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This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the priorities and potential benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It analyzes Africa's historical reliance on primary commodity exports, the prevalence of informal intra-African trade due to high formal costs, and how the AfCFTA aims to drive industrialization and structural transformation by reducing trade barriers and fostering regional value chains.

This report evaluates the state of industrialisation in Africa, analyzing the causes of stagnation and premature deindustrialisation while modeling a 'Manufacturing scenario' to forecast the potential economic benefits of scaled-up investment in the sector by 2043.

This research paper examines how slavery, imperialism, and colonialism fundamentally altered African agriculture by depleting the productive labour force, displacing indigenous crops with export commodities, and establishing land tenure systems that favoured European settlers and firms.

This research paper introduces the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) within the context of Africa's struggle to maximize globalization and diversify its exports. It compares a 'business-as-usual' scenario with the potential economic gains of full AfCFTA implementation by 2043, highlighting the continent's current over-reliance on primary goods and its vulnerability to external policies like the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers outlines principles for reforming the UN Security Council (UNSC) to better reflect current global power dynamics and increase legitimacy. The author argues for an expanded Council that balances representation with functionality and realism, proposing the removal of the veto and the introduction of minimum capacity criteria for membership.

This research paper describes the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a treaty designed to create a single market for goods and services across Africa to drive industrial development and poverty reduction.

This research paper examines how climate change exacerbates gender inequalities in Africa, detailing how women's social roles and limited resource access increase their vulnerability across six key impact areas, including health, food security, and gender-based violence.

This annexure from the Institute for Security Studies compiles various economic estimations from international organizations regarding the potential impacts of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on trade, GDP, employment, and poverty reduction across Africa.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies outlines the challenges Africa faces in transitioning to a low-carbon future, emphasizing that the region will suffer disproportionately from climate change despite its low contribution to the cause. It argues for a gradual energy transition, the necessity of climate finance, and the implementation of a fair global carbon tax to support sustainable development and resilience.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the critical lack of connecting infrastructure in Africa and its impact on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It highlights significant gaps in road and air transport, the financial deficits in infrastructure funding, and the role of external investment from China.

This introduction to the Africa Manufacturing Forecast examines the continent's struggle with industrialisation, noting a stagnation in manufacturing value added and a decline in global market share. It outlines current strategic efforts to reverse this trend through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the adoption of green and digital technologies, and the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) to move Africa up the global value chain.

This research paper presents a 'Manufacturing scenario' for Africa looking ahead to 2043, modelling the potential economic and social impacts of a concerted push toward industrialisation compared to a 'Current Path' (business-as-usual) baseline. The scenario assumes a series of interventions starting in 2027 focused on increased investment, technological advancement, regulatory reform, and higher labour participation.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the projected impacts of a 'Demographics and Health scenario' on Africa by 2043. It compares this scenario against a 'Current Path' baseline, forecasting improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH), disease burden, infant mortality, life expectancy, and overall economic prosperity.

This research paper describes the 'Sustainable Africa' scenario, which combines differentiated carbon taxes and energy efficiency policies to reduce emissions while accelerating economic growth and poverty reduction across Africa.

This research paper proposes a structural reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to align it with modern representative norms, introducing a tiered membership system based on 'Global Power' criteria and proportional election via the General Assembly.

This research paper introduction from the Institute for Security Studies provides an overview of the current global climate crisis, highlighting record-breaking temperatures in 2024, the increasing frequency of weather-related disasters, and the rising scale of climate-induced displacement. It emphasizes the gap between current policies and the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, while noting the persistent rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

This report section analyzes income and wealth inequality across Africa, noting that high inequality levels contribute to slow poverty reduction and instability. It compares regional Gini index trends and wealth concentration, while examining specific national cases like Tunisia, Ethiopia, Botswana, and Ghana to illustrate the relationship between governance, growth, and inequality.

This research paper examines the implementation challenges of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), focusing on the economic disparities between member states and the resulting risks for Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the barriers to agricultural transformation in Africa, focusing on the critical link between formal land ownership, access to credit, and food security.

This research paper discusses the role and impact of regional and preferential trade agreements (RTAs/PTAs), focusing on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as the world's largest free trade area by membership.