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This report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the Global Initiative for Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (GI-ESCR) analyzes the 2023 activities of UN Human Rights Treaty Bodies (HRTBs) regarding states' human rights obligations in the context of climate change. It tracks the increasing frequency of climate-related references in state reporting procedures and examines specific themes such as fossil fuel extraction, the right to a healthy environment, loss and damage, and intergenerational equity.

This report by FSD Africa provides a pan-African forecast of direct green job creation by 2030 across 12 material value chains. It identifies a significant near-term opportunity for 1.5 to 3.3 million new direct jobs, primarily driven by the energy and power sector. The analysis emphasizes that while long-term potential is vast, immediate investment in human capital and skilling is required to realize these gains.

This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the Global Shield (GS) initiative and the broader climate insurance landscape in Africa. The authors argue that while insurance can provide rapid disaster response, it is an insufficient tool for addressing the diverse, slow-onset impacts of climate change and often fails to provide equitable protection due to high premiums, technical complexities, and the risk of 'basis risk' where payouts are not triggered despite actual losses.

The February 2024 Peace & Security Council Report evaluates the outcomes of the 37th African Union (AU) summit, the performance of Comoros as AU chair, and the AU's response to crises in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also examines the decline of electoral norms across the continent and the necessity of protecting civilians in urban warfare.

The December 2023/January 2024 edition of the Peace & Security Council Report evaluates the African Union's (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) performance in 2023, highlighting a trend toward discussing thematic issues over sensitive country crises. It examines the challenges of consensus-based decision-making, the upcoming 2024 AU chairship and PSC membership elections, and the potential impact of the UN's New Agenda for Peace on African security architecture.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) describes a new PlugIn for the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) software, developed in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The tool calculates water stress disaggregated by catchment area and sub-basin, assisting countries in meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 6.4.2.

This briefing, submitted by Natural Justice and the Environmental Lawyers Collective for Africa (E.L.C.A), provides commentary on a zero draft study by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) regarding the impact of climate change on human and people's rights in Africa. The document evaluates the study's identification of vulnerable groups and rights, critiques its approach to corporate accountability and extractive industries, and offers recommendations to strengthen the protection of indigenous peoples, children, and the environment through legal and monitoring frameworks.

This background note provides energy production and demand forecasts for Africa and the global community up to 2043, based on the International Futures (IFs) forecasting platform. It details the transition of energy sources, the growth of African energy demand driven by population increases, and the status of fossil fuel reserves and renewable energy projects across the continent.

This briefing note by the Institute for Security Studies examines the outlook for natural gas in Africa up to 2043, highlighting the tension between significant proven reserves and a global market facing slowing demand and potential supply gluts.

This background note from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes Africa's energy export and import trends under a 'Current Path' forecast up to 2043, highlighting the contrast between a few major energy exporters and a majority of countries dependent on imports.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges of formalising the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector in West Africa and the Sahel. It argues that punitive crackdowns often increase fragility and criminal capture, recommending instead a supportive formalisation approach that addresses land rights, gender inequality, and the creation of decentralised service centres to reduce vulnerability to organised crime and violent extremist groups.

This policy brief examines the challenges of formalizing artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in West Africa and the Sahel. It argues that repressive measures often increase vulnerability to criminal capture and instead advocates for a holistic, support-based approach to formalization that addresses land rights, gender marginalization, and regional coordination to mitigate the influence of organized crime and violent extremist groups.

The November 2023 Peace & Security Council Report examines the diplomatic implications of the first Saudi-Africa summit, the coordination between the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council's A3 members, the precarious state of South Sudan's transition toward elections, and the AU's efforts to integrate youth into peacebuilding and economic integration via AfCFTA.

This report examines the illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons (SALW) in the Sahel, focusing on Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria. It identifies six critical 'nodes' in tri-border areas that facilitate the flow of weapons. Key drivers of demand include security crises, personal safety, and climate-induced resource conflicts. The report highlights that a significant portion of illicit arms are produced locally or leak from state arsenals, and that profits from this trade are often laundered through real estate. Despite existing regional frameworks like the ECOWAS Convention, the report concludes that national implementation remains the primary obstacle to controlling proliferation.

A September 2023 briefing by Global Energy Monitor analyzing the renewable energy transition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It highlights a significant increase in operational and prospective solar and wind capacity, while noting a heavy reliance on fossil fuels for electricity and a strategic pivot toward high-risk green hydrogen exports over domestic decarbonization.

This research paper examines illicit financial flows (IFFs) stemming from migrant smuggling in Senegal and Sierra Leone. It analyzes how smuggling proceeds are generated, moved through formal and informal channels, and laundered into legitimate sectors. The report highlights a significant gap between the existence of anti-money laundering policies and their practical implementation, noting that financial intelligence units in both countries lack the resources and expertise to effectively 'follow the money' in smuggling cases.

This policy brief by Transforma and Power Shift Africa outlines a framework for a Just Energy Transition (JET) in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa. It advocates for a total phase-out of fossil fuels by 2040, emphasizing that the transition must be a comprehensive social, economic, and environmental transformation. The document highlights the need for grant-based financing from developed nations, the sustainable management of transition minerals, and the prioritization of energy access and social justice to address historical inequalities and the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South.

A Global Energy Monitor briefing on the expansion of gas extraction in Africa, highlighting a shift toward new market entrants and the associated climate and socio-economic risks.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for the African private sector. It explores how Africa's abundance of critical minerals and renewable energy potential—particularly for green hydrogen—positions the continent as a strategic partner for the EU's goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The document identifies financial, technological, and capacity-building opportunities for African companies, while warning against the risk of Africa remaining a mere resource supplier in an unequal partnership.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has seen a 57% increase in operational renewable energy capacity since May 2022, though it remains heavily dependent on oil and gas for over 90% of its electricity. While there is a massive pipeline of future projects totaling 361 GW, approximately 60% of this capacity is earmarked for green hydrogen production and export rather than domestic decarbonization.