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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 briefing note outlines the current state and future prospects of nuclear energy in Africa, detailing existing infrastructure in South Africa, ongoing construction in Egypt, and the exploratory interests of other nations.

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 details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate from 1 July 2023 to 13 October 2023. It focuses on the implementation of decisions from the 31st meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-31), specifically regarding research programs on climate-health and ocean systems, science diplomacy, and the expansion of institutional associations.

This policy brief by the African Center for Economic Transformation examines the challenges of youth unemployment in Africa and evaluates school-to-work transition programs. It highlights a systemic trade-off between the scale and quality of these initiatives, noting that large-scale programs often lack relevant training, while high-quality programs fail to reach a significant portion of the youth population.

This special edition of the Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the resurgence of military coups and unconstitutional changes of government (UCGs) in Africa, specifically focusing on a 'third wave' since 2019. The report analyzes the drivers of these coups, the role of 'constitutional coups' (manipulating term limits), the impact of civil-military relations, and the effectiveness of African Union (AU) and regional sanctions.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the systemic challenges facing food production in Africa and proposes specific interventions for the G20 to help the continent avoid missing the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and AU Agenda 2063 targets.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the health cooperation between Germany and African states, arguing that current partnerships are rooted in colonial legacies and lack genuine reciprocity. The author contends that recent shifts toward 'securitization' of health—prioritizing global health security and economic interests—often override the needs of marginalized populations and the goal of strengthening local health systems.

This report analyzes the human and economic development prospects of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) up to 2050. It contrasts a 'Current Path' scenario, characterized by persistent poverty, poor governance, and infrastructure deficits, with a 'comprehensive scenario' involving targeted interventions in governance, infrastructure, human capital, agriculture, and economic diversification.

The Capital Mobilization Roadmap is a discussion draft by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) that outlines pathways to mobilize private capital for climate and development priorities. It focuses on four high-impact areas: reducing credit risk through purposeful guarantees, mitigating currency risk via market creation and local currency lending, scaling project development models to reduce development risk, and reforming Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) incentives to prioritize private sector mobilization over institutional volumes.

This research paper examines the historical and contemporary health cooperation between Germany and African nations, arguing that these relations remain unequal and lack reciprocity. The author contends that while Germany promotes multilateralism and health security, its actions often prioritize economic interests and security over the public health needs and autonomy of African partners, calling for a decolonial shift toward health and climate justice.

The SEI Urban Toolbox for Liveable Cities is a co-designed, living digital resource hosted on the weADAPT platform. It aggregates methodologies, frameworks, and applications developed by Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) researchers to help city officials, residents, and community groups implement more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban planning and governance.

This briefing examines the need for reform within international financial institutions (IFIs), specifically the IMF and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), to better support climate-vulnerable developing nations. It highlights how the current global financial system, characterized by structural imbalances and risk aversion, exacerbates debt crises in the global south, hindering their ability to invest in climate resilience. The document focuses on the Bridgetown Agenda as a framework for reform, proposing mechanisms such as the rechanneling of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) and the modernization of MDB Capital Adequacy Frameworks to unlock significant additional lending for climate action.

This case study describes the Africa Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI), a partnership co-led by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforSforALL), the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), and The Rockefeller Foundation. LaunchedS Launched at COP27, theS theSSSSS the initiative aims to establish high-integrity Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) to channel international finance into African clean energy projects and climate mitigation efforts.

This fact sheet provides a profile of Kenya's economic transformation based on the African Transformation Index (ATI), detailing performance across diversification, export competitiveness, productivity, technology, and human well-being.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the 20-year history of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It details the mechanism's evolution from its 2003 inception to its current status as an AU-incorporated body with 43 member states, while highlighting systemic failures in implementation, slow review throughput, and the limited impact of its recommendations on overall continental governance.

The AfCFTA aims to create a single African market by eliminating 97% of tariffs, but full implementation is hindered by delayed Rules of Origin negotiations and clashes between national interests and pan-African goals. The Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) serves as a pilot to maintain momentum and test regulatory instruments among eight selected countries.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can help reduce poverty among smallholder farmers. Based on a study of 13 major standard initiatives and 12 meta-studies, the document analyzes VSSs across three dimensions of poverty: access to resources, opportunities and choice, and power and voice. While VSSs can provide benefits such as better crop prices and improved natural resource management, the brief concludes that their overall impact on poverty reduction is inconclusive and context-specific, requiring significant external support from governments and the private sector to be effective.

This policy brief, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in March 2023, examines the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in reducing poverty among smallholder farmers. Based on a 2021 study of 13 major agricultural standards, 12 meta-studies, and 57 interviews across six countries, the document argues that while VSS can support poverty reduction through improved crop prices and resource conservation, they are not a standalone solution and require supportive ecosystems, government intervention, and improved governance to be truly effective.

This policy brief, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in March 2023, examines whether voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can help reduce poverty among smallholder farmers. Based on a 2021 study that analyzed 13 VSS initiatives, 12 meta-studies, and 57 interviews across six countries, the document argues that VSS can be a tool for poverty reduction when integrated into broader strategies. It identifies key barriers to access for smallholders and provides recommendations for VSS designers and policymakers to enhance the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these standards.