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This report evaluates the captive predator breeding industry in South Africa, challenging claims regarding its economic significance and conservation value while highlighting risks related to the illicit wildlife trade and local labor displacement.

This briefing by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) synthesizes four years of research on the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI), trade liberalisation, and regional integration (RI) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It examines the FDI regimes of several member states and specific sectors, such as energy and transport, to identify barriers to broad-based economic development and the creation of regional value chains.

This statement from the South African Institute of International Affairs advocates for the integration of gender perspectives into the BRICS bloc's development strategies, specifically regarding the Fourth Industrial Revolution, peace and security, and healthcare.

This research paper examines the diplomatic process and motivations behind South Africa's 1996 decision to switch official recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People's Republic of China (PRC). It details President Nelson Mandela's initial attempt at a 'dual recognition' strategy and the internal and external pressures that eventually led to the establishment of formal relations with the PRC in 1998.

This report documents a Civil Society Working Group Meeting held on 25 July 2018 in Windhoek, Namibia, as part of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Sensitisation Project in Namibia (ASPIN). Organised by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), the meeting aimed to help civil society identify key governance issues for a written submission to the APRM following Namibia's accession to the mechanism in January 2017.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the cooperation between BRICS nations and Africa, focusing on industrialisation and infrastructure financing. It evaluates the role of South Africa in promoting African interests within the BRICS framework, the potential of the New Development Bank (NDB), and the challenges of debt, transparency, and unequal trade.

This policy briefing argues for the expansion and improved management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in South Africa to enhance socio-ecological resilience. It highlights the gap between South Africa's current MPA coverage and global conservation targets, while discussing the benefits of MPAs for fisheries, climate adaptation, and biodiversity, alongside the challenges of sectoral conflict and customary rights.

This policy briefing examines how the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which entered into force in October 2016, can be leveraged to develop Lesotho's agriculture and agro-processing sectors. While the EPA provides tariff preferences and an EUR 6 million development envelope, Lesotho struggles with low production volumes and stringent EU standards. The author recommends that Lesotho integrate into South African value chains as a stepping stone to the EU market and improve coordination between government and donor programs.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the BRICS bloc should move beyond gender-specific forums to mainstream gender perspectives across its broader strategic priorities, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, peacekeeping, and healthcare.

This report documents a two-day workshop held in June 2018 by the Network of Southern Think Tanks (NeST) to identify African priorities and policy recommendations for the BAPA+40 conference. The discussions focused on redefining South-South Cooperation (SSC), aligning the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with Africa's Agenda 2063, improving monitoring and evaluation (M&E) frameworks, and addressing infrastructure and economic structural transformation.

This research paper examines the establishment and potential implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signed on 21 March 2018. It analyzes the projected economic gains, the challenges posed by varying levels of national development, and the political and technical hurdles that may impede the creation of a continent-wide free trade area.

This research paper examines Tanzania's energy options, arguing that decentralized renewable energy is superior to large-scale hydropower, specifically the proposed Stiegler's Gorge dam, for achieving sustainable development and broad-based electrification.

This policy briefing examines the impact of the EU-SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on South Africa's agriculture and agro-processing sectors. While the agreement provides tariff preferences and liberal rules of origin, South Africa has struggled to fill its awarded quotas due to a lack of awareness, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) issues, and climatic challenges. The document highlights the potential for SMEs, women, and youth to benefit from the EPA, particularly in the canned fruit and juice sectors, provided that barriers such as certification costs and a lack of specialized testing laboratories are addressed.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines South Africa's role as chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) starting in October 2017. It argues that while South Africa has set thematic priorities in maritime security and the Blue Economy, its most significant potential legacy lies in driving institutional and procedural reforms to increase the organization's openness, transparency, and inclusivity for researchers and non-governmental stakeholders.

This policy briefing argues that information and communications technology (ICT) can address systemic challenges in small-scale fisheries (SSFs), particularly in developing nations, by improving data collection and connecting fragmented actors across the value chain. It highlights the ABALOBI initiative in South Africa as a model for bottom-up, co-developed ICT tools that empower fishers and enhance governance.

This policy brief examines the impact of seismic surveys used in oil and gas exploration on marine fauna, specifically within South Africa. It argues that current mitigation guidelines, which are often based on the UK's JNCC standards and developed by the companies conducting the surveys, are insufficient. The author recommends the establishment of an independent regulatory board to create country-specific, science-based legislative frameworks to protect biodiversity and maintain environmental integrity as South Africa expands its ocean economy through Operation Phakisa.

This policy brief evaluates the African Union's (AU) 2017 theme, 'Harnessing the Demographic Dividend Through Investments in Youth.' While acknowledging the existence of frameworks like the African Youth Charter and initiatives such as the YouthConnekt Africa Summit, the authors argue that significant gaps remain in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of youth policies. The paper emphasizes that the AU lacks the power to enforce policies on member states, making the domestication of regional instruments into national law essential for meaningful youth empowerment and political inclusion.

This research paper examines the implications of the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) from an African and South African perspective, highlighting the deterioration of international cooperation and the increased risk of nuclear proliferation.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs evaluates the progress of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance eleven years after its inception. The author argues that while there are normative commitments to democratic consolidation, many African states remain trapped in an 'electoral fallacy' where regular elections occur but democratic governance is not entrenched across institutions. The document identifies internal and external pressures—including the rise of authoritarian models and the prioritization of counter-terrorism over democratic norms—that contribute to democratic deconsolidation.

This research paper examines the development of the macadamia nut value chain in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on South Africa, Mozambique, and Malawi, and explores strategies for integrating smallholder producers into the industry.