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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the barriers sub-Saharan African countries face in accessing climate change finance. It argues that while capacity deficiencies in recipient countries are often highlighted, donor-centric processes, complex requirements, and a lack of standardized definitions significantly contribute to these challenges. The document recommends that donors undertake internal reviews to streamline processes and collaborate with recipients to establish a universal definition of climate finance.

This research paper examines the immediate and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Africa, arguing that the crisis accelerates the decline of the liberal international order and increases the vulnerability of smaller nations. The author outlines five key long-term risks—the unravelling of multilateralism, increased trade protectionism, the decline of development cooperation, a potential retreat from climate goals, and restricted human mobility—and proposes a coordinated African response focused on regional integration and proactive global governance reform.

SAIIA announced the closure of its Cape Town and Wits campus offices and the cancellation of public events starting March 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19, shifting operations to remote work while maintaining stakeholder engagement via digital platforms.

This research paper examines the impact of trade facilitation reforms, specifically One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and Simplified Trade Regimes (STRs), on women informal cross-border traders (WICBTs) in East Africa, with a detailed case study of the Busia OSBP between Kenya and Uganda.

This policy brief examines the role of resilient ecosystems in climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR), specifically for coastal cities in Africa. It advocates for nature-based solutions, such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR), to reduce vulnerability to extreme weather events. The document highlights a significant gap in African regional policies that explicitly link biodiversity conservation with DRR and provides recommendations for mainstreaming these approaches into national and regional development strategies.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It distinguishes PPPs from privatisation, highlights the potential for PPPs to address infrastructure deficits in Africa, and provides recommendations for improving governance, transparency, and public engagement to attract investment while avoiding hidden debt.

The report details the projected economic benefits of the AfCFTA, including significant GDP and employment growth, while highlighting critical implementation challenges such as non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, and the 15-year timeline to reach 97% tariff-free trade.

This research paper outlines the strategic opportunities for South Africa in 2020 as it concurrently chairs the African Union (AU) and serves as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The author argues that South Africa can reclaim its continental prestige by focusing on three priority areas: conflict resolution ('Silencing the Guns'), the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), and the improvement of governance through the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This research paper examines Turkey's strategic efforts to expand its influence in North and East Africa to counter regional isolation and secure energy interests. It focuses on Turkey's military and political support for the Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, its diplomatic tensions with Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, and France over Mediterranean exclusive economic zones, and its broader 'Open to Africa' policy exemplified by its deep involvement in Somalia.

This policy brief examines how Rwanda has utilized the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA) to accelerate its national transformation agenda, specifically through infrastructure development and the attraction of foreign direct investment (FDI). It analyzes Rwanda's economic trajectory from the post-genocide era to 2019, highlighting the role of 'reform culture capital' and the necessity of private sector engagement to overcome infrastructure deficits.

This case study examines Ghana's participation in the G20 Compact with Africa (CwA), evaluating the relationship between the country's reform commitments and the resulting foreign direct investment (FDI). It analyzes the effectiveness of the CwA framework, the role of the IMF, and the gaps between government-led reforms and the needs of the domestic private sector.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs provides guidelines for implementing public-private partnerships (PPPs) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It distinguishes PPPs from privatisation, analyses the regional infrastructure landscape, and recommends the establishment of independent PPP units and formalised public consultation frameworks to attract investment and ensure sustainable project delivery.

This policy brief examines the slow adoption of the AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection and suggests that the African Union adopt the 'norm entrepreneur' approach of the European Union. It highlights Mauritius as a regional success story and recommends the AU implement agile governance principles and create a continental cybersecurity agency similar to ENISA to better protect citizens and combat cybercrime.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the electric vehicle (EV) revolution presents Southern African states with an opportunity to transform their economic trajectories through a systemic innovation approach. It advocates for a 'just e-volution' that integrates the mining, automotive, and energy sectors to move toward a low-carbon economy, specifically suggesting a 'Green New Deal' for the SADC region to avoid becoming a dumping ground for obsolete internal combustion engine technology.

This report reviews the status of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in Tanzania, focusing on mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. It identifies significant climate vulnerabilities, including sea-level rise and storm surges, and examines the governance frameworks, policy gaps, and opportunities for integrating nature-based solutions into national climate strategies to enhance coastal resilience and support local livelihoods.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the necessity of adopting General Purpose Technologies to drive economic growth despite significant digital divides and infrastructure constraints.

This report reviews the status of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in South Africa, detailing the country's policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, and practical implementation of nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience.

This research paper examines Russia's strategic re-engagement with Africa, framing the first Russia-Africa summit as a symbolic effort to assert global influence and bypass Western economic sanctions. The author argues that Russia's turn toward the continent is part of a broader multi-vector foreign policy aimed at promoting a multipolar international system to counter US dominance.

This report from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines Africa's agency within the global order, highlighting the challenges of multilateralism, the continent's marginal position in international systems, and the institutional struggles of the African Union.

This research paper evaluates the suitability of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) for the African context. It examines the GCR's objectives, the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), and the challenges of implementing these non-binding frameworks in countries like South Africa and Tanzania, highlighting a critical gap between international policy and the fiscal and political realities of host states in the Global South.