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This report from the Institute for Security Studies provides a retrospective of the African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) for the term April 2016 to March 2018, analyzes the role of South Africa and Nigeria in continental initiatives like the AfCFTA, and features an interview with Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding its entry into the PSC.

This report by BFA for FSD Africa assesses the demand for and business case for providing formal financial services to refugees in Rwanda. It concludes that refugees are a viable customer segment with income levels and profitability potential comparable to typical low-income Rwandan nationals, provided that financial service providers (FSPs) utilize cross-selling strategies and regulatory hurdles regarding identification are addressed.

This research paper evaluates South Africa's foreign policy under President Jacob Zuma, contrasting his approach with that of his predecessors. It highlights a shift toward strategic partnerships with emerging powers, specifically China and the BRICS grouping, while noting a decline in domestic human rights adherence and strained relations with the West.

This case study examines Tanzania's difficulties in establishing horizontal linkages within its mining sector, focusing on the failures of its National System of Innovation (NSI) and the complexities of the Central Development Corridor (CDC) infrastructure project.

This report details a regional training workshop on the management of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from February 26 to March 1, 2018. Organized by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event gathered over 50 public and private sector officials from 17 French-speaking African countries to implement the 'IGF Guide for Governments: Managing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining'.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the disconnect between the African Union's (AU) African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA). It argues that while poor governance is a primary driver of instability in Africa, the AU's responses remain reactive and fragmented due to institutional differences between these two frameworks. The author proposes several options to integrate governance and security, ranging from amending the Peace and Security Council (PSC) protocol to creating a unified 'Architecture for Stability in Africa' (ASA).

This research paper examines the history and systemic challenges of sexual abuse and exploitation perpetrated by United Nations peacekeepers. It details the 'food-for-sex' scandals, the legal hurdles preventing the UN from prosecuting troops due to national jurisdiction, and the policy responses implemented to combat these crimes, including Resolution 2272.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) use of mediation as a conflict-prevention tool. It analyzes the institutional gaps, the tension between formal and informal approaches, and the need for a more structured, long-term strategy to address the root causes of conflict in Africa.

This research paper examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) act as both barriers and enablers for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) attempting to enter global value chains (GVCs) coordinated by multinational corporations (MNCs), with a specific focus on South Africa and Kenya as regional economic gateways.

This report, developed by FHI 360 and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, provides an inventory and summary of digital technologies used to enhance resilience, primarily in Asia. It details a wide array of tools—ranging from mobile apps and IoT sensors to big data analytics and geospatial mapping—designed to support disaster preparedness, emergency response, and long-term livelihood stability for vulnerable populations.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to engage youth in democratic governance. It argues that while normative frameworks like the African Youth Charter and the African Governance Architecture–Youth Engagement Strategy (AGA–YES) exist, there is a significant gap between these theoretical rights and the practical reality for young Africans, who often face unemployment and political marginalisation.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines electoral trends in Africa based on elections held in 2015 and early 2016. While noting progress in democratic institution building since the 1990s, the authors identify four critical trends—constitutional manipulation, electoral calendar tampering, harassment of opposition, and low voter turnout—that threaten to reverse democratic gains. The document advocates for stricter adherence to African Union (AU) and Regional Economic Community (REC) standards to ensure credible and inclusive elections.

The document summarizes the conclusions of a seminar held on 9 December 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focused on assistance and capacity-building for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540, disarmament, and non-proliferation of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons in Africa.

The December 2016 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the African Union's (AU) role in managing continental crises. It finds that the Peace and Security Council (PSC) often relied on regional bodies rather than leading interventions. Key issues discussed include the impact of land privatisation and climate change in Kenya's Kajiado County, the contested nature of several 2016 national elections, and the AU's efforts to promote women's rights despite a perceived failure to challenge dictatorial regimes. The report also details the funding struggles of AMISOM in Somalia and the diplomatic complexities surrounding Morocco's request to rejoin the AU.

The July 2016 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, the election of the African Union Commission (AUC) leadership, the limited powers of the AUC chairperson, and the Peace and Security Council's (PSC) engagement with various African conflicts, including the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and crises in Burundi and the DRC.

This policy brief examines the misuse of electric shock equipment by law enforcement agencies in Africa, arguing that such tools often facilitate torture and ill-treatment in violation of international and regional human rights frameworks. It specifically analyzes the legal landscape of anti-torture commitments in Africa and provides a detailed case study on the South African Police Service (SAPS), recommending the prohibition of handheld and body-worn electric shock devices.

The June 2016 Peace & Security Council Report examines the strained relationship between the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), focusing on coordination failures, funding disputes for peacekeeping, and the AU's struggle to implement preventive diplomacy in member states like the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In a 2016 address, SAIIA National Chairman Fred T Phaswana discusses the intersection of South Africa's domestic political and economic crises with global instability. He highlights the erosion of South Africa's international leadership due to internal corruption and poor growth, while contrasting these failures with the success of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REI4P) and global multilateral agreements on climate and development.

This report examines the impacts of human migration on ecosystems in the Great Lakes Region of East and Central Africa, focusing on case studies in Uganda, Ethiopia, and the DRC. It finds that while migration is not the sole driver of environmental degradation, it exacerbates existing issues such as overfishing in Lake Albert, deforestation in the Bale Mountains and Misotshi–Kabogo, and land-use conflicts. The report recommends that conservationists implement migration-sensitive strategies, including inclusive governance and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods for both migrants and host communities.

This case study, written by Creative Metier for FSD Africa, examines the implementation of executive coaching and leadership development programmes at the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and Jubilee Insurance Company Limited in Kenya. It details how these financial institutions used coaching to address challenges such as rapid growth, shifting workforce demographics (specifically Generation Y), and low staff morale to foster high-performance cultures.