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This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues for the 'ring-fencing' of development expenditures in Africa to protect long-term investments from short-term fiscal and political pressures. It identifies a 'perfect storm' of challenges—including trade fragmentation, the 'securitisation' of economic policy, high debt burdens, and technological disruption—that threaten development financing. The document proposes five specific policy mechanisms to institutionalise this protection and suggests that development finance should be framed as complementary to security priorities to leverage international funding.

A research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzing the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran in June 2025 and the subsequent diplomatic response from BRICS members.

This research paper argues that South Africa and the European Union (EU) should deepen their strategic interdependence in critical minerals to navigate geopolitical uncertainties and avoid the 'blackmailing logic' of mineral-for-security deals. It highlights the complementary nature of their economies, the EU's financial commitments to South Africa's energy transition, and the need to reconcile the EU's desire for strategic autonomy with South Africa's goal of domestic value addition.

This research paper outlines the priorities of South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency, which focuses on the theme "Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability." The document details South Africa's efforts to center African developmental concerns within the G20, specifically targeting debt sustainability, climate adaptation finance, and the mitigation of illicit financial flows to ensure the grouping remains relevant amidst global fragmentation.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs advocates for global participation in the Global Solidarity Levy Task Force (GSLTF) to mobilize finance for climate action and sustainable development. It outlines 16 proposed tax options targeting undertaxed, high-emission sectors to address a significant global financing gap, urging developing countries to engage in the design and assessment of these levies to ensure equitable access to funds.

This report details a research initiative in East and Southern Africa that employed participatory foresight to engage youth as co-creators of systemic justice. It advocates for transforming interlinked social and economic structures and recommends shifting from tokenistic youth inclusion to authentic co-governance and futures literacy in education.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) in Africa, focusing on the food sector. It argues that while African governments have set ambitious adaptation targets, governance barriers, financial constraints, and a lack of meaningful integration of local and Indigenous knowledge hinder effectiveness. The document advocates for decentralised finance, inclusive governance, and robust monitoring systems to ensure climate resilience is sustainable and context-specific.

This policy brief analyzes the political instability in Mozambique following the October 2024 general elections, which saw the ruling Frelimo party maintain power amid allegations of fraud and widespread popular unrest. The author argues that Frelimo's reliance on repression and institutional capture to maintain legitimacy threatens not only domestic stability but also regional trade and the political stability of other former liberation movements in Southern Africa.

This policy brief examines the critical role of African international financial institutions (IFIs) in addressing the continent's infrastructure deficit to ensure the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It highlights the gap between annual infrastructure financing needs ($130–$170 billion) and actual funds raised (approximately $80 billion), advocating for a more institutionalised coordination framework among IFIs to better mobilise private capital and improve project bankability.

The Tanzania APRM Popular Sensitisation Project (TAPS) report, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in June 2025, provides a comprehensive civil society analysis of ten governance issues in the United Republic of Tanzania. The document evaluates the country's progress and challenges regarding the union between Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar, constitutional reform, human rights, social protection, civic space, media freedom, youth empowerment, democratic inclusion, climate justice, and public financial management. It serves as a submission to inform the country's second Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR) under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This briefing examines the requirements for establishing a sustainable ocean economy (SOE) in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS), arguing that while legal frameworks are important, they are insufficient on their own to attract investment. Based on interviews and surveys, the document identifies a combination of political will, institutional arrangements, and trusted partnerships as the primary determinants for funding and investment in the regenerative blue economy.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the necessity of institutional coherence within the global trade, finance, and investment ecosystem to address massive funding gaps and support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It argues that aligning policies across approximately 200 interconnected organisations—including the WTO, Bretton Woods institutions, and multilateral development banks—is essential for improving capital flows and global economic governance.

This policy brief examines the rising sovereign debt crisis in developing countries, noting that debt levels reached 55 percent of GDP following the COVID-19 pandemic. It argues that debt servicing costs now exceed spending on health, education, and climate action combined, driven by structural weaknesses and a shift toward non-concessional and non-Paris Club creditors. The document proposes four reform areas: short-term debt relief, prevention of debt accumulation, responsible lending, and domestic fiscal consolidation.

This policy brief argues that the global trade, finance, and investment ecosystem is fragmented and inefficient, which exacerbates the trade finance gap for African SMEs. It calls for the G20 to lead institutional reforms to align global governance with the UN SDGs and African regional priorities, proposing a G20–Africa Trade Guarantee Fund and improved coordination platforms to reduce systemic inefficiencies.

This policy brief argues that South Africa should leverage international interest in green hydrogen to catalyze local socio-economic development and regional integration. It recommends prioritizing trade-focused investments in physical, institutional, and social enablers—specifically port infrastructure, domestic manufacturing of electrolysers, and community-centric social strategies—to ensure the sector benefits the domestic population rather than serving only as an export mechanism.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) issued a statement regarding the disruption of a Western Cape Branch event on 7 May, which featured Emma Louise Powell of the Democratic Alliance. The event, focused on South Africa's G20 goals and bilateral relations, was halted due to protests over the speaker's positions on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

This policy briefing examines the development of sustainable ocean economies (SOE) in African Small Island Developing States (SIDS), identifying the drivers of investment and the regulatory and institutional frameworks necessary to transition toward climate-resilient, regenerative blue economies.

This policy brief examines the role of Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) in Africa, highlighting how centering decision-making at the community level can address the severe economic and social costs of climate change. While many African nations have integrated adaptation goals into national policies, the document identifies significant governance and financial barriers that hinder the effective implementation of LLA, particularly within food systems.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the potential for carbon markets to provide climate finance to Malawi. It discusses the transition toward a regulated framework following the finalisation of Article 6 rules at COP29, the role of the Malawi Carbon Markets Initiative, and the importance of community-led projects like the Kulera Landscape REDD+ Program in ensuring equitable benefit-sharing.

This policy brief examines the intersection of green industrialisation, digitalisation, and artificial intelligence (AI) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that current education and training systems face critical gaps in access, relevance, and applicability, necessitating a shift toward 'skills foresight' and 'anticipatory governance' to prepare the region's workforce for sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready economies.