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This guide, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2008, provides civil society organisations (CSOs) with a strategic framework for creating effective written submissions to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It explains the APRM's governance review process and offers a five-step methodology for CSOs to influence national policy and the resulting Programme of Action (POA).

This document is an opening address delivered by Jakkie Cilliers of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) on 31 October 2007. The speech outlines the ISS's regional security initiatives across Africa and discusses the challenges of policing, crime statistics, and security preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

This report explores market-based price risk management options for coffee farmers, particularly smallholders in developing countries. It analyzes the volatility of Arabica and Robusta coffee prices and the barriers preventing farmers from accessing futures and options markets. The authors argue that while traditional risk mitigation (like diversification) is costly and inefficient, market-based instruments can make earnings more predictable, provided that intermediaries like local banks and cooperatives are leveraged to bridge the gap between small growers and international exchanges.

This report, published by the Institute for Security Studies in May 2007, examines the challenges and processes of Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Africa, with a specific focus on the Horn of Africa. It utilizes comparative case studies from South Africa and Sierra Leone to highlight the importance of democratic civilian oversight, local ownership, and the need to move beyond Eurocentric models of security. The document analyzes the systemic obstacles to reform in the Horn of Africa, including the legacies of liberation wars, the prevalence of militarized political cultures, and the impact of the global 'war on terror' on governance and human security.

This briefing by Dr M Masiiwa of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the strategic options for Zimbabwe as it faces a choice between joining the proposed Customs Unions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) or the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). While Zimbabwe has stronger existing trade links and political ties with SADC, the document suggests a preference for COMESA due to its larger market, more balanced economic competition, and faster pace of integration.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the implementation of special measures to protect women and children from sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by private security companies (PSCs) and private military companies (PMCs) during peacekeeping missions. The author highlights a regulatory gap where UN-specific protections do not apply to private contractors, leaving them largely unregulated by express terms of international law.

This report details a seminar titled "Understanding Terrorism in Africa: Building Bridges and Overcoming Gaps," held on 19-20 May 2007 at the University of Cairo, Egypt. Organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and the Terrorism Studies and Research Program at the University of Cairo, with funding from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event aimed to address gaps in counter-terrorism efforts and foster partnerships between North and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as between Africa and the West.

This report documents a conference held on 19–20 April 2007 in Pretoria, South Africa, organized by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). The event brought together academics, practitioners, and government officials to discuss the growth, regulation, and legal implications of the private security sector (PSS) in Africa, with a specific focus on the distinction between legitimate private security companies (PSCs) and mercenary activities.

This research paper examines the challenges of implementing a transitional justice framework in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a war that caused over three million deaths. The author analyzes the limitations of domestic prosecutions, the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the failures of the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR) in the context of a fragile democratic transition.

This strategy report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) following a 2006 project inception meeting, outlines a framework for integrating conflict-sensitivity into conservation interventions in the Albertine Rift. Funded by a US$325,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation, the project aims to prevent conservation NGOs from inadvertently exacerbating conflict and to maximize their potential for peacebuilding. The document analyzes the dual nature of conflict in the region—local disputes arising from resource restrictions and regional armed conflicts—and reviews various analytical tools (such as 'Do No Harm' and 'Peace and Conflict Impact Assessment') to develop a tailored methodology for conservationists.

This research paper by Prince Mashele of the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), contrasting it with previous African socio-economic initiatives. The author argues that NEPAD differs from its predecessors through its acceptance of globalisation, its defined administrative structures, and the introduction of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to address domestic governance. While the paper notes progress in policy development and specific infrastructure and agricultural projects, it highlights significant challenges regarding implementation capacity, funding gaps, and a lack of continent-wide political ownership.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the inclusion of women in peace negotiations, peace-building, and post-conflict reconstruction in Africa. It examines the gender-based violence women face during conflict, the historical exclusion of women from political processes, and the potential of international and regional rights-based frameworks—such as those from the UN and AU—to secure gender equality and political representation.

The research paper argues that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are insufficient for developing Africa because they focus on the symptoms of poverty rather than the underlying causes of economic stagnation. The author contends that by prioritizing measurable social targets over growth and productivity, the MDGs create an opportunity cost that diverts resources from essential commercial infrastructure, technical skills, and governance reforms. To address these gaps, the document proposes a set of 'African Millennium Growth Goals' focused on infrastructure, rural economies, skills, financial systems, and the rule of law.

This briefing by Hubert Kabungulu Ngoy-K. analyzes the evolution of political trends and power dynamics in the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 1990 to 2005. The author argues that Congolese political parties generally lack genuine ideology or social projects, instead operating through ephemeral alliances, 'cartellization,' and interests based on ethnicity, region, or personal gain.

This research paper analyzes the impact of United Nations (UN) Panel of Experts missions in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1999 and 2002. The author argues that these panels serve as critical peace-building tools by providing credible, independent investigations into sanctions violations and the illegal exploitation of natural resources, which in turn reduces the military capacity of spoilers and criminalizes the activities of those fueling conflict.

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 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 situation report analyzes the security dynamics in the Ituri district of the Democratic Republic of Congo as of May 2005. It details the transition from a violent inter-ethnic conflict between Hema and Lendu groups to a period of forced disarmament driven by a UN ultimatum. While significant numbers of combatants have disarmed, the report highlights critical risks including the lack of timely reinsertion support from the UNDP, the predatory behavior of underpaid FARDC troops, and the continued influence of regional actors like Uganda and Rwanda.

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.