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177 results
Standards, Labelling and Certification
This research paper examines the role of product standards, energy labelling, and processes and production methods (PPMs) in addressing climate change and their interactions with international trade law and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
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Document type: Research paper
Somalia: Can South Africa afford to play a role there?
This research paper examines the viability of a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia following a UN Security Council vote in December 2007. It analyzes the instability caused by the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts, the role of Ethiopian military intervention, and the challenges of assembling an African Union-led force. The author specifically evaluates South Africa's capacity and willingness to contribute troops, concluding that South Africa has opted out due to existing commitments and the high risk of failure in a country without a formal ceasefire.
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Document type: Research paper
Measuring the Unimportance of Being Earnest
This research paper examines the relationship between governance, corruption, and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, arguing that while good governance may not be the primary driver for short-term investment—particularly in resource-rich nations—it is essential for long-term economic stability and resource management.
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Document type: Research paper
A Year of Checks on Ballots
This report provides a state-by-state overview of scheduled and potential elections across several African nations in 2008, noting a general trend where incumbents face little threat from fragmented oppositions, though some countries are experiencing significant leadership transitions.
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Document type: Report
South Africa in Africa: An Assessment
This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs assesses South Africa's foreign policy, economic relations, and security role within Africa since 1994. It highlights the transition from the 'principled' approach of the Mandela era to the 'pragmatic' African Renaissance agenda under Thabo Mbeki, while noting the tensions between South Africa's regional economic dominance and its desire to avoid being perceived as a 'big brother'.
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Document type: Briefing
Why AFRICOM? An American Perspective
This briefing by Theresa Whelan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Africa, explains the rationale and intended structure of the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM). It argues that the command is a necessary shift from Cold War-era organizational structures to a 21st-century approach that prioritizes security capacity building, prevention, and inter-agency cooperation to support African stability and U.S. national security.
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Document type: Briefing
Notes on ICT4D and K4D 2005
This 2005 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes trends, actors, and challenges within the Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D) and Knowledge for Development (K4D) sectors. It details a shift from purely technical implementations to the integration of ICTs as enablers for sustainable development, while highlighting persistent barriers such as infrastructure costs, lack of local content, and the need for long-term capacity building.
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Document type: Report
EU Trade Policy and Conflict
This 2005 IISD report analyzes the impact of EU trade policy on conflict in the developing world. It highlights a contradiction: while the EU uses 'soft power' initiatives (like FLEGT and the Kimberley Process) to curb conflict resources and 'carrots' (preferential access) to encourage good governance, its structural policies—such as massive agricultural subsidies and the push for reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)—can undermine economic stability and fuel conflict. The report warns that commodity price volatility and the 'resource curse' further destabilize low-income countries, and recommends that the EU conduct conflict assessments of trade agreements and reduce agricultural subsidies to promote global peace and sustainable development.
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Document type: Report
Burundi Update: A new hat for AMIB?
This situation report from the Institute for Security Studies provides an update on the military and political progress in Burundi as of March 2004, focusing on the implementation of the November 2003 cease-fire agreement and the potential for a United Nations peacekeeping mission to succeed the African Union's Mission in Burundi (AMIB).
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Document type: Report
bansignfin2001-e23ea7c9beaf988c.pdf
A statement from the Basel Action Network and other environmental organizations opposing the United States government's intent to selectively ratify the 1989 Basel Convention while refusing to implement the 1995 Basel Ban Amendment.
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Document type: Statement
Western Efforts to Develop African Peacekeeping
This research paper assesses Western efforts to develop African peacekeeping capabilities in the late 1990s, specifically focusing on the 'P-3 Initiative' (US, UK, and France) and Danish contributions. The authors argue that while these capacity-building programs provide tangible training and equipment, they are primarily driven by Western domestic political desires to avoid direct military or financial involvement in African conflicts. The document also details the institutional, financial, and operational limitations of African regional bodies like the OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS in managing peace and security independently.
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Document type: Research paper
US RESPONSE TO AFRICAN CRISES: AN OVERVIEW AND PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS OF THE ACRI
This research paper analyzes the transition of the US-led African Crisis Response Force (ACRF) into the African Crisis Response Initiative (ACRI) in 1997. It examines the ACRI's focus on long-term capacity-building through military training for African battalions to enhance peacekeeping interoperability, while critiquing the initiative's lack of coordination with the OAU and UN, its reliance on US military doctrine, and the absence of a clear mechanism for deploying the trained forces.
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Document type: Research paper
AFRODAD Continues to Strengthen Journalists’ Knowledge on Debt through AFROMEDI
The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) conducted various capacity-building initiatives, policy advocacy, and institutional partnerships in 2024 to address Africa's public debt burden, reform the global financial architecture, and promote sustainable debt management.
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Document type: Report
escalating-20debt-20burden-20in-20africa-20and-20its-20human-20rights-20implications-aafc74d78102e85a.pdf
This research paper by the African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) examines the relationship between escalating sovereign debt in Africa and the subsequent erosion of human rights. The authors argue that high debt-servicing obligations force governments to implement austerity measures and cut spending on essential public services, thereby compromising basic needs and hindering the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The paper analyzes debt trends, the impact of various relief initiatives, and the role of civil society, ultimately calling for a human rights-based approach to debt management and the cancellation of debts for highly indebted countries.
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Document type: Research paper
Regional Research Call – Africa START
The 'Regional Research Call – Africa START' document outlines a funding initiative managed by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) to support research on 'Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security' across Africa. The program focuses on the sustainability of ecosystem services, aiming to provide policy-relevant research, build regional research capacity, and facilitate knowledge sharing. The call is co-financed by the US National Science Foundation and the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) programme.
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Document type: Report
La Exportación de Plaguicidas Prohibidos hacia Africa y Centroamérica
This legal opinion by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides prohibited or not approved in Europe to countries in Africa and Central America is illegal under international law, regional agreements, and human rights obligations.
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Document type: Report
L'exportation de Pesticides Interdits Vers l'Afrique et l'Amérique Centrale
This legal briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the export of pesticides banned or not approved in their countries of origin—specifically from Europe to Africa and Central America—violates international law, including the Basel Convention, the Bamako Convention, and the Central American Agreement, as well as international human rights obligations.
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Document type: Briefing
Healthy NDC Scorecard
The Healthy NDC Scorecard is a visual tool designed to evaluate whether national climate commitments (NDCs) are sufficient to protect human health, measuring them against the Paris Agreement and science-aligned targets.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Venture Finance Portfolio
The Venture Finance Portfolio document provides a detailed overview of various investment funds and venture-building platforms supported by FSD Africa and FSDAi. These entities focus on scaling climate-tech, gender-lens investing, and financial inclusion across Africa, utilizing a mix of equity, grants, and debt to catalyze private capital and drive sustainable economic growth.
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Document type: Report
Charting Africa’s Strategic Response to Trump’s Tariff War
This policy brief by the Institute for Economic Justice analyzes the impact of President Donald Trump's second administration's tariff policies on African nations and proposes a strategic response based on rerouting trade, subverting US policy through industrialization, and collective negotiation.
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Document type: Policy brief