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This policy brief by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the Global Shield (GS) initiative and the broader climate insurance landscape in Africa. The authors argue that while insurance can provide rapid disaster response, it is an insufficient tool for addressing the diverse, slow-onset impacts of climate change and often fails to provide equitable protection due to high premiums, technical complexities, and the risk of 'basis risk' where payouts are not triggered despite actual losses.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute analyzes the outcomes of COP 28 in Dubai, assessing how the agreements and financial commitments align with the priorities of African nations and civil society organizations. It evaluates progress on the Loss and Damage fund, adaptation finance, the transition away from fossil fuels, and food system resilience, concluding that while historic agreements were reached, the scale of financial commitments remains insufficient to meet Africa's urgent climate needs.

This research paper examines the role of locally-led adaptation (LLA) in Senegal, highlighting a disconnect between effective community-driven climate strategies and national policy implementation. While local initiatives in Daga Birame (agriculture), Dionewar (coastal zones), and Widou Thiéngoly (health) align with Senegal's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), they are often ignored by the central government and lack access to the $14.5 billion in funding required for the 2030 NDC goals. The authors argue that integrating endogenous knowledge and devolving climate finance to local communities is essential for sustainable resilience.

This policy brief argues for the integration of locally-led adaptation (LLA) into Nigeria's national climate strategy. While Nigeria has comprehensive national frameworks, they are largely top-down and fail to incorporate the traditional knowledge and agency of local communities. Case studies in Ogun, Lagos, and Anambra states show that local actors are already implementing effective nature-based solutions—such as biogas production, hybrid fish breeding, and contour ploughing—despite severe lacks in funding, technical support, and government inclusion.

The Lobito Corridor is a 1,300 km railway project in Angola designed to transport critical raw materials (CRMs) and electric vehicle (EV) battery value chain products from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia to the EU and US. While supported by various MoUs and a consortium including Trafigura, Mota-Engil, and Vecturis, the project faces significant competition from established Chinese supply chains and alternative transport routes to the Indian Ocean.

This research paper examines the tension in Germany's trade and investment policy toward Africa, contrasting a history of corporate-led 'geoeconomic' interests with a more recent shift toward a morality-based foreign policy. The author argues that Germany has an opportunity to move away from extractivist models and instead support African economic self-determination through domestic resource mobilisation and regional industrial complementarities.

This research paper analyzes the December 20, 2023, general elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), examining the political landscape, the roles of electoral institutions, and the impact of regional instability and natural resource competition on the democratic process.

This research paper examines the negotiations surrounding the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP27, detailing the friction between developed and developing nations over the fund's governance, eligibility, and funding sources ahead of COP28.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the intersection of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and climate sustainability. It argues that while industrialization is a socio-political imperative for Africa, the continent must adopt sustainable production and trade practices to maintain global market access and competitiveness. The document highlights significant financial gaps in trade and energy transition and proposes innovative financing mechanisms and policy frameworks to align Africa's economic growth with its climate goals ahead of COP28.

This research paper examines the role and challenges of youth climate activism in Africa, highlighting the disproportionate impact of climate change on young Africans despite the continent's low global emissions. It discusses the motivations of youth activists, the barriers they face—including financial constraints and political repression—and the gap between tokenistic representation and meaningful policy inclusion in forums like COP28.

This research paper analyzes the intersection of climate change and public health in Senegal, detailing how regional climatic phenomena—such as sea-level rise in coastal areas and desertification in the Sahel—contribute to health crises. It highlights a community-led adaptation project in Widou Thiéngoly and calls for coordinated international action at COP28 to support climate-resilient healthcare infrastructure in Africa.

This scoping report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the intersection of green technology and youth employment in Africa. It identifies a significant gap between the potential for job creation in green technology and the current design of major funding programmes, while highlighting opportunities in ICTs, indigenous knowledge, and local manufacturing.

This policy brief examines Nigeria's challenge of reconciling an immediate economic and security crisis with its goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2060. It analyzes the tensions between Nigeria's reliance on petroleum and gas as transition fuels and the shifting priorities of international financiers who are increasingly phasing out fossil fuel funding. The document evaluates three policy options for the Tinubu administration and uses the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KE) as a case study to highlight the systemic inefficiencies and high losses in the power sector that must be addressed before large-scale energy transitions, such as electric vehicle adoption, can be viable.

This research paper examines the evolution of multilateralism through the lens of relations between the European Union (EU) and the BRICS grouping (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), particularly against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The author argues that a 'structural disjuncture' exists between the EU's preference for bilateral strategic partnerships and BRICS' pursuit of an inclusive, South-South multilateral model that challenges Western-led global governance and economic norms.

This research paper analyzes the dynamics of Zimbabwe's August 23, 2023, general elections, focusing on the contest between incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa (ZANU-PF) and challenger Nelson Chamisa (CCC). The author examines the electoral system, campaign strategies, and the systemic barriers facing the opposition, while highlighting the election's significance for Zimbabwe's international re-engagement and its role in the global critical minerals market.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) examines climate change adaptation policies and locally led adaptation (LLA) in Ghana. Through literature reviews, stakeholder workshops, and three case studies, the research identifies barriers to local implementation—such as limited funding and poor institutional coordination—and provides recommendations to better integrate community-level needs into Ghana's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute evaluates climate change adaptation policies and locally led adaptation (LLA) in Nigeria. It argues that while the Nigerian government has established several national frameworks, these typically employ a 'top-down' approach that excludes frontline communities. Through three case studies in Ogun, Lagos, and Anambra states, the report demonstrates that community-driven initiatives—such as biogas production, aquaculture modifications, and traditional erosion control—are already occurring and align with national goals, but suffer from limited financing and a lack of integration into mainstream national discourse.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) examines the alignment between Senegal's national climate change adaptation policies, specifically its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and locally led adaptation (LLA) strategies. While the report finds that community-driven actions are often aligned with national priorities, it identifies significant barriers in financing, decentralized governance, and the integration of local knowledge into national policy development.

This report by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the potential impacts of the G7 Climate Club on African countries. While acknowledging the goal of achieving global net-zero emissions by mid-century, the author argues that the Club's current design—particularly its focus on rapid decarbonisation and carbon-leakage reduction—could undermine African economic growth, energy security, and industrialisation. The report calls for a co-designed approach that prioritises climate justice, technological transfer, and financial support over trade-based sanctions.

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute examines the limited developmental impact of tourism on local African economies, arguing that the industry often functions as an extractive force. Using Zanzibar as a primary case study, the author illustrates how foreign ownership, 'enclave tourism', and economic leakages prevent local communities from benefiting from industry growth.