous and local communities to challenge extractive projects, influence climate policy, and protect traditional knowledge. Key initiatives include the Community Environmental Legal Officers (CELOs) program, the African Environmental Defenders Initiative, and the Just Energy Transition Africa project. The strategy also details a resourcing plan focused on funding growth, financial sustainability, and internal system upgrades to support its Pan-African operations.
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Document type: Report
Organization, Repression, and the Violent Escalation and De-Escalation of Nonviolent Protest
The study uses a spatially and temporally disaggregated research design to analyze protest events in Africa and Asia. It finds that mild government repression of nonviolent protests typically leads to violent escalation, whereas repression of violent protests tends to encourage a shift back to nonviolent means. Crucially, the research demonstrates that the level of organization acts as a moderator; organized protests are more effective at maintaining nonviolent discipline and resisting the escalatory effects of repression than disorganized ones.
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Document type: Research paper
UMZIMVUBU CATCHMENT PARTNERSHIP
The Umzimvubu Catchment Partnership (UCP), established in 2013, works to restore the Umzimvubu River system, a critical part of the Eastern Cape Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area. The partnership addresses pressures from climate change, invasive species, and poor land management to ensure water security for over two million people and the preservation of biodiversity. Key achievements include the clearance of invasive wattle trees to restore spring flows, the creation of over 5,000 conservation and rehabilitation jobs, and the protection of 43 natural springs for human consumption.
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Document type: Fact sheet
ONE FOOD: SESEBEDISWA BAKENG SA BALEMI HO EMELANA LE MAEMO A TLELAEMETE, DIMELA LE DIPHEDI TSE FAPANENG, POLOKEHO LE HO KGONA HO TSWELLA
The document outlines the 'One Food' concept, which emphasizes an integrated view of food chains involving humans, animals, and the environment. It provides practical agroecological advice for South African farmers to improve soil health, manage pests naturally, and adapt to climate challenges such as droughts and floods while protecting biodiversity.
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Document type: Guide
I-ONE FOOD: ISETI YEMITHOMBO YAMAFAMA IMELANA NEMOZULU, IINDIDI ZEZITYALO NEZILWANYANA EZAHLUKENEYO, IKHUSELEKILE KWAYE IZINZILE
The document outlines the 'One Food' approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health to ensure sustainable food production. It advocates for agroecology—farming in harmony with nature—and provides practical strategies for farmers to manage livestock, soil, water, and pests without relying on expensive chemicals. The guide emphasizes the interdependence of biodiversity, climate resilience, and food security, urging collaboration between government, communities, and business leaders to eradicate poverty and protect the environment.
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Document type: Guide
GROUNDTRUTHING ESTABLISHING A CITIZEN SCIENCE GROUNDWATER MONITORING NETWORK IN CAPE TOWN
The report describes the implementation of a groundwater monitoring network in Newlands and the Epping/Airport Industria areas of Cape Town. It combines desktop research from databases like WARMS and the National Groundwater Archive with field-based 'groundtruthing' via hydrocensus surveys of private borehole owners. The project identifies the geological characteristics of the Table Mountain Group and Cape Flats aquifers and deploys Solinst Leveloggers to track water levels. The findings highlight a significant increase in private borehole drilling between 2015 and 2019 and note concerns among users regarding water quality and the sustainability of abstraction levels.
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Document type: Report
INTERNAL APPEAL PURSUANT TO THE PROMOTION OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION ACT 2 OF 2000
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) filed an internal appeal on 13 December 2019 against the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries' decision to redact greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data and pollution prevention plans for several major South African emitters. The CER argues that the Department failed to provide adequate reasons for the redactions and that the information is of fundamental public interest, overriding claims of commercial confidentiality.
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Document type: Report
REQUEST FOR WRITTEN REASONS: INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN FOR ELECTRICITY, 2019
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, sent a follow-up letter to Minister Gwede Mantashe on 13 December 2019, requesting written reasons for the updated Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (IRP) published on 18 October 2019.
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Document type: Statement
REQUEST FOR WRITTEN REASONS: INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN FOR ELECTRICITY, 2019
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, sent a follow-up letter to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 13 December 2019, requesting written reasons for NERSA's decision to concur in the promulgation of the updated Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (IRP) published on 18 October 2019.
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Document type: Statement
Putting People at the Center of Climate Action
The commentary asserts that bold climate action is not a trade-off with economic growth but an engine for it, potentially delivering $26 trillion in net global economic benefits by 2030. It advocates for 'people-centered climate action' that uses inclusive processes to unlock benefits for marginalized groups, such as recycling carbon pricing revenues to support low-income households. The text provides sector-specific opportunities in energy, urban planning, and food systems, while emphasizing that adaptation investments of $1.8 trillion could yield $7.1 trillion in benefits. It highlights real-world examples from Indonesia, Canada, and Spain to demonstrate how low-carbon transitions can reduce poverty and create millions of green jobs.
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Document type: Statement
DRAFT REGULATIONS: GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS INTENSITY BENCHMARKS PRESCRIBED FOR THE PURPOSE OF SECTION 11 OF THE CARBON TAX ACT, 2019
This document presents the draft regulations for greenhouse gas emissions intensity benchmarks under section 11 of the Carbon Tax Act, 2019. It outlines the methodology for taxpayers to determine sector-specific benchmarks and provides a detailed list of industry benchmark values for various industrial sectors, including mining, chemicals, and energy.
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Document type: Guide
DRAFT REGULATIONS: TRADE EXPOSURE ALLOWANCE
The document presents draft regulations for the Trade Exposure Allowance under section 10 of the Carbon Tax Act, 2019, in South Africa. These regulations establish a mechanism to provide transitional support to specific sectors and subsectors to mitigate the risk of carbon leakage and maintain industry competitiveness while implementing carbon pricing to meet Paris Agreement goals.
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Document type: Report
Securitisation of migration in Africa
The report argues that framing migration as a security threat—driven largely by EU policies to stem migration to Europe—leads to restrictive border controls and the criminalisation of smuggling. Using Agadez, Niger, as a case study, the author demonstrates that these securitised approaches do not stop irregular migration but instead increase local insecurity, empower high-level smugglers, expose migrants to greater risks, and erode trust between citizens and governments. The document recommends shifting the narrative toward evidence-based migration management and expanding legal pathways for movement within Africa and between Africa and the EU.
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Document type: Report