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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 situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the progress and obstacles of security sector reform (SSR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during its transitional government period (2003-2005). It focuses on the integration of the national army (FARDC), the restructuring of the national police (PNC), and the implementation of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs.

This report summarizes a 2004 workshop on renewable energy for decentralized rural electricity in developing countries. It concludes that while technologies like solar PV, mini-hydro, wind, and biomass are available, their adoption is hindered by cost, financing, and technical capacity. The report emphasizes that technology choice must be driven by local needs and productive uses of energy to alleviate poverty. It recommends that donors support national policies, accept higher risks for new technology adaptation, and encourage 'clustering' of projects to ensure sustainable maintenance and service.

This research paper argues that the United Nations 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 the MDGs act as a 'political camouflage' that diverts resources away from growth-oriented investments. To address this, the paper proposes a comprehensive set of 'African Millennium Growth Goals' focused on commercial infrastructure, rural economy investment, technical skills, financial reform, and the removal of bureaucratic and corrupt obstacles to business.

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, authored by Rachel Goldwyn and Jason Switzer, critiques existing impact assessment tools used by the extractive industry—specifically Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Social Impact Assessments (SIA), and political risk analysis—from a conflict-sensitive perspective. It argues that while these tools are standard, they often fail to identify or mitigate the drivers of violent conflict. The authors propose the development of a Conflict-Sensitive Business Practice (CSBP) toolbox to integrate conflict analysis into the project lifecycle, helping companies minimize their contribution to violence and contribute to peacebuilding.

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.

This research paper examines the motivations, impacts, and competitiveness of South African business investment across Africa, while discussing the potential and pitfalls of regulating such investment behavior to address regional sensitivities and corruption.

This research paper analyzes the IGAD Peace Initiative in Sudan as it approached a signed agreement between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) in 2004. The author argues that while the first stage of the process successfully identified core conflict issues, the subsequent transitional period requires a shift from elite-driven negotiations to a transparent, inclusive, and democratic process to avoid implosion. The paper emphasizes that internal stability in Sudan is inextricably linked to the rehabilitation of its contentious bilateral relations with neighboring states in the Horn of Africa.

This research paper analyzes the IGAD Peace Initiative in Sudan as it nears a signed agreement between the Government of Sudan (GoS) and the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A). The author argues that while the first stage of negotiations was successful in its narrow focus, the subsequent transitional period requires a shift toward inclusivity, democratic transformation, and the rehabilitation of volatile bilateral relations with neighboring states in the Horn of Africa to ensure a sustainable peace.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies argues that for peace to be sustainable in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), civilians—particularly women, children, refugees, and internally displaced persons—must be transitioned from being viewed merely as 'victims' to being recognized as active 'stakeholders' in the peace process.

The 'Standards for Sustainable Trade' project, implemented by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the European Commission, investigated how regional cooperation can reduce technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures for developing countries. The report concludes that while regional centers of excellence can offset national capacity gaps, the WTO's TBT Agreement is often unrealistic for developing nations, which act as 'standards takers' rather than 'makers' due to a lack of institutional and scientific resources.

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.

The report 'Back to the Blackboard' examines the education crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, arguing that the narrow focus on Universal Primary Education (UPE) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has neglected secondary education and compromised instructional quality. It highlights systemic failures including teacher shortages, poor salaries, corruption, and the devastating impact of HIV/Aids. The document advocates for a comprehensive strategy that integrates secondary schooling, vocational training, and curriculum reform to drive economic growth, drawing lessons from East Asia's successful integration of human capital development and industrial planning.

This report by Friends of the Earth International and the International Rivers Network (IRN) argues that large hydroelectric dams should be excluded from renewable energy initiatives. It contends that large-scale hydro projects fail to support sustainable development, harm ecosystems and people, and undermine energy security, whereas decentralized renewable energy technologies provide a more effective path toward poverty eradication and climate mitigation.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of anti-personnel landmines and the development of peacekeeping standby forces in Africa. It analyzes the operational challenges posed by landmines in irregular African conflicts, the progress of the Ottawa Convention across the continent, and the specific legislative and policy frameworks adopted by South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to combat mine proliferation.

This 2003 research paper outlines the framework of the NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), detailing its five-stage review process and the roles of the APR Forum, Panel of Eminent Persons, and APR Secretariat. It emphasizes the distinction between political governance review (handled by AU institutions) and economic/corporate governance review (handled by the NEPAD Secretariat and partners like UNECA). The paper also discusses the integration of the APRM within the broader African Union structure and the proposed mutual accountability between Africa and its international development partners.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) within the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and its integration with the African Union (AU). It details the APRM's organizational structure, the five-stage country review process, and the challenges of harmonizing political governance assessments with existing AU bodies like the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

This research paper by David H. Shinn analyzes Sudan's strategic position in Africa, focusing on its internal civil war, the economic impact of oil, and its complex bilateral relations with its nine neighboring countries as of March 2003.