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The November 2023 Peace & Security Council Report examines the diplomatic implications of the first Saudi-Africa summit, the coordination between the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council's A3 members, the precarious state of South Sudan's transition toward elections, and the AU's efforts to integrate youth into peacebuilding and economic integration via AfCFTA.

This special edition of the Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the resurgence of military coups and unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs) in Africa, specifically focusing on a 'third wave' since 2019. The report analyzes the drivers of these coups, the role of 'constitutional coups' (manipulating term limits), the impact of civil-military relations, and the effectiveness of African Union (AU) and regional sanctions.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs provides recommendations for African Union (AU) member states to develop a comprehensive e-commerce blueprint within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It emphasizes the need for a unified African position in international negotiations, a proactive strategy for digital taxation, and the harmonisation of fragmented regional regulations to avoid Africa becoming a 'rule taker' in the global digital economy.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of violent extremism and illicit economies in northern Côte d’Ivoire between 2019 and 2023. It specifically analyzes how extremist groups, including those linked to GSIM and IS Sahel, have infiltrated the livestock economy and illegal artisanal gold mining to secure funding, logistics, and human resources. The document details a three-phase security sequence in the north-east, moving from exploratory incursions to active attacks and a subsequent lull, while providing policy recommendations for regulating the mining and livestock sectors to deprive these groups of resources.

The July 2023 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the outcomes of the fifth mid-year coordination meeting between the African Union (AU) and regional economic communities (RECs). It highlights systemic coordination failures in peace-making, the challenges of AU institutional reforms, and the potential of new initiatives like the Africa Facility to Support Inclusive Transitions (AFSIT) to deter unconstitutional changes of government. The report also discusses the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of the UN mission (MINUSMA) from Mali.

This research paper analyzes the evolving energy relations between Germany and Africa, noting a shift from traditional development cooperation toward a broader approach combining energy diplomacy, foreign policy, and technical cooperation. The author highlights a tension between Germany's commitment to a 'just transition' and its strategic interests in securing both renewable energy (particularly green hydrogen) and fossil fuel imports to ensure energy security.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines how violent extremist groups, specifically JNIM and ISGS, exploit illicit activities in northern Benin to secure financial, logistical, and human resources. It documents established links to fuel smuggling, illegal hunting, and drug trafficking, while identifying emerging risks associated with artisanal gold mining and arms trafficking.

This research paper examines the evolution of German-African energy relations, tracing the shift from a primary focus on development cooperation and energy poverty to a more complex framework involving energy diplomacy, technology-driven cooperation, and strategic geopolitical interests. The author analyzes the tensions between 'green' and 'fossilist' objectives, the risks associated with the roll-out of hydrogen diplomacy, and the trend toward the financialization of development through multi-stakeholder partnerships.

This report by the Global Center on Adaptation and the Climate and Development Knowledge Network documents 19 locally led adaptation (LLA) initiatives globally. It emphasizes the importance of devolving decision-making to the lowest appropriate level, addressing structural inequalities (particularly for women and Indigenous Peoples), and providing patient, predictable funding. The document highlights how communities use ecosystem restoration, circular economy practices, and intergenerational collaboration to build resilience, while calling for a shift in climate finance to better support holistic, community-defined priorities.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) has issued a call for concept notes for its 'From Knowledge to Action' program, which provides grants to African organizations to support locally-led, inclusive, and climate-resilient actions by mobilizing indigenous and local knowledge.

The Resilience Evidence Forum 2023 Synthesis Report documents a global gathering of over 1,200 participants aimed at taking stock of evidence on building resilience across people, communities, urban systems, socio-ecological systems, and market systems. The report emphasizes the need for 'locally led adaptation,' the integration of mixed-methods evidence (combining quantitative data with lived experience), and the bridging of funding gaps for climate resilience, noting that less than $50 billion is spent annually against needs of $160 billion to $340 billion.

The November 2022 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines political instability in Tunisia, counter-terrorism strategies in the Sahel, and the security risks posed by acute food insecurity across Africa.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues that multilateral adaptation finance largely treats climate risk as a local phenomenon, failing to address transboundary and 'teleconnected' risks that cross borders through trade, financial flows, and shared ecosystems. The authors propose a shift toward 'systemic resilience'—interventions focusing on whole systems rather than individual countries—to deliver shared benefits for both recipient and contributor nations.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute assesses international development finance for nature-based solutions (NbS) to climate change from 2016 to 2020. Using OECD DAC data, the authors identify a declining trend in climate finance that also targets biodiversity objectives and highlight significant funding gaps for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The paper concludes that current financial reporting is insufficient to verify whether these investments deliver tangible biodiversity benefits.

The October 2022 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs) in Africa, the expansion of violent extremist groups in the Lake Chad Basin, and the asymmetrical progress between the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Free Movement Protocol. It also highlights the urgent need for educational investment in Chad to mitigate population growth and economic instability.

This scoping report by FSD Africa evaluates the feasibility of developing a green bond market within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). It identifies significant barriers, including underdeveloped regional financial markets, a lack of government-led climate initiatives, and limited stakeholder familiarity with international green bond standards. The report provides recommendations for capacity building, regulatory harmonization, and the identification of bankable green projects to attract both public and private investment for climate mitigation and adaptation.

The WAEMU Green Bond Scoping Report, published by FSD Africa in September 2022, evaluates the feasibility of developing a Green Bond market within the West African Economic and Monetary Union. The report identifies significant potential for sovereign and corporate issuance, particularly in energy, agriculture, and transportation, but highlights critical barriers including underdeveloped regional financial markets, a lack of government focus on climate-resilient regulatory frameworks, and limited technical capacity among stakeholders to meet international green standards. It recommends targeted capacity building, the development of harmonized regional guidelines, and the use of technical assistance and risk-transfer instruments to attract investors and build a pipeline of bankable green projects.

The September 2022 Peace & Security Council Report examines political deadlock in Sudan, the African Union's (AU) 'Silencing the Guns' initiative, the impact of natural resource management in Mozambique, and the priorities of Ghana during its PSC chairship.

This research paper analyzes the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and identifies strategic opportunities for Korean investors and the Korean government to reverse a decline in trade with Africa. It highlights the potential for Korea to leverage its expertise in capital goods, automotive manufacturing, and clean energy to integrate into emerging African regional value chains.

This report by FSD Africa and Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) analyzes the climate finance needs of African countries based on their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It estimates that implementing these NDCs between 2020 and 2030 will cost USD 2.8 trillion, with a funding gap of USD 2.5 trillion that must be met by international and private sources. The report highlights significant data gaps in adaptation needs and sectoral disaggregation, and recommends that the UNFCCC provide standardized guidance to help countries develop robust, bottom-up financing roadmaps.