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This RMI fact sheet argues that renewables and battery storage are now more effective than natural gas for supporting economic development and energy access in the Global South, offering superior reliability, deployment speed, and cost-effectiveness while avoiding the long-term financial and security risks associated with gas infrastructure.

The report 'HOW NOT TO PARACHUTE MORE CATS' by Hunter and Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues that global resource crises—including energy, water, and climate change—can be solved by understanding interconnections and prioritizing resource efficiency over the expansion of supply. The authors advocate for a 'least-cost' approach, demonstrating that energy efficiency and renewable technologies are often cheaper and more effective than fossil fuels or nuclear power. They suggest that these technical solutions can simultaneously improve economic health, reduce nuclear proliferation, and enhance global security by reducing dependence on volatile resources like Mideast oil.

This report chapter argues that the solution to global freshwater scarcity is not increasing supply through costly and environmentally damaging infrastructure, but radically increasing water productivity through efficiency and demand-side management across agriculture, landscaping, buildings, and industry.

This report by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) and UNIDO ITPO Germany explores the integration of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) in the mining sector to decarbonise operations and provide electricity to underserved surrounding communities. It advocates for a 'shared use' approach to infrastructure to address energy poverty and environmental impacts while enhancing the sustainability of mineral supply chains.

This research paper by Jodie Keane explores the nature of intra-Commonwealth value chains using a mixed-methods approach. It analyzes trade intensity, shifts in intermediate goods sourcing, and firm-level data to determine how Commonwealth members integrate into regional versus global value chains (GVCs). The findings suggest a prevalence of additive value chains and a specific tendency for Small Island Developing States to export within the Commonwealth.

This report analyzes the economic status and integration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting significant disparities in GDP growth, business competitiveness, and trade patterns among its 15 member states. It identifies infrastructure deficits, corruption, and regulatory barriers as primary inhibitors to regional growth and trade efficiency.

This case study examines the regulatory barriers hindering the development of a regional fuel ethanol market within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), focusing on sugarcane as a primary feedstock.

This case study examines the lack of progress in implementing a SADC Univisa, a regional visa intended to boost tourism and business travel in Southern Africa. Despite a 1998 protocol and the potential for 3-5% annual growth in tourism, implementation is hindered by security concerns, bureaucratic inertia, and conflicting interests between economic ministries and security agencies. The document highlights the disparity in visa openness compared to East Africa and suggests using the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA pilot as a model for broader regional adoption.

This case study examines the challenges and proposed improvements for Transit Management Systems (TMSs) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). It highlights how the requirement for multiple national customs bonds increases the cost and time of cross-border trade and suggests adopting a participatory management structure and a single-bond model similar to the international TIR system to facilitate trade within the proposed Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).

This case study examines the Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Monitoring Mechanism used by private sector actors in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area to report trade barriers. While the online database successfully registers complaints, the document highlights significant failures in the resolution process, particularly regarding transport-related barriers, due to a lack of political will, technical expertise, and effective institutional structures.

This case study examines the development of the Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia as a strategic logistics hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It details the port's infrastructure upgrades, the role of the state-owned Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), and the use of public-private partnerships through the Walvis Bay Corridor Group to facilitate trade for landlocked neighbors.

This diagnostic report synthesises findings from five dialogues held in developing countries to explore paths for revitalising multilateral trade negotiations following the stalemate of the Doha Round. It examines the rise of mega-regional trade agreements (MPTAs) and plurilateral approaches as alternatives to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) consensus-based model, while highlighting the specific needs of developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) in the context of global value chains (GVCs) and agricultural reform.

A statement by Trevor Manuel, Minister in the Presidency for National Planning, delivered on 18 September 2009, discussing Africa's economic vulnerabilities and the need for the continent to strengthen its regional integration and institutional capacity to effectively influence global governance reform.

This 2012 case study examines the operational challenges faced by Aluminium Africa Limited (ALAF), a Tanzania-based aluminium and steel manufacturer. ALAF reports significant barriers to regional trade within the SADC area, including inadequate energy infrastructure (marked by power rationing and cost increases), inefficient border controls and port services in Tanzania, and regulatory uncertainty. The company also highlights difficulties in accessing skilled labour and foreign currency in markets like Malawi. While ALAF has invested in backup power and lobbied via the Confederation of Tanzania Industries, it notes a lack of tangible government action to resolve these systemic constraints.

This report documents the proceedings of the 'APRM+10' conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 17-18 May 2013. The event brought together over 120 stakeholders, including civil society organisations (CSOs), academics, and government officials, to reflect on the first decade of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and project its future. The conference focused on the role of CSOs in monitoring governance, the implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPoAs), the management of diversity (youth, gender, and minorities), and the integration of the APRM into the emerging African Governance Architecture (AGA).

This briefing summarizes a South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) roundtable held on 29 March 2010 regarding Lesotho's experience with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The discussion, featuring former APRM Focal Point Ambassador HM Leteka, Professor Roger Southall, and Tšoeu Petlane, examines the milestones of Lesotho's review process, the findings of the Country Review Report, and the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

This research paper by Amanda Lucey argues for the integration of peace and security into the discourse of South-South Cooperation (SSC), specifically in the context of the BAPA+40 conference. The author contends that while the original 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) focused on economic and social development, the contemporary African reality necessitates a holistic approach where peace and development are viewed as mutually reinforcing.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the business environment in Mozambique through interviews conducted in November 2003 with South African companies. It analyzes the drivers of South African investment, the systemic challenges faced by firms—particularly small and medium enterprises—and the impact of this investment on the Mozambican economy.

This executive summary from the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the opportunities and challenges for South African businesses and investors in Egypt. It describes Egypt as a promising emerging economy with significant growth and stability since 1991, though South African penetration remains minimal compared to EU, US, and Arab investment. The document details specific operational hurdles, including bureaucratic corruption, cultural differences in work ethic, and price-sensitive consumer markets, while highlighting strengths such as a skilled workforce, robust infrastructure, and expanding sectors in natural gas and agro-business.

This research paper by Zhu Jiejin discusses the establishment and strategic role of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) as a mechanism for new South–South co-operation. The author argues that the NDB is designed to address the significant infrastructure financing gaps in developing countries and to supplement, rather than replace, existing multilateral development institutions. The paper proposes five guiding principles for the NDB's institutional design: fair governance, market-based operation, non-intervention with high standards, localisation, and constructive supplement.