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This guidance paper, published by FSD Africa in January 2016, provides a framework for Financial Sector Deepening (FSD) programmes to assess why changes occur in the financial sector and the extent to which their interventions contributed to those changes. It focuses on Stage 2b of the Impact-Oriented Measurement (IOM) system, detailing methods for assessing causality and establishing a research agenda to bridge knowledge gaps in financial sector development and poverty reduction.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines landholding systems in Africa, drawing on African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports. It argues that while weak property rights hinder economic development, universal formal titling is often impractical due to institutional capacity constraints. The author proposes a gradual approach that leverages informal rights regimes and improves state administrative capacity to enhance tenure security.

This reference manual, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in 2016, provides a detailed framework for countries to plan the implementation of their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. It is structured into five core modules: governance, mitigation, adaptation, finance, and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). The guide offers a step-by-step approach to identifying institutional gaps, designing policies, mobilizing funding, and establishing tracking systems, supplemented by international case studies to illustrate best practices in climate action planning.

This briefing by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) outlines the political and economic requirements for countries to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris climate agreement. It emphasizes the need for 'climate compatible development' that balances emission reductions with poverty eradication and sustainable development, particularly in developing nations.

This case study, written by Creative Metier for FSD Africa, examines the efforts of the Commercial Bank of Africa Limited (CBA) to embed a coaching culture within its organization. To address the needs of a workforce where 65% of staff are Generation Y and to manage rapid growth, CBA implemented a multi-year strategy involving career development programs, engagement training, and the certification of internal managers as professional coaches to improve employee productivity and business performance.

This case study, written by Creative Metier for FSD Africa, examines the implementation of executive coaching and leadership development programmes at the Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA) and Jubilee Insurance Company Limited in Kenya. It details how these financial institutions used coaching to address challenges such as rapid growth, shifting workforce demographics (specifically Generation Y), and low staff morale to foster high-performance cultures.

The 2016 GreenCape report details the growth of South Africa's utility-scale renewable energy sector via the REIPPPP, which procured over 6,300 MW. It highlights a sharp decline in wind and solar PV costs, the importance of local content requirements for industrialization, and the Western Cape's emergence as a greentech hub. The report also identifies expansion opportunities across the SADC region and other African nations like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Nigeria, while noting infrastructure constraints at Eskom.

The Migration and Conservation Toolkit, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in 2016, provides a four-phase framework for conservation practitioners to assess and address the impacts of human migration on critical ecosystems. The guide emphasizes a participatory approach to understand the links between migration drivers, livelihood choices, and biodiversity loss, offering specific tools for mapping, stakeholder analysis, and the design of migration-sensitive interventions.

This legislative guide, published by the Institute for Security Studies in 2016, provides African states with practical guidance on drafting and amending national laws to comply with international and regional arms control instruments. It focuses on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms (UNPoA), the International Tracing Instrument (ITI), the SADC Protocol, and the Nairobi Protocol. The guide details requirements for the manufacture, marking, record-keeping, and international transfer (export, import, transit, transhipment, and brokering) of conventional arms, specifically small arms and light weapons, and outlines necessary penal provisions for illicit activities.

Friends of the Earth Africa argues that the Paris draft agreement is insufficient to prevent catastrophic warming in Africa, fails to address climate debt or loss and damage, and promotes market-based mechanisms like REDD that facilitate land and water grabs.

The 'Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground: A Declaration for the Health of Mother Earth' is a November 2015 statement signed by numerous international organizations and activists. It calls for an immediate end to fossil fuel extraction, exploration, and subsidization to address the climate crisis and protect the rights of nature and Indigenous peoples, advocating for a transition to 100% renewable energy.

This research paper analyzes three major Chinese foreign policy initiatives—the Maritime Silk Road, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and expanded UN peacekeeping contributions—and evaluates their implications for Africa and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The author argues that while China is increasing its infrastructure and security investments in Africa, particularly on the east coast, the continent remains secondary to China's strategic interests in Asia and Europe.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that industrial agribusiness is a primary driver of climate change and social inequality, advocating for agroecology and food sovereignty as sustainable alternatives. It specifically critiques 'Climate Smart Agriculture' (CSA) as a corporate-led 'false solution' that greenwashes industrial practices without challenging the underlying economic systems.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that industrial agribusiness is a primary driver of climate change and hunger, advocating for agroecology as a sustainable, equitable alternative. It critiques 'climate-smart agriculture' as a 'false solution' designed to protect corporate profits and maintain existing power structures while greenwashing industrial practices.

The communiqué from the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), held in October 2015 in Geneva, focuses on aligning mining practices with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the critical importance of integrated mine closure planning.

This report, commissioned by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network and drafted by Dalberg Global Development Advisors, provides design options for the Green Climate Fund's (GCF) MSME Program. It identifies barriers preventing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries from accessing climate finance and proposes solutions across policy, knowledge, and financial product design. The report emphasizes the need for intermediaries to deliver finance efficiently and suggests a pilot phase to test these approaches before full-scale implementation.

This policy brief examines the alignment of Africa's maritime ambitions, specifically the African Union's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy), with the regional efforts of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). It highlights the challenges of institutional fragmentation and the need for improved communication and coordination to realize the economic and environmental potential of the Blue Economy.

This August 2015 report from the Institute for Security Studies provides an analysis of the African Union Peace and Security Council's (PSC) activities, focusing on the postponed field mission to Burundi, security challenges facing AMISOM in Somalia, the AU's stance on universal jurisdiction regarding a Rwandan official, and internal restructuring efforts within the AU Commission.

This policy brief, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in July 2015, examines the relationship between the ambition level of the 2015 global climate agreement and the ability of countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Based on research by HR Wallingford and Metroeconomica, the brief argues that a high-ambition agreement—limiting global warming to 2°C—is essential for eradicating extreme poverty and ensuring sustainable development, whereas a low-ambition agreement would significantly undermine these goals, particularly in Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.

This report analyzes how the internal political and military crisis in South Sudan, which began in December 2013, has evolved into a regional competition for influence among Horn of Africa states. It details the conflicting strategic, economic, and security interests of Uganda, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, and Egypt, arguing that their proxy support and geopolitical maneuvering undermine mediation efforts led by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).