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This guide by the Climate Policy Initiative provides strategic advice for cities in developing countries to access green bond markets to fund low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure. It highlights the significant gap in capital market access for these cities and outlines both direct and indirect pathways to secure financing based on a city's creditworthiness.

This research paper examines the challenges facing Nigeria's foreign policy since its return to electoral democracy in 1999, arguing that domestic instability and leadership failures have undermined its regional and global influence.

The December 2016 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the African Union's (AU) role in managing continental crises. It finds that the Peace and Security Council (PSC) often relied on regional bodies rather than leading interventions. Key issues discussed include the impact of land privatisation and climate change in Kenya's Kajiado County, the contested nature of several 2016 national elections, and the AU's efforts to promote women's rights despite a perceived failure to challenge dictatorial regimes. The report also details the funding struggles of AMISOM in Somalia and the diplomatic complexities surrounding Morocco's request to rejoin the AU.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the potential implications of Donald Trump's 2016 election on US-Africa relations, noting a lack of specific policy detail regarding the continent during his campaign.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines the impacts of 'dirty energy'—including coal, oil, gas, nuclear, and mega-dams—across the African continent. It argues that these energy systems exacerbate climate change, cause severe health and environmental damage, and fail to provide universal energy access, while often benefiting corporate elites over local communities.

The report critiques the prevalence of polluting energy sources in Africa, highlighting the environmental and social costs of coal in South Africa, oil in Nigeria and Uganda, and large dams in Mozambique. It emphasizes the paradox of high energy production alongside extreme energy poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa and advocates for a systemic shift toward decentralized, renewable energy.

This case study examines the development and scaling of M-Shwari, a mobile-based savings and loans product in Kenya created through a partnership between the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and Safaricom. It details how FSD Kenya acted as a market facilitator, providing research and technical expertise to help CBA design a product tailored to low-income consumers, ultimately expanding formal financial access to millions of Kenyans.

This research paper examines the rapid pace of urbanisation in Africa, forecasting population trends and identifying the structural challenges that hinder sustainable urban development. It focuses on the emergence of megacities and the disconnect between urban growth and economic structural transformation.

This policy briefing examines the vulnerability of the livestock sector in Southern Africa to climate change, highlighting the severe impact of the 2015/2016 drought. It argues that while regional strategies like the SADC Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan exist, implementation remains sporadic and donor-driven. The document advocates for the use of indigenous animal genetic resources, improved support for small-scale farmers, and enhanced regional collaboration to build a climate-resilient livestock industry.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International advocates for a legally binding UN treaty to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) accountable for human rights and environmental violations, specifically highlighting systemic impunity and access-to-justice barriers in Africa.

The East Africa Crowdfunding Landscape Study, published by FSD Africa in October 2016, analyzes the crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (P2P) lending ecosystems in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, comparing them with more mature markets in South Africa and the United Kingdom. The report finds that while the region is experiencing rapid growth, it is primarily driven by international donation and concessionary lending platforms from the global North, rather than native equity or for-profit lending models, which are hindered by regulatory uncertainty and a lack of investment-ready MSMEs.

This report by the African Center for Economic Transformation outlines a strategy to transform agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) through the generation and diffusion of modern technology and improved management practices. The study identifies rice as a promising crop for a 'Green Revolution' in the region and suggests that technology transfer from advanced regions like South Africa and tropical Asia (specifically India) can help close yield gaps. The paper emphasizes that technological innovation must be coupled with improved agronomic management and marketing to be effective.

This guide by GreenCape provides municipal officials in the Western Cape with a framework for implementing and regulating Small Scale Embedded Generation (SSEG), primarily focusing on solar photovoltaic (PV) systems under 1MW. It details the technical components of PV systems, cost trends, tariff design principles, the application process for grid-tied and off-grid systems, and the necessary legal and regulatory standards to ensure grid stability and safety.

A reflection by Ivan Vaalbooi of Natural Justice on the life and contributions of Andries Steenkamp, a leader within the Khomani San and broader indigenous communities in South Africa.

China saw wind capacity grow from 1.26 GW in 2005 to 91.4 GW by 2013, but faces ongoing issues with grid connection delays and power curtailment due to transmission lagging behind capacity and poor governance coordination. Additionally, a separate IISD study warns that BRIICS nations could face a $278 billion revenue gap by 2030 as they transition away from fossil fuels.

This research paper examines the conflict between international regulatory norms, such as the CITES ivory trade ban, and the diverse local values held by communities in elephant range states and consumer markets. Using Cameroon's Congo River basin and Southern African states as primary examples, the authors argue that ignoring local societal values and the impacts of globalisation can lead to adverse reactions, undermining long-term conservation goals.

The August 2016 Peace & Security Council Report details the outcomes of the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, focusing on the deadlock in electing a new AU Commission chairperson, a historic agreement on AU self-financing, and the AU's strained relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC). It also analyzes the security crises in South Sudan, Libya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

This research paper by Thatshisiwe Ndlovu for the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the long-term fiscal history of Botswana, tracing its evolution from pre-colonial tribal tributes to a modern tax state. The author argues that Botswana's current fiscal capacity was shaped by a 'skeletal' colonial tax state characterized by indirect rule and negotiation with traditional leaders, which prevented the violent tax rebellions seen in other British colonies. The paper details the transition from colonial hut and poll taxes to a post-independence system heavily reliant on diamond revenues, and subsequent reforms to diversify the tax base following the 2008 global economic crisis.

The research paper argues that Southern Africa remains largely excluded from global value chains due to poor infrastructure, weak manufacturing, and a lack of data. It highlights that while South Africa has a strong services component in its exports, the broader region should leverage agro-processing and services liberalisation to drive economic growth and regional integration.

This policy brief evaluates the capacity development component of the Water, Climate and Development Programme for Africa (WACDEP). Launched in 2011, the programme trained 170 people across eight countries to integrate water security and climate resilience into development planning. Key findings indicate that national ownership and localized programme management are critical for translating training into tangible outcomes, and that national trainers are preferable to international experts.