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This report examines the relationship between the African Union (AU) and civil society organisations (CSOs) over the last 20 years, focusing on governance, peace, and security. While the AU has established institutional frameworks to facilitate engagement, the report finds that CSO participation remains unpredictable and often restricted, particularly in political processes and high-level summits. It highlights the critical technical and research contributions of CSOs while identifying systemic barriers, including shrinking civic space in member states and bureaucratic hurdles within AU organs like ECOSOCC.

This policy brief analyzes South Africa's assumption of the African Union (AU) chairship in 2020. It examines the opportunities for South Africa to drive continental priorities—such as regional integration and peace and security—while highlighting significant challenges, including the need to build consensus among member states and the negative impact of domestic xenophobic violence on its international legitimacy.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyses the state of Russia–South Africa relations as of October 2013. It examines the historical development of bilateral ties, the mechanisms of political and economic cooperation, and the challenges hindering deeper engagement, such as weak civil society links and a lack of mutual knowledge.

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2009-10 provides a comprehensive overview of environmental law enforcement activities in South Africa from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010. It details the growth of the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI), national statistics on criminal and administrative enforcement, and specific case studies regarding industrial pollution and biodiversity crimes, particularly rhino poaching.

This research paper by Steven Gruzd evaluates the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), analyzing its origins within the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), its institutional challenges, and its impact on governance across the African continent as of April 2009.

This 2003 research paper outlines the framework of the NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), detailing its five-stage review process and the roles of the APR Forum, Panel of Eminent Persons, and APR Secretariat. It emphasizes the distinction between political governance review (handled by AU institutions) and economic/corporate governance review (handled by the NEPAD Secretariat and partners like UNECA). The paper also discusses the integration of the APRM within the broader African Union structure and the proposed mutual accountability between Africa and its international development partners.

A 2014 SAIIA research report evaluating the first ten years of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It describes the APRM as a unique, African-led voluntary governance assessment system that fosters mutual accountability among heads of state. While noting successes in expanding democratic space and identifying governance deficiencies, the report highlights failures in acting on early warnings and a lack of systematic knowledge management. It recommends deeper institutionalization within national planning systems and a shift away from reliance on individual political champions.