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This report by Ember analyses Chinese customs data to demonstrate a significant increase in solar panel imports into Africa in the 12 months leading up to June 2025. The analysis suggests a structural trend toward increased solar adoption across the continent, potentially driven by distributed solar, which could significantly expand electricity supply and reduce reliance on imported diesel.

This report by the African Future Policies Hub analyzes whether carbon credits generated under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement should be eligible for deduction from liabilities under the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). It argues that allowing such credits would mitigate the negative economic impact of the CBAM on African exporters, retain climate finance within African borders, and provide policy flexibility to host governments, while proposing specific design measures to prevent carbon leakage and ensure credit integrity.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice examines the structural causes of the African debt crisis, the impact of high interest rates on public services, and the limitations of G20 initiatives. It argues that the crisis is rooted in a 'rigged global system' and calls for systemic reform and debt cancellation through movements like Jubilee 2025.

This research paper examines how the trade war between the US and China, alongside President Trump's critical mineral diplomacy, creates a strategic window for African nations to transition from raw material exporters to green technology manufacturing hubs. It argues that countries rich in minerals like cobalt and lithium can leverage geopolitical competition to secure technology transfer, domestic value addition, and diversified investment portfolios.

This briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the critical mineral supply chain and the United States' efforts to secure domestic sources for its clean energy transition. It details the stages of the supply chain, the U.S.'s high reliance on imports, the environmental and social impacts of mining, and the legislative and executive actions taken to promote onshoring and secondary recovery.

This research paper examines Morocco's strategic position as a supplier of green transition minerals (GTMs) and its bilateral relationships with China and the European Union. The authors argue that while Morocco benefits from the distinct strengths of both partners—China's industrial scale and speed versus the EU's regulatory standards and capacity building—its current engagement is fragmented. To overcome this, the paper proposes a five-step trilateral framework designed to transform geopolitical competition into pragmatic cooperation, aiming to establish Morocco as a regional hub for green value chains and industrial processing.

This research paper introduces the 'minerals-energy-food (MEF) complex', a new analytical framework designed to address the limitations of existing natural resource governance frameworks, which the authors argue fail to differentiate between physical resources and traded commodities or capture global drivers of resource use.

This IISD report examines the challenges and opportunities for consumer protection in the e-commerce sector of developing countries. It highlights a significant gap in legislative frameworks and enforcement capacity, particularly in LDCs, and analyzes how regional and multilateral trade agreements (like the WTO JSI and AfCFTA) are attempting to standardize protections against fraud and data misuse. The report recommends that developing countries leverage digital technologies, trade agreement commitments, and international cooperation to modernize their consumer protection systems.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the role of private sector investment in unlocking Africa's renewable energy (RE) potential. Using Nigeria as a case study, it identifies financial, regulatory, and infrastructural barriers that hinder the scaling of clean energy and provides strategic recommendations to create a more predictable and attractive investment environment.

This research paper argues that South Africa and the European Union (EU) should deepen their strategic interdependence in critical minerals to navigate geopolitical uncertainties and avoid the 'blackmailing logic' of mineral-for-security deals. It highlights the complementary nature of their economies, the EU's financial commitments to South Africa's energy transition, and the need to reconcile the EU's desire for strategic autonomy with South Africa's goal of domestic value addition.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the climate finance gap for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), highlighting the inadequacy of debt-based financial mechanisms and proposing the use of highly concessional, grant-based capital and innovative risk-management tools to build resilience in the most vulnerable nations.

This research paper argues that Kenya can accelerate its transition to e-mobility and create more youth employment by integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into the design, assembly, and maintenance of electric vehicles. While Kenya has seen a surge in EV sales and has a high renewable energy mix (90%), current policies favor the import of fully built units over local manufacturing. The paper highlights successful local innovations, such as the 'eMkoko' cargo cart, but notes that the 'jua kali' informal sector remains ignored. It recommends policy reforms to incentivize local assembly, zero-rate manufacturing machinery, and incorporate IKS into formal technical education to overcome barriers like high battery costs and inadequate rural charging infrastructure.

This research paper examines Turkey's strategic efforts to secure critical raw materials (CRMs) in Africa to support its domestic industrial goals in defence, electric vehicles, and renewables. It analyzes Turkey's diverse engagement modalities—ranging from direct extraction to integrated industrial hubs and security-linked partnerships—and proposes a trilateral cooperation framework involving the European Union (EU) and African nations to align standards and enhance supply chain resilience.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) in Africa, focusing on the food sector. It argues that while African governments have set ambitious adaptation targets, governance barriers, financial constraints, and a lack of meaningful integration of local and Indigenous knowledge hinder effectiveness. The document advocates for decentralised finance, inclusive governance, and robust monitoring systems to ensure climate resilience is sustainable and context-specific.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the functionality of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) subcommittees, examines the transition to constitutional order in Guinea, analyzes the decline of international humanitarian aid to Africa, and proposes strategies for enhancing continental maritime security, specifically through the Combined Maritime Task Force for the Gulf of Guinea.

This research paper examines the potential for trilateral cooperation between the European Union (EU), China, and African nations within critical raw material (CRM) supply chains. It argues that while the EU seeks to reduce its dependence on China, the deep integration of Chinese firms in midstream and downstream processing, combined with African demands for local value addition, makes a cooperative approach more viable than immediate decoupling. The author proposes a specific model for trilateral cooperation in the Democratic Republic of Congo's cobalt sector to balance the strategic interests of all three parties.

The May 2025 Peace & Security Council Report examines escalating tensions between Algeria and Mali, the institutional challenges of AU-ECOWAS collaboration, the rise of 'lawfare' to undermine democracy in Africa, and the role of illicit economies in fueling Sahelian extremism.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the potential for carbon markets to provide climate finance to Malawi. It discusses the transition toward a regulated framework following the finalisation of Article 6 rules at COP29, the role of the Malawi Carbon Markets Initiative, and the importance of community-led projects like the Kulera Landscape REDD+ Program in ensuring equitable benefit-sharing.

This report examines the role of trade and investment agreements in the supply of critical minerals, analyzing over 100 agreements and MOUs with a focus on Indonesia, Chile, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It highlights a shift toward incorporating ESG provisions in new treaties and emphasizes the need for practical implementation of MOUs to balance the interests of importing and exporting nations while supporting sustainable resource governance.

The April 2025 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the African Union's (AU) peace and security architecture, focusing on the second term of PAPS Commissioner Bankole Adeoye, regional divisions in North Africa, the new AUSSOM mission in Somalia, and the challenges of mediation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.