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The November 2024 Peace & Security Council Report examines the African Union's (AU) efforts to integrate climate change into security frameworks, the strategic direction of Africa's foreign policy, the outcomes of the AU's first G20 Summit, and the coordination between the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC).

This research paper examines Africa's potential to develop a solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing sector by leveraging its mineral resources and solar irradiance. It analyzes the barriers to entry, such as China's market dominance and high capital requirements, and proposes a regionalized strategy to overcome these challenges.

This policy brief analyzes the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the UK Critical Minerals Strategy (CMS), evaluating their potential to support African industrialization. It argues that both frameworks are primarily driven by domestic energy and economic priorities, focusing on reducing dependency on China and mitigating geopolitical risks. The author contends that current capital allocations and the emphasis on domestic processing capacity are insufficient to attract private investment for African value addition and beneficiation, suggesting a need for a shift in political and commercial relations to align with African industrialization goals.

This policy brief examines China's dominant role in Africa's critical minerals sector, highlighting the tension between increased investment and the lack of local value addition. It argues that while China's infrastructure-led approach and state support provide a competitive edge, African nations must shift from exporting raw materials to developing domestic processing and refining capabilities to avoid the 'resource curse' and benefit from the global energy transition.

This policy brief examines the global race to secure critical minerals for green and digital industrial revolutions, detailing the strategies of the US, EU, UK, Canada, and China. It argues that African countries can leverage their mineral wealth through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by adopting a 'climate-resilient developmental regionalism' approach to build regional value chains and achieve sustainable structural transformation.

A retrospective report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) detailing ten years of the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (the Lab). The document analyzes the Lab's role as a market-builder and pipeline incubator, sharing lessons on balancing financial innovation with actionability to mobilize private capital for climate mitigation and adaptation in emerging markets.

The September 2024 Peace & Security Council Report examines the institutional challenges of the African Union Commission, the implementation of the Pact for the Future, the need for a continental mine action mechanism, the slow progress of the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, and the application of International Humanitarian Law in the face of modern warfare and humanitarian crises.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the geopolitical competition between global powers—specifically the US, China, and Russia—within Africa. It argues that African states are increasingly pursuing a strategy of non-alignment and diversification to avoid becoming proxies in global disputes, seeking instead equal partnerships and autonomy. The paper suggests that African agency can be enhanced by strengthening the African Union (AU), diversifying international partnerships, and prioritizing internal economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the activities and structural challenges of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC). It evaluates the performance of the fifth Panel of the Wise, the coordination between the PSC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the resurgence of mercenarism in Africa, and the underutilization of policing in peace support operations. Additionally, it outlines the priorities of Cameroon during its chairship of the PSC.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the gap between Africa's vast renewable energy potential and its current capacity. It highlights the continent's critical role in the global energy transition due to its abundance of solar, wind, and hydro resources, as well as essential critical minerals. The document outlines systemic barriers to progress, including insufficient financing, a heavy reliance on imported technology, and a lack of local manufacturing. It proposes strategic interventions for the African Union and G20 to enhance technology transfer, mobilize climate finance, and integrate African nations into green value chains beyond the supply of raw materials.

An address by Dirco Minister Ronald Lamola outlining South Africa's foreign policy, which emphasizes active non-alignment, the centrality of Africa through Agenda 2063 and the AfCFTA, and solidarity with peoples resisting occupation in Palestine and Western Sahara.

This policy brief outlines the necessity for India to develop a comprehensive copper strategy to support its infrastructure growth and clean energy transition, focusing on supply diversification, trade reforms, and the promotion of a circular economy through scrap recycling.

This policy brief examines the current state and potential of renewable energy technologies in Africa, highlighting the gap between the continent's vast natural resources and its low installed capacity. It analyzes barriers to the energy transition, including financing shortages, reliance on imported technology, and the need for better integration into green value chains, while providing recommendations for the African Union and G20 to support a just transition.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the status and challenges of Article 6 (A6) of the Paris Agreement leading into and during COP29. It details the three mechanisms for international climate cooperation: Article 6.2 (bilateral trading), Article 6.4 (a UN-governed global market), and Article 6.8 (non-market approaches). The document highlights critical integrity concerns, including the risk of double counting, the lack of transparency in bilateral deals, and the controversy surrounding the use of REDD+ activities and emissions avoidance credits. It specifically notes that operational standards for A6.4 were adopted on the first day of COP29, a move criticized by some observers for lacking transparency.

This report by Ember analyzes global electricity generation trends in 2023 across solar, wind, coal, gas, hydro, nuclear, and bioenergy. It highlights record growth in solar and wind, a slight increase in coal generation driven by droughts in China, and the gap between current growth rates and the IEA Net Zero Emissions (NZE) scenario requirements.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the current technological landscape of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and the potential for emerging technologies to drive sustainable development. It analyzes the ASM life cycle—from exploration to mine closure—and identifies gaps in technology adoption, particularly regarding worker safety, environmental protection, and financial inclusion. The document highlights the dual nature of technological advancement: while it can increase productivity and recovery rates, it also risks displacing labor, especially women, and potentially increasing environmental degradation through overmining.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the governance challenges facing critical mineral supply chains in Africa. It argues that while the global energy transition increases demand for minerals like lithium and cobalt, a lack of transparency and accountability risks causing environmental and socio-economic harm. The document advocates for the implementation of the African Mining Vision and a coordinated approach between national governments, private companies, and civil society to ensure the energy transition does not entrench global inequalities.

The April 2024 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines critical challenges within the African Union's (AU) peace and security architecture. It analyzes the potential restoration of the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS), the political implications of Chad's May 2024 election, the security crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the strategic priorities of Egypt upon rejoining the Peace and Security Council (PSC).

The Global Subnational Agricultural Production (GSAP) database, developed by the Stockholm Environment Institute, is the first standardized global database providing subnational agricultural production data for key crops. It aims to fill a critical information gap by collecting high-resolution data from national statistical offices to improve food security, climate adaptation, and agricultural research.

The March 2024 Peace & Security Council Report examines the transition of the African Union's Peace and Security Council (PSC) membership, the critical security situation in Abyei, the operational challenges of the African Standby Force (ASF), ongoing AU institutional reforms, and the response of ECOWAS to unconstitutional changes of government in West Africa.