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This policy brief examines the 'Safe City' initiative in Johannesburg, specifically the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre (IIOC), arguing that the deployment of mass surveillance technology threatens civil liberties and fails to address the structural causes of crime such as poverty and inequality.

This research paper examines the struggle of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to meet the 2001 Abuja Declaration's pledge to allocate 15% of national budgets to healthcare. It argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted critical systemic gaps and provides an impetus for innovative financing strategies to overcome economic decline and aid dependency.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that Zimbabwe is well-positioned to lead the e-mobility transition in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The document highlights how shifting to electric vehicles (EVs) could address critical economic challenges, including a high import bill for fossil fuels and an inefficient public transport system, while leveraging the country's automotive history and mineral resources like nickel.

This policy brief examines the role of international development finance institutions (DFIs) and multilateral development banks (MDBs) in addressing South Africa's infrastructure deficit. It analyzes the shift from a historical reluctance to seek external aid toward a current necessity driven by rising public debt and the economic impact of COVID-19. The document details the government's Infrastructure Build Programme, the establishment of the Investment and Infrastructure Office (IIO), and the creation of a ZAR100 billion Infrastructure Fund, while highlighting critical gaps in project preparation skills and procurement coordination.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of agriculture in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of Southern African countries. It argues that while agriculture is often mentioned, NDCs frequently lack quantifiable commitments, detailed financing plans, and the active inclusion of farmers. The document provides recommendations for strengthening these climate policies to better support farmers' interests and enhance the agency of national farmers' organisations (NFOs).

This report examines Ghana's efforts to integrate nuclear energy into its power mix to support economic development and industrialisation. It details the country's history of energy crises, the transition from power shortages to excess supply, and the long-term strategic goal of achieving universal electricity access and a highly industrialised economy within four decades.

This report documents a validation workshop held on 24 February 2021 by the South African Institute of International Affairs and Jasoro Consulting. The event served as a platform for youth working groups to present and validate a youth-centred report on nine key governance issues in South Africa, intended to inform the country's Second-Generation Country Review process under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This report examines the acceleration of e-governance and the use of social media by governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a specific focus on South Africa's digital innovations and the broader challenges facing the African continent.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines South Africa's transition from a secret apartheid-era nuclear weapons programme to a state committed to nuclear non-proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. It details the country's normative frameworks, governance structures, and the challenges facing its nuclear energy expansion plans, including the legacy of state capture during the Zuma presidency and the current cautious approach under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This report details a pre-planning meeting held on 29 January 2021 for the Zimbabwe APRM Popular Sensitisation (ZAPS) Project. The project, led by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the SIVIO Institute, aims to increase civil society participation in Zimbabwe's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process following the country's accession in February 2020.

This report consists of a series of expert commentaries analyzing the global geopolitical and domestic implications of the January 6 Capitol Hill attacks. The contributors discuss how the event affected the perception of U.S. democracy and influenced the foreign policies and internal political dynamics of the United Kingdom, Brazil, South Africa, Turkey, and India.

This policy brief explores green growth financing mechanisms to support Africa's economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that the 'twin COVID–climate crisis' provides an opportunity to 'build back better' by integrating sustainable investment into stimulus packages, leveraging private capital through green bonds, and reforming fiscal and financial regulations to increase climate resilience.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines strategies for sustainable resource mobilisation to strengthen global healthcare systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues for a shift from disease-specific 'vertical' funding to a 'whole systems approach' that addresses the triple burden of non-communicable diseases, existing infections, and pandemic response gaps. The document emphasizes the importance of domestic resource mobilisation (DRM), the need for equitable vaccine distribution through the ACT-Accelerator and COVAX, and the potential for LMICs to leverage lessons from the AIDS epidemic to challenge intellectual property barriers via TRIPS waivers.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs assesses the economic policy responses of low-income countries (LICs) in Africa to the COVID-19 pandemic. It finds that while these countries employed expansionary fiscal and monetary tools, the scale and quality of their responses were modest compared to developed and middle-income nations due to pre-existing structural bottlenecks, high debt, and limited fiscal space. The document emphasizes the need for a data-driven recovery approach, increased digital and financial inclusion, and the continued importance of official development assistance, particularly for fragile states.

President Felix Tshisekedi consolidated power in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2020 by dismantling his coalition with former President Joseph Kabila's FCC. Through the strategic appointment of constitutional court judges, the removal of key FCC figures from the National Assembly and state enterprises, and the imprisonment of rival Vital Kamerhe, Tshisekedi effectively ended the FCC's dominance to seek a new parliamentary majority.

This policy brief examines how COVID-19 macroeconomic responses in Nigeria and Uganda have inadvertently increased inequalities. It finds that cash transfers are underfunded and poorly targeted, excluding the urban poor; monetary easing has not lowered commercial loan rates for high-risk borrowers; and budget restructuring has prioritized formal sectors and government suppliers over health, education, and social protection. The brief recommends using electronic platforms for cash distribution and promoting renewable energy investments for low-income households.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues for a shift from tokenistic youth engagement to meaningful participation in climate-related policymaking across Africa. It emphasizes the need for intersectional approaches, curriculum reform, and the recognition of youth as key stakeholders and implementing partners rather than mere beneficiaries.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) uses 'futures thinking' and scenario-building to explore the potential adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region over a 5- to 15-year period. It identifies key driving forces—such as rapid urbanization and falling renewable energy costs—and examines the tensions between inclusive and exclusive transitions and the role of proactive versus reactive government policy.

This policy brief examines the fiscal impact of COVID-19 on African nations, focusing on the limitations of the G20/Paris Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI). It argues that while the DSSI provides temporary liquidity relief, it fails to address long-term solvency crises due to the non-participation of private creditors and multilateral development banks (MDBs), and the discouraging influence of credit rating agencies.

This research paper outlines strategies for Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states to integrate into the global electrical vehicle-related minerals and metals (EVMM) value chain through regional collaboration, policy alignment, and a shift toward circular economy principles in mining waste management.