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The report 'Back to the Blackboard' examines the education crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, arguing that the narrow focus on Universal Primary Education (UPE) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has neglected secondary education and compromised instructional quality. It highlights systemic failures including teacher shortages, poor salaries, corruption, and the devastating impact of HIV/Aids. The document advocates for a comprehensive strategy that integrates secondary schooling, vocational training, and curriculum reform to drive economic growth, drawing lessons from East Asia's successful integration of human capital development and industrial planning.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the outcomes of the 2002 summits in Durban, marking the transition from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU). It details the establishment of the AU's core governance structures, the protocol for the Peace and Security Council, and various declarations regarding democratic elections and continental development frameworks like NEPAD and CSSDCA.

This document describes a book compiled by Eunice Reyneke in October 2000, which presents the proceedings of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Experts Meeting and International Consultations held from May to June 2000. The publication was intended for distribution at a Governments Ministerial Meeting in Bamako, Mali, from 30 November to 1 December 2000.

This research paper assesses Western efforts to develop African peacekeeping capabilities in the late 1990s, specifically focusing on the 'P-3 Initiative' (US, UK, and France) and Danish contributions. The authors argue that while these capacity-building programs provide tangible training and equipment, they are primarily driven by Western domestic political desires to avoid direct military or financial involvement in African conflicts. The document also details the institutional, financial, and operational limitations of African regional bodies like the OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS in managing peace and security independently.

This research paper analyzes the transition of the US-led African Crisis Response Force (ACRF) into the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) in 1997. It examines the ACRI's focus on long-term capacity-building through military training for African battalions to enhance peacekeeping interoperability, while critiquing the initiative's lack of coordination with the OAU and UN, its reliance on US military doctrine, and the absence of a clear mechanism for deploying the trained forces.

This research paper by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) examines the relationship between escalating sovereign debt in Africa and the subsequent erosion of human rights. The authors argue that high debt-servicing obligations force governments to implement austerity measures and cut spending on essential public services, thereby compromising basic needs and hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper analyzes debt trends, the impact of various relief initiatives, and the role of civil society, ultimately calling for a human rights-based approach to debt management and the cancellation of debts for highly indebted countries.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network examines the historical lack of gender consideration in climate change mitigation financing and proposes solutions for integrating gender equality to improve project effectiveness. Through case studies in Nepal, Mali, and Colombia, it demonstrates how gender mainstreaming—including the use of disaggregated data and gender-sensitive action plans—can enhance the sustainability and social impact of emission reduction initiatives.

This policy brief introduces 'Minimum Standards' designed to transition local disaster risk reduction (DRR) from 'business as usual' to 'climate-smart' practices. The standards aim to bridge the gap between national climate adaptation strategies and local capacities by providing practical, achievable benchmarks for communities, civil society organizations, and governments to integrate changing climate risks into their planning and implementation.

This legal opinion by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides prohibited or not approved in Europe to countries in Africa and Central America is illegal under international law, regional agreements, and human rights obligations.

This legal briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides banned or not approved in their countries of origin—specifically from Europe to Africa and Central America—violates international law, including the Basel Convention, the Bamako Convention, and the Central American Agreement, as well as international human rights obligations.

The Healthy NDC Scorecard is a visual tool designed to evaluate whether national climate commitments (NDCs) are sufficient to protect human health, measuring them against the Paris Agreement and science-aligned targets.

A 2011 statement by Friends of the Earth International and partners rejecting the 'Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment' (RAI). The authors argue that large-scale land acquisitions are driven by financial speculation, violate human rights, and threaten food security, calling instead for the prohibition of land grabbing and the promotion of food sovereignty and peasant-led agriculture.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations ahead of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14). It identifies persistent deadlocks regarding domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while highlighting three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: reducing cotton subsidies, improving market access for cotton products, and securing exemptions from export restrictions.

This research paper analyzes the state of agricultural negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It details persistent disagreements over domestic support, public food stocks, and market access, while identifying three specific areas where Least Developed Countries (LDCs) could achieve tangible progress: the reduction of trade-distorting cotton subsidies, improved market access for cotton products, and exemptions from export restrictions.

This fact sheet describes the advisory and capacity development services provided by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) to help low- and middle-income governments and regional bodies establish legal and policy frameworks for responsible private sector investment in agriculture.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that financing strategies for climate change adaptation in developing countries must be aligned with broader national development plans and other international financing frameworks to avoid fragmentation and maximize resource mobilization.

The provided document is a fact sheet describing CRiSTAL (Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods), a project planning and management tool designed to integrate risk reduction and climate change adaptation into community-level work.

This fact sheet describes CRiSTAL (Community Risk Identification Tool - Adaptation and Livelihoods), a project management and planning tool designed to integrate climate change adaptation and risk reduction into community-level work. Developed by a consortium including the IUCN, IISD, SEI, and Intercooperation, the tool uses a structured analytical framework implemented via Microsoft Excel to help planners understand the links between climate threats, local livelihoods, and project activities.

CRiSTAL is a community-level planning tool developed by IUCN, IISD, SEI, and Intercooperation to integrate climate change adaptation and risk reduction into project management. Using a structured four-step analytical process implemented via Microsoft Excel, it helps users assess the impact of climate hazards on local livelihoods and adjust project activities to improve community resilience. Since its 2007 launch, it has been used in over 20 countries, with initial field trials conducted in Mali, Bangladesh, Tanzania, Nicaragua, and Sri Lanka.

This report, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in collaboration with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), analyzes the social and environmental impacts of China's rapid economic growth within the forestry, cotton, and E-products sectors. It provides strategic recommendations for the Chinese government to transition these supply chains toward sustainable development to support the national goal of achieving a "harmonious society" (HeXieSheHui) by 2020.