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This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the emergence of agricultural growth poles (agropoles) and corridors in Africa. It analyzes these tools as strategies to attract private investment and transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture, while highlighting the legal, financial, and operational risks associated with their implementation.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) analyzes the financial and environmental impact of butane gas subsidies in Morocco and proposes a 'swap' reform. This strategy involves reducing fossil fuel subsidies and reinvesting the savings into clean energy technologies, specifically solar pumping for agriculture and solar water heaters for households, to facilitate a socially acceptable energy transition.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers for the Institute for Security Studies analyzes Africa's demographic transition, focusing on the 'demographic window of opportunity' defined by a worker-to-dependant ratio of 1.7:1. It details the varying timelines for different African regions to reach this threshold and the systemic requirements needed to convert population growth into economic dividends.

This report provides development forecasts for the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) up to 2043. It compares a 'Current Path' trajectory—based on existing policies—against various sectoral scenarios and a 'Combined Agenda 2063' scenario, analyzing impacts on GDP, poverty, demographics, and carbon emissions.

This document is an introductory report from the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) regarding a conference held on 31 May 2011. The conference aimed to analyze the 2011 North African revolutions and generate policy responses to peace and security challenges to support democratization and human security in the region.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Union's (AU) response to the North African uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. It argues that the AU's tendency to prioritize state security and sovereignty over human security and democracy was evident in its weak response to these crises. The author suggests that for the AU's 'Year of Shared Values' to be meaningful, the organization must move beyond rhetoric to enforce compliance with democracy and human rights standards through credible sanctions and technical support.

This document is a draft agenda for the Twelfth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union, scheduled for February 1-3, 2009, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

This report provides three guidance papers to support the curriculum design of the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, an initiative of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF). It focuses on the leadership roles of policymakers and senior officials, a step-by-step methodology for developing justice sector training curricula, and the use of immersive simulation scenarios for specialized rule of law training.

This report details Austria's diplomatic, trade, and development relations with Africa, particularly in the context of its 2006 European Union Council presidency. It outlines Austria's strategic focus on North Africa via the European Neighbourhood Partnership, its limited trade with the continent compared to the EU, and its targeted development assistance in East and Southern Africa.

This report details Italy's foreign policy and diplomatic, economic, and security relations with Africa, with a specific focus on the Horn of Africa and bilateral ties with South Africa.

This policy briefing, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in October 2015, compares the Open Government Partnership (OGP) with other international peer-review mechanisms, including the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), the UN's Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and the OECD's Anti-Bribery Convention Review (OECDA). It argues that the OGP's flexible, civil-society-led approach offers unique benefits for transparency and governance, and suggests that African nations should seek OGP membership and harmonise it with existing review obligations.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the gap between the African Union's (AU) normative commitments to democracy and human rights and the actual foreign policies of its member states. The author argues that strong sovereignty norms and a state-centric approach have hindered the domestication of human rights, leading to a state of 'stasis' or reversal in several countries. The brief recommends that the AU embrace global partnerships with civil society and that pivotal states like South Africa rejuvenate human rights as a core pillar of their external engagements to ensure continental stability.

This working paper by the World Resources Institute explores how climate finance can catalyze transformational change in low-carbon energy. By analyzing 20 case studies from developed and developing countries, the paper identifies the characteristics of systemic transformation, evaluates specific national experiences, and provides a planning framework and recommendations for recipient governments and development finance institutions.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines how public climate finance can be used to create the policy, institutional, industry, and financial conditions necessary to scale up private and public investment in low-carbon energy. Based on case studies from six developing countries, the report proposes a framework for 'readiness' activities and provides recommendations for international climate funds, specifically the Green Climate Fund.

The report advocates for Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to move from a "Climate Finance Paradigm" to a "Paris Alignment Paradigm," ensuring all investments—not just designated climate finance—align with the Paris Agreement. Key recommendations include achieving net zero CO2 emissions by mid-century by stopping support for CO2-emitting energy sources, mainstreaming climate risks for a world 3-4°C warmer, and increasing transparency and support for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

The World Resources Institute's 'A Community Action Toolkit' provides practical guidance for civil society and marginalized communities to use environmental rights—specifically access to information, public participation, and justice—to combat air, water, and solid waste pollution. Developed through the STRIPE project, the toolkit uses eight modules to help users conduct policy research, collect pollution data, and build evidence-based advocacy campaigns to hold governments and private companies accountable.

This WRI working paper surveys 27 public and public-private climate funds (PPCFIs) totaling US$41.3 billion, finding that most focus on mitigation in emerging markets rather than adaptation in least-developed countries. While intended to leverage private capital, few have successfully attracted significant private investment at the fund level due to limited project pipelines, inadequate scale, and cumbersome operational processes. WRI recommends standardizing requirements, improving information transparency, and fostering better market conditions to effectively mobilize private finance.