Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper examines the threat of South Africa losing its agricultural benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) due to trade barriers on US exports, specifically poultry, beef, and pork. It analyzes the economic impact of potential suspension and suggests moving toward a negotiated bilateral trade agreement to ensure greater stability.

The SAIIA Youth Policy Committee (YPC) issued a statement on November 25, 2015, outlining its support for a legally binding agreement at COP21 to combat climate change and transition to low-carbon economies. The committee emphasizes the need for ambitious pre-2020 action plans, the integration of adaptation goals into the Paris agreement, and the necessity of predictable climate finance from developed countries to support developing nations.

The report evaluates the EU-funded Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in Botswana, noting that while audit and training interventions helped SMMEs avoid collapse and increase profits, systemic issues remain. A micro-financing policy framework has stalled at the ministerial level, and a lack of affordable specialized training—particularly for sectors like baking—limits the ability of SMMEs to scale into regional value chains involving Namibia and Zambia.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's political and economic engagements in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), arguing that South Africa must transition from a commercial focus to a comprehensive political and economic strategy to ensure stability and protect its investments.

This policy brief examines whether South Africa can utilize its role as co-chair of the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to advance its global governance reform agenda. While South Africa seeks to align FOCAC with its broader goals of a just and equitable international order, the author argues that FOCAC is primarily a tool for Sino-African development diplomacy and is unlikely to replace or exceed the strategic global governance role of the BRICS bloc.

This research paper analyzes the economic constraints facing South Africa in the context of the #FeesMustFall student protests, specifically examining the 2015 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). It details the government's struggle with rising debt, low growth, and the competing financial demands of social spending, infrastructure, and energy security.

The research paper discusses the tension between state-to-state arbitration and investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) within South Africa's foreign direct investment (FDI) protection regime, specifically regarding the Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill (PPIB).

This policy briefing analyzes the water governance structure of Botswana, highlighting the country's water scarcity and the need for institutional reform. It argues that while the government has developed strategies like the 2013 IWRM-WE plan and a 2012 draft water policy, implementation has been slow, with outdated legislation and a continued reliance on supply-side expansion over demand management.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) discusses the October 2015 IMF Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the region's economic challenges and South Africa's specific vulnerabilities in growth, energy, and exports.

This research paper argues that while military interventions and shipping industry protections reduced Somali piracy, they failed to address root causes such as political instability, youth unemployment, and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. The author advocates for a shift from traditional naval deterrence toward supporting Somalia's maritime governance, specifically through the implementation of the Somalia Maritime Resource and Security Strategy (SMRSS) and the development of the national coast guard and navy to combat IUU fishing.

This policy brief from the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolving security relationship between China and Africa. It analyzes how China is shifting from a strict policy of non-interference toward deeper engagement in both traditional military security and non-traditional threats, including the protection of its citizens, pandemic response, and environmental conservation, increasingly through multilateral frameworks.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) explains the transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It details the consultative processes used to create the SDGs, the definition of sustainable development, and the specific role of the South African government in negotiating the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

A statement by African civil society representatives expressing disappointment over the sudden cancellation of the 2nd Extraordinary Summit of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Heads of State and Government Forum, originally scheduled for 11 September 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.

This research paper evaluates the economic potential of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), a proposed joint customs union between the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East African Community (EAC), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Through econometric analysis and interviews with decision-makers in South Africa and Kenya, the authors assess trade complementarity, intensity, and the role of transregional infrastructure in driving industrialization and poverty reduction.

This policy briefing assesses the role and implementation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within South Africa's mining industry. It argues that while mining companies possess significant financial capacity to support socio-economic development, their efforts are often hindered by a lack of coordination with government plans, poor monitoring, and a tendency to treat CSR as ad hoc charitable donations rather than integrated strategic investments.

This policy brief examines the alignment of Africa's maritime ambitions, specifically the African Union's 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy (2050 AIM Strategy), with the regional efforts of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). It highlights the challenges of institutional fragmentation and the need for improved communication and coordination to realize the economic and environmental potential of the Blue Economy.

This research paper examines the viability of using power ships—marine vehicles with installed power plants—as a short-term remedy for South Africa's energy crisis, comparing them to existing open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

This report examines the limited integration of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries into global value chains (GVCs) and explores the potential of regional value chains (RVCs) and South-South cooperation as viable pathways for these nations to enter world trade.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that South Africa should expand its foreign policy by reconceiving its engagement with Latin America and Africa as a unified 'South Atlantic Zone'. The authors suggest that this framework can enhance maritime security, promote the 'blue economy' through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, and increase trade and cultural ties among littoral states.

This research paper analyzes South Africa's engagement with the BRICS bloc ahead of the Ufa summit, highlighting the lack of a concrete strategy to translate the grouping's general economic goals into tangible benefits for South African business and infrastructure.