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The communiqué from the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), held in October 2015 in Geneva, focuses on aligning mining practices with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the critical importance of integrated mine closure planning.

This policy brief, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in September 2015, outlines a strategic resource mobilisation approach for National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). Based on a study by Dalberg Global Development Advisors involving 30 interviews and a literature review, the document identifies why NCCFs have historically struggled to attract capital and proposes a three-pillar framework—vision and strategy, institutional capacity, and systematic investor engagement—to improve their financial sustainability.

This report, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network and drafted by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, provides design options for the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) MSME Program. It identifies barriers preventing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries from accessing climate finance and proposes solutions across policy, knowledge, and financial product design. The report emphasizes the need for intermediaries to deliver finance efficiently and suggests a pilot phase to test these approaches before full-scale implementation.

This research paper analyzes the impact of currency risk on infrastructure projects in developing markets, arguing that hard currency loans from International Financing Institutions (IFIs) create dangerous asset-liability mismatches. The authors propose that IFIs shift their strategy from direct lending to developing local capital markets and providing credit guarantees. This approach aims to leverage private commercial capital and reduce the financial burden on host governments and end-users.

This August 2015 report from the Institute for Security Studies provides an analysis of the African Union Peace and Security Council's (PSC) activities, focusing on the postponed field mission to Burundi, security challenges facing AMISOM in Somalia, the AU's stance on universal jurisdiction regarding a Rwandan official, and internal restructuring efforts within the AU Commission.

This report by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), evaluates the resource mobilisation strategies and sustainability of National Climate Change Funds (NCCFs). It defines NCCFs as national-level entities that collect and channel climate finance to mitigation and adaptation projects. The report identifies significant funding gaps in developing countries, analyzes the performance of 13 operational NCCFs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and provides a best-practice handbook for NCCFs to define their vision, build institutional capacity, and engage investors.

This policy brief examines South Africa's two terms as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2007–2008 and 2011–2012. It focuses on South Africa's efforts to strengthen the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) by formalising institutional links between the UNSC and the African Union (AU), advocating for predictable financial resources, and promoting the role of regional organisations in security management under Chapter VIII of the UN Charter.

This report provides guidance for peacebuilding practitioners in fragile states on accessing and using climate data to manage risks. It highlights how conflict destroys meteorological infrastructure—citing examples from Afghanistan and Rwanda—and suggests using satellite-derived data (such as GPCP and MODIS) as alternatives. The report outlines the differences between historical, current, and prospective climate information and provides a four-step framework for rebuilding national weather services, based on a case study from Sierra Leone.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G-20 and OECD Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project from an African perspective. It analyzes the causes of Africa's low tax base, the impact of illicit financial flows and tax incentives, and provides recommendations for African nations to better influence global tax standards to ensure sustainable domestic revenue mobilization.

This draft report documents the January 28, 2015, launch meeting of the South African chapter of the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST), co-hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and Oxfam. The meeting brought together over 40 stakeholders to discuss South Africa's approach to South-South cooperation (SSC) and development partnerships in Africa. The report outlines the goals of NeST South Africa, analyzes the specific paradigm of South African development assistance, identifies systemic challenges in coordination and data management, and discusses the pending establishment of the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA).

The March 2015 Peace & Security Council (PSC) Report details the African Union's efforts to address security crises in Mali, the Lake Chad Basin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia, emphasizing the need for coordinated action between African and international partners.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the potential of bond markets as an alternative to bank loans for financing large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa. It details various bond types—including municipal, corporate, sovereign, diaspora, and Islamic bonds—and analyzes the current state of bond markets in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. The author argues that while bonds offer lower borrowing costs and avoid equity dilution, their growth in Africa is hindered by underdeveloped secondary markets, weak regulatory frameworks, and a lack of institutional investors.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), arguing that while it provides duty-free access to the US market, it remains underutilised. The author proposes a four-pillar strategy for the October 2015 renewal: timely and extended renewal, addressing non-tariff barriers, improving structural competitiveness through infrastructure and finance, and aligning with global trading shifts like the TPP and TTIP.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the progress and challenges of regional integration in Africa, drawing primarily on Country Review Reports (CRRs) from the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It examines the gap between the African Union's high-level rhetorical commitments to a continent-wide common market and the practical realities of limited trade growth, administrative incapacity, and political reluctance to cede national sovereignty.

This report details the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 27–29, 2015. The meeting focused on 'The Post-Mining Transition and Environmental Management,' exploring how to integrate environmental, economic, and social planning into the mine life cycle to ensure sustainable transitions and community resilience after closure.

This special edition of Climate and Development Outlook describes the scoping phase of the Future Climate For Africa (FCFA) programme, a five-year international research initiative funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). The programme focuses on improving the scientific understanding of sub-Saharan African climate on decadal timescales and enhancing the communication and uptake of this information for long-term climate-resilient development strategies.

This research paper analyzes the 2014 Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights (ACJHPR Amendment), specifically focusing on a provision that grants immunity from prosecution to serving African Union (AU) heads of state and senior officials. The author argues that this immunity provision is a symbolic reaction to the International Criminal Court's (ICC) focus on Africa and is contradictory to the AU's own constitutive principles and other regional agreements.

The document analyzes Kenya's regional diplomacy, characterizing it as historically conservative and reluctant to exercise political leadership despite economic strength. It highlights a shift toward 'hard power' via military intervention in Somalia and President Uhuru Kenyatta's pan-African pivot to counter ICC proceedings. It also details the strategic blunders and economic imbalances defining Kenya's relationship with South Africa.

This research paper, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in April 2014, examines strategies for implementing climate compatible development at the subnational level (cities, districts, and provinces) across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It identifies specific challenges, such as scientific uncertainty and limited resources, and highlights opportunities for local innovation and the use of indigenous knowledge. The paper provides a framework of effective strategies, including the use of knowledge partnerships and participatory processes, and discusses the necessity of scaling these local successes up to national levels and out to other jurisdictions to achieve global transformational change.

This opinion paper by Simon Maxwell, Executive Chair of the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKn), proposes a five-point plan to win the public and policy argument on climate change. The author argues that because climate policy creates winners and losers, a strategic approach is necessary to build and sustain support for the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient society.