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The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) is a regional human security policy thinktank focused exclusively on Africa, aiming to support policy formulation and decision-making to enhance human security across the continent.

This research paper examines the 'Goldenberg' scandal, a high-level financial conspiracy in Kenya between 1990 and 1993 involving senior officials of the Daniel Arap Moi administration and private wheeler-dealers. The scheme exploited government incentives for non-traditional exports and foreign exchange controls to siphon hundreds of millions of dollars from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), contributing to severe economic instability and inflation.

This research paper provides an overview of the progress made toward establishing the African Standby Force (ASF) as of May 2005. It details the continental policy framework adopted by the African Union (AU) and examines the specific implementation efforts, capabilities, and challenges within three regional bodies: the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The document highlights significant gaps between policy aspirations and operational capacity, primarily driven by funding shortages and limited national military capabilities.

This briefing reports on an interview conducted on May 1, 2003, with Al-Sadig al-Mahdi, leader of the opposition Umma Party in Sudan. Al-Mahdi discusses the limitations of the IGAD-facilitated peace talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/A, arguing that a sustainable peace requires a more inclusive process involving 'new forces' and a transition to democratic elections.

This research paper provides an overview of money laundering threats within the East and Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group (ESAAMLG) region. It examines the strategic importance of laundering for organised crime and corruption, identifies common typologies (internal, incoming, and outgoing), and details specific predicate crimes such as drug trafficking, armed robbery, and currency speculation. The document also analyzes the region's vulnerability as a destination for illicit funds due to offshore financial regimes and regulatory weaknesses.

This 2003 fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International examines the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in providing development loans, particularly to Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. It argues that while the EIB is a central financial institution for the EU's relations with developing nations, it lacks a formal development strategy and fails to integrate sustainable development or poverty eradication goals into its project evaluations, which remain focused on economic and technical criteria.

This IISD briefing note analyzes the results of the negotiations for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which concluded in Montreal in January 2000. The document examines the Protocol's scope, its operationalization of the precautionary principle, its complex relationship with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and the positions of the five major negotiating blocs.

This synthesis report details the Raising Risk Awareness (RRA) project, a pilot initiative designed to build capacity for extreme event attribution (EEA) and sea level rise risk analysis in developing countries. The project focused on Ethiopia, India, Kenya, and Bangladesh to bridge the gap between climate science, communication, and policy-making, helping stakeholders understand the role of human-induced climate change in specific extreme weather events to better manage future risks.

This fact sheet critiques the European Investment Bank's (EIB) role in development, arguing that while it has increased lending to Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries and established new regional offices, it prioritizes economic and technical metrics over sustainable development and poverty eradication. The document calls for the EIB to adopt binding social and environmental safeguards, increase public transparency, and align its practices with international sustainability standards.

This report by EAVCA and Intellecap, supported by FSD Africa and FMO, analyzes the FinTech ecosystem in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia). It identifies key enablers such as high mobile penetration and gaps in traditional financial services, evaluates various FinTech business models—including lending, payments, insurance, and investment management—and examines regional investment trends, funding challenges, and the role of strategic partnerships between banks and mobile network operators.

The Africa Green Bond Toolkit is a practical guide developed by FSD Africa and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assist African capital markets in issuing green bonds according to international standards. It outlines the structural differences between green and vanilla bonds, provides a step-by-step issuance process, and details the requirements for creating a Green Bond Framework. The guide emphasizes the role of external verification and certification to ensure transparency and attract institutional investors to climate-resilient projects across the continent.

This fact sheet describes the activities of Persistent Energy Capital, a venture builder and fund that provides equity and support to green innovators in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting its partnership with FSD Africa Investments (FSDAi).

The 'Kit d’Outils d’Obligations Verte Afrique' is a practical guide developed by FSD Africa and the Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI) to assist African issuers in emitting green bonds. It outlines the structural similarities between green and conventional bonds, while detailing the specific requirements for the allocation of proceeds to environmental projects. The guide provides a comprehensive framework for the issuance process, including the development of a Green Bond Framework, independent verification, and post-issuance reporting, while highlighting successful case studies from South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.

This briefing by E-Consult, coordinated by FSD Africa, examines the potential for establishing onshore financial centres in Africa to attract international capital and skilled employees. It evaluates existing hubs like Mauritius and Johannesburg and assesses the prospects for cities such as Nairobi, Kigali, Lagos, and Accra to become globally significant financial centres.

This report by the Institute for Economic Justice, based on a survey of 920 economics students and graduates across 85 countries, argues that mainstream economics education is failing to prepare students for contemporary crises. It calls for a shift toward a pluralist, interdisciplinary, and critical curriculum that moves beyond the dominance of neoclassical economics to better address the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic bias, and the climate emergency.

This research paper by Kitrhona Cerri and Maria Mexi examines the evolution of industrial policy in the digital age, using Kenya as a primary case study. The authors argue that without strengthened data governance, worker protections, and national value capture mechanisms, digitalization in low- and middle-income countries risks creating structural dependency and "industrial thinness" rather than inclusive development.

This research paper by Kitrhona Cerri and Maria Mexi examines the evolution of industrial policy in the digital age, using Kenya as a primary case study. The authors argue that traditional industrial policy, once focused on factories and physical goods, must now shift toward the governance of digital infrastructures, algorithms, and data to avoid reproducing structural dependencies in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

This December 2008 briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the intersection of the humanitarian crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the ecological degradation of Virunga National Park. The author argues that the park's natural resources are being exploited to fund ongoing conflict and that environmental governance must be integrated into any sustainable peace agreement to ensure long-term regional recovery.

This fact sheet describes a four-year project led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and executed by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The project aims to integrate climate change vulnerability and adaptation into sustainable development planning through pilot projects in Kenya, Mozambique, and Rwanda, focusing on agriculture, forestry, and energy production.

The Institute for Security Studies criticizes the South African government's Green Paper on Policing for its lack of transparency and public participation, arguing that the closed process misses an opportunity to rebuild trust between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the public. The author advocates for a comprehensive, open consultative process similar to the one adopted by Kenya in 2009 to address systemic policing issues and public mistrust.