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A 2006 report by a coalition of NGOs critiquing the World Bank's energy investment framework, arguing that it continues to fund fossil fuels and large-scale projects while neglecting renewable energy and the energy needs of the poor.

This record of discussion from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the challenges and future directions of South Africa's trade strategy. The briefing covers the gridlock in the WTO Doha Round, the potential for unilateral trade liberalisation, the strategic value of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and the complexities of regional integration within SADC and SACU.

This research paper examines the state of human trafficking research in South Africa as of 2006, arguing that existing data is rudimentary, methodologically weak, and overly focused on sexual exploitation. It calls for more sophisticated, dispassionate research and the adoption of innovative methodologies to inform the development of specialized anti-trafficking legislation.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the state of services trade within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It identifies critical deficiencies in core infrastructure services—transport, energy, telecommunications, and finance—as significant constraints on the region's economic growth and international competitiveness. The document reviews regional integration efforts, the impact of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and the challenges associated with the movement of natural persons (Mode 4) for service provision.

A statement by Peter Mandelson, Member of the European Commission, delivered on 10 February 2006, regarding the trade and political relationship between the European Union and South Africa, specifically focusing on the Doha Development Agenda (DDA) and regional integration in Southern Africa.

This research paper by the Center for International Environmental Law argues that international dispute settlement mechanisms, particularly in trade and investment, lack the transparency, public participation, and accountability necessary for democratic governance. The author contends that these processes often impact public policy and human rights while operating under secretive models derived from private commercial arbitration.

This policy brief series by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and IUCN examines the intersection of international trade, foreign aid, and security. It argues that current global trade rules and aid practices often exacerbate instability and conflict in developing countries by promoting economic dependence on volatile primary commodities, maintaining inequitable market access, and supporting unaccountable regimes. The document proposes a shift toward 'conflict-sensitive' policies, including the restriction of 'conflict resources,' the promotion of transparent natural resource revenue management, and the implementation of responsible business conduct to prevent the funding of violent conflicts.

This research paper examines the potential for European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to disrupt regional economic integration in Southern Africa, specifically within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The authors argue that the requirement for 'reciprocity'—where ACP states remove tariffs on EU imports—risks fracturing regional blocs because member states often have incompatible lists of sensitive products they wish to protect. The paper specifically analyzes the tension between the existing Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) between the EU and South Africa and the needs of the BLNS countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland), suggesting that SACU expansion could be a strategic alternative to mitigate these stresses.

This conference report, prepared by Masiiwa Rusare of the Trade & Development Studies Centre (TRADES Centre), documents a regional meeting held in September 2005 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The event focused on the experiences of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) in negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU). The report details the institutional structures of the negotiations, areas of convergence and divergence between the two regional blocs and the EU, the specific interests of South Africa, and the challenges of integrating non-state actors and the poor into the trade process.

This research paper analyzes the challenges facing the SADC-EPA group in negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, focusing on the complexities of multiple membership in regional trade blocs and the impact of the Trade and Development Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Community.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) argues that achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) requires the integration of environmentally sustainable strategies across all goals, specifically focusing on freshwater, energy, and sanitation. The study identifies significant gaps in current MDG planning, particularly regarding the water requirements for food production and the need for innovative sanitation solutions. It estimates that an annual investment of USD 107 billion is required between 2005 and 2015 to meet targets for water, food, sanitation, and energy using sustainable pathways.

This research paper examines the relationship between disarmament and the post-conflict reconciliation process in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. It argues that while the Rwandan government has focused on reconciliation through mechanisms like the gacaca courts and regional small arms agreements, the failure to implement a comprehensive internal disarmament program for civilians and ex-combatants undermines lasting security and trust. The author highlights the complexities of disarming groups in a porous region, specifically the threat posed by Hutu militias in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and proposes integrating disarmament into the broader security sector reform and reconciliation framework.

This research paper argues that Burundi's transition to peace is precarious because the focus has remained on political power-sharing and elections while neglecting the socio-economic reconstruction outlined in Protocol IV of the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Accords. The author asserts that failure to address structural causes of conflict—specifically extreme poverty, land scarcity, and unequal resource distribution—could lead the country back into a 'conflict trap'.

This research paper examines the relationship between organised crime and terrorism in Southern Africa, focusing on how illicit trades in arms, narcotics, and minerals provide resources for terrorist activities and how state-sponsored terrorism operates within the region.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Africa, analyzing their potential to address infrastructure and service backlogs. Through eight case studies across sectors including transport, telecommunications, water, power, and eco-tourism, the document argues that while PPPs can offer efficiency gains and fiscal benefits, they are not a 'magic bullet' and are susceptible to the same failures as full privatisation, such as corruption, poor pricing, and lack of transparency. The report provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for African governments to improve regulatory frameworks, conduct thorough feasibility studies, and build institutional capacity to ensure PPPs deliver value for money and social benefit.

This research paper examines the tension between the RPF government's public commitment to national unity in post-genocide Rwanda and its internal practice of political coercion. While acknowledging the RPF's achievements in stability and repatriation, the author details the systematic silencing of opposition figures, the lack of judicial independence, and the use of 'divisive' labels to criminalize dissent.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the incidence, magnitude, and control of money laundering in Southern Africa. It analyzes predicate crimes—primarily drug trafficking and corruption—the role of informal remittance systems, and the legislative and institutional challenges facing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region in implementing anti-money laundering frameworks.

This report evaluates the legislative and institutional capacity of several East and Southern African countries—specifically Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, and Malawi—to detect and control money laundering and terrorist financing. It identifies systemic weaknesses, including a lack of dedicated anti-money laundering (AML) laws in some states, poor inter-agency cooperation, and the vulnerability of both formal and informal financial sectors to the laundering of proceeds from corruption, drug trafficking, and organized crime.

A statement from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) regarding the Political Dialogue Project in Burundi, detailing the project's funding, objectives, and the role of consultant Jan van Eck in facilitating peace and reconciliation.

This report documents a two-day workshop held in Bagamoyo, Tanzania, in October 2003, focused on delivery mechanisms for rural electrification in Eastern and Southern Africa. It explores the intersection of energy supply technologies and organizational management to support rural development, emphasizing that electricity alone is insufficient for poverty reduction and must be integrated with education, social services, and income-generating activities.