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This report details the outcomes of an expert meeting and field visit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2012. The event was part of the 'Building REDD+ Policy Capacity for Developing Country Negotiators and Land Managers' project, delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins. The meeting focused on two primary determinants for the success of REDD+: the development of Safeguard Information Systems (SIS) and the fostering of effective private sector engagement.

This briefing describes the Stockholm Environment Institute's (SEI) shift toward user-centred and qualitative research methodologies to improve the design and adoption of efficient cookstoves, addressing the failures of previous programs that neglected user needs and preferences.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law and Oxfam examines the role of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and the systemic risks associated with their lending through Financial Intermediaries (FIs) rather than direct project investment.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies uses the International Futures (IFs) forecasting model to analyze the projected rise in road traffic fatalities in Africa through 2050. It argues that road safety is a critical development issue, as rapid motorization often outpaces infrastructure and regulatory improvements. The document compares a 'base case' forecast with an 'improved scenario' where African countries stabilize death rates at current continental averages, demonstrating that aggressive road safety interventions could save millions of lives and provide a significant boost to the continent's GDP.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the economic impact of Chinese trade, investment, and construction firms in Kenya. It highlights a significant trade imbalance, the proliferation of counterfeit Chinese goods, and the competitive pressures faced by local construction firms, while evaluating the effectiveness of Kenyan legislative responses such as the Anti-Counterfeit Act of 2008 and the National Construction Authority Act of 2010.

This research paper examines the integration of maritime piracy concerns into Kenya's foreign policy, noting a historical lack of a coherent domestic strategy despite the economic and security threats posed by piracy in the Indian Ocean and the proximity of Somalia.

This briefing, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs with support from the International Trade Centre, outlines private sector perspectives on the implementation of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA). It identifies significant barriers to regional trade, including restrictive rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, and the complexities of overlapping membership in multiple regional economic communities.

This report, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat and GIZ, identifies the primary business and investment constraints within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. By analyzing multiple business climate surveys, indices, and the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the study establishes a list of the top ten barriers to investment and development to facilitate public-private dialogue and the creation of practical policy solutions.

This 2012 report summarizes a task force meeting in Durban, South Africa, aimed at identifying lessons learned for REDD+ policy capacity in developing countries. The discussions prioritized three 'pillars'—Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV), safeguards, and financing—as the primary areas for research and policy development. The report emphasizes the need for country-driven processes, effective communication with local communities, and the integration of national experiences (such as those from Brazil, Kenya, and Indonesia) to inform international negotiations and national implementation.

This briefing by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) argues that the failure of clean cookstove programs to transform markets is largely due to a neglect of user needs, preferences, and cultural contexts. SEI advocates for a user-centered approach that combines quantitative economic modeling with qualitative ethnographic research to understand the social, emotional, and ergonomic factors influencing household energy choices.

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the potential socio-economic impacts of increasing investment in basic education across Africa. Using the International Futures (IFs) modelling system, the authors simulate a scenario where African nations adopt the enrolment and completion growth rates of the continent's best-performing countries. The analysis suggests that a modest increase in GDP allocation to education could lead to significant long-term gains in GDP, poverty reduction, and public health, although these benefits would be realized over several decades.

This briefing from the Joto Afrika series, produced in partnership with the Climate and Development Knowledge Network, examines climate-smart agricultural innovations in Africa, using Kenya as a primary case study. It highlights specific technical adaptations—such as greenhouse farming, rock catchment water harvesting, and the use of drought-resistant crops and fodders—to enhance food security and resilience against climate variability.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute evaluates the sustainable development (SD) potential of 12 different bioenergy project types by analyzing the project design documents of 76 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in India, Brazil, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The study finds that the potential for SD benefits varies significantly by project type, with on-farm residue projects claiming the most benefits and industrial forestry residue projects claiming the fewest.

This report documents a July 2011 seminar organized by the Pan African Parliament, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), and the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS). It examines the surge of foreign direct investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabs," and provides recommendations for parliamentarians to ensure such investments benefit local communities and align with national development goals.

This report documents a seminar held by the Pan-African Parliament in July 2011 regarding foreign investment in African agricultural land and water, often termed "land grabbing." It examines the drivers of these investments, their negative impacts on local communities and human rights, and the legal frameworks governing them. The document provides recommendations for parliamentarians to increase transparency, reform land tenure, and ensure that investments benefit local populations through inclusive business models and genuine community consultation.

This report documents a seminar held in July 2011 by the Pan-African Parliament, in collaboration with the IISD and PLAAS, focusing on foreign investment in African agricultural land and water resources. It examines the phenomenon of 'land grabbing,' its legal implications, and the role of parliamentarians in ensuring that such investments benefit local populations and align with sustainable development goals.

This report documents a seminar organized by the Pan-African Parliament in July 2011 to address the phenomenon of 'land grabbing' in Africa. It examines the drivers of foreign investment in arable land and water, the legal implications of such investments, and the resulting socio-economic impacts on local communities, particularly women. The document provides a set of recommendations for parliamentarians to improve transparency, reform land tenure, and ensure that investments align with national development strategies and human rights standards.

This research paper examines the governance challenges facing Uganda's Nile perch fishery in Lake Victoria, highlighting a significant gap between regional policies and local implementation. While the fishery is a critical economic resource and foreign-exchange earner, it is threatened by overfishing, illegal gear, and corruption. The author argues that the sustainability of the resource depends on passing stalled legislation, improving funding models, and strengthening community-based management units.

This research paper examines how the shared history of liberation struggles and personal ties between former liberation movements influence the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) mediation efforts in Zimbabwe. The author argues that these historical linkages create a 'club of brother presidents' that protects ZANU–PF and marginalizes post-liberation political entities like the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).