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The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) issued a statement on February 21, 2023, arguing that South Africa's national budgets and monetary policies have systematically undermined the government's developmental goals. The IEJ calls for a shift away from debt stabilisation and austerity toward a development-focused budget that prioritises public investment in infrastructure, the care economy, and the green economy, while specifically addressing the crisis at Eskom and the inadequacy of social protection grants.

This report summarizes a two-day conference held in October 2023 by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) and the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC). The event focused on the implementation of recommendations from the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture (the Zondo Commission) to hold perpetrators accountable and reform state institutions to prevent future state capture in South Africa.

This policy brief by Zero Carbon Analytics explores the establishment of comprehensive loss and damage facilities at the national level for African countries to address climate-induced economic and non-economic losses. It distinguishes between avoidable, unavoided, and unavoidable risks, proposing a framework that combines risk finance (e.g., insurance, bonds) and curative finance (e.g., trust funds, impact investments) to build resilience and provide compensation.

This report details the outcomes of the Southern African Resilience Academy (SARA) in 2021, focusing on transforming food systems in southern Africa. Through a series of workshops and dialogues, SARA identified key leverage points for change, including the need for water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approaches, the integration of indigenous knowledge, and the empowerment of women and youth. The document provides 14 comprehensive recommendations for regional transformation, emphasizing a shift from siloed sectoral thinking to systemic, people-centered governance and the adoption of 'futuring' methodologies to plan for resilient food landscapes.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative explores financial aggregation as a strategy to overcome barriers to urban climate finance. It defines financial aggregation as the use of instruments or enterprises to combine multiple investments, participants, projects, or sectors to scale up financing for urban climate mitigation and adaptation. The document details supply-side and demand-side aggregation models, provides case studies from various global regions, and outlines the necessary enabling environments and stakeholder recommendations to implement these strategies.

This policy brief examines the deployment and regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa, highlighting the tension between the dominance of foreign Big Tech companies and the need for local AI capacities that align with national development priorities. It analyzes risks associated with biometric identification, the gig economy, and 'click work,' while reviewing emerging national AI strategies in countries like Egypt, Mauritius, and Rwanda. The document argues that for AI to benefit local economies, African states must prioritize inclusive digital infrastructure, data governance, and the protection of human rights, while cautioning that regulatory frameworks from the EU (such as the AI Act and GDPR) may not fully address the structural and socio-economic realities of the African context.

This policy brief examines the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa, highlighting the tension between the potential for socio-economic growth and the risks posed by foreign technology monopolies, precarious digital labour, and human rights violations. It analyzes emerging national AI strategies in countries like Egypt, Mauritius, and Rwanda, while arguing that African policymakers must prioritize local capacity, inclusive infrastructure, and gender-sensitive labour protections to ensure AI serves national developmental priorities rather than external interests.

This Rule 16A Notice, filed by the Centre for Environmental Rights on behalf of GroundWork Trust and the South Durban Community Environmental Alliance, raises a constitutional issue regarding the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment's decision to refuse an appeal on 20 November 2021 concerning an Environmental Authorisation granted to Phinda Power Producers (Pty) Limited.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the complex relationship between climate change and violent conflict in Africa. It argues that while climate change acts as a 'risk multiplier' that can exacerbate existing political, social, and economic tensions, the link to violence is indirect and highly contextual. The document emphasizes the need for conflict-sensitive climate adaptation strategies, particularly in fragile contexts, and calls for the Global North to fulfill climate finance commitments to support the Global South.

This fact sheet, produced by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), synthesizes findings from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) specifically for Southern Africa. It details observed climate changes, future projections, and the resulting impacts on health, biodiversity, food systems, and economies, while outlining adaptation strategies and critical investment needs for the region.

This factsheet, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2022, distils findings from the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report specifically for southern Africa. It details observed climate changes, future risks to health, food systems, and economies, and outlines adaptation strategies and critical investment areas needed to build regional resilience.

This case study describes a circular economy synergy facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) between Tradewinds, a parasol manufacturer, and Mors Design, an upcycling initiative. The partnership diverts textile offcuts from landfills to be used as raw materials for boutique handbags.

This report by WWF South Africa examines the role of the informal waste sector in African cities, advocating for an "inclusive circular economy" that integrates reclaimers into formal waste management systems. It analyzes the operational status, socio-economic challenges, and policy landscapes of reclaimers in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, arguing that their inclusion is essential for sustainable urban waste management and poverty alleviation.

The 'Klimaataksie Handboek' is a guide published by Natural Justice in December 2021 to help South African communities build climate resilience through legal empowerment. It explains the science of climate change, identifies vulnerabilities, and provides a comprehensive toolkit for using legal mechanisms, public participation, and community organizing to protect environmental and human rights.

The Climate Action Handbook is a guide published by Natural Justice in December 2021 designed to help communities in South Africa build climate resilience through legal empowerment. It provides educational material on the causes and impacts of climate change, outlines the legal framework of South Africa, and offers a ten-step practical toolkit for communities to advocate for their rights and hold governments and corporations accountable.

This case study by GreenCape examines how Wesgro, a trade promotion agency in South Africa's Western Cape, adapted its services during the Covid-19 pandemic to support SMMEs and how these lessons can be applied to enhance green trade competitiveness and resilience.

This case study describes the Cooling as a Service (CaaS) model, a pay-per-service approach designed to deploy energy-efficient cooling technologies by removing upfront investment costs for customers and incentivizing providers to maintain high efficiency.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights, authored by Robert Scholes and Francois Engelbrecht of the Global Change Institute, details the human-caused climate impacts affecting southern Africa. It highlights the region's status as a climate 'hotspot' where warming is occurring at twice the global average rate, leading to severe risks for agriculture, water security, human health, and biodiversity. The document emphasizes that the severity of these impacts depends on global mitigation efforts, with warming above 2°C posing catastrophic risks to staple crops and livestock.

This research paper examines the lack of collective cooperation among the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) regarding COVID-19 vaccine development, distribution, and intellectual property rights, arguing that the bloc missed an opportunity to demonstrate its capacity for global crisis management.

The 2021 State of Cities Climate Finance report provides a comprehensive estimate of global urban climate finance, identifying a significant gap between current annual investments of USD 384 billion and estimated needs of USD 4.5 to 5.4 trillion. It analyzes the enabling conditions required to mobilize finance and offers recommendations for city, national, and international officials to accelerate low-carbon, climate-resilient urban development.