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The policy brief examines the 'resource curse' in Africa, where mineral abundance often correlates with under-development due to weak institutional quality. It argues that the EU's Raw Materials Initiative (RMI) must better align with the African Mining Vision (AMV) to ensure mining catalyzes long-term development rather than remaining purely extractive. The author highlights the risks of 'Dutch Disease' and the prevalence of illicit financial flows (IFFs), noting that transparency alone is insufficient for accountability. The brief concludes that EU private sector actors and policymakers must move beyond corporate social responsibility to become 'systems shapers' who address political economy realities and reduce power asymmetries to achieve extractive justice.

The document defines ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to climate change. It highlights that marine and coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs and mangroves, are often missing from climate response measures and need better integration into national policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). A specific project involving Tanzania, Seychelles, Mozambique, and South Africa aims to address barriers to EbA—including finance, policy alignment, and capacity building—through research and peer learning.

The document analyzes the migration experiences of South Africa and Germany, noting that while both are regional economic hubs attracting diverse migrants, Germany has developed a more sophisticated, integration-focused infrastructure. South Africa struggles with high unemployment, xenophobia, and a securitized approach to migration, often lacking the resources and policy coordination seen in Germany. The author argues that South Africa can benefit from Germany's model of inter-departmental coordination, private sector involvement, and proactive integration to avoid the creation of 'parallel societies' and potential radicalization of unintegrated migrant populations.

The document argues that ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA)—the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to climate change—is a sustainable development approach that provides socio-economic, adaptation, and conservation benefits. While South Africa has national frameworks for EbA, implementation in coastal cities faces significant hurdles, including a lack of promulgated Coastal Management Lines (CMLs), complex jurisdictional overlaps between national and local government, and a persistent preference for 'grey' engineering solutions over nature-based ones. Case studies of Cape Town and Durban highlight successes such as hybrid dune rehabilitation and the use of 'climate change champions' to break down institutional silos, but also reveal challenges like funding gaps and public lack of buy-in among poor communities who prioritize immediate economic needs over environmental resilience.

The document examines the inequitable resource interdependency between Europe and Africa, where Africa provides critical minerals and energy resources but does not benefit fully from the resulting wealth. It argues that current EU directives and African initiatives are insufficient to address illicit tax outflows and governance deficits. The authors propose the adoption of 'extractive justice'—comprising distributive, recognitional, and procedural justice—to create a symbiotic relationship and reduce resource-related conflicts.

The author contends that South-South Cooperation (SSC) lacks a universal definition and monitoring framework due to its distinct principles from Northern Official Development Assistance (ODA) and concerns that monetising contributions underestimates the value of Southern resources. To move beyond a reactionary stance against exploitative North-South relations, the document argues that the South must proactively create standardised principles and language to foster inclusive development and good governance.

The paper examines the evolution of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) and the 2019 BAPA+40 conference, arguing that while South-South Cooperation (SSC) has traditionally focused on economic and social activities, it must now incorporate peace and security to address the realities of intra-state conflict in Africa. It highlights the alignment between peace and development as seen in the African Union's Agenda 2063, the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (specifically SDG 16), and UN resolutions on sustaining peace.

The document emphasizes the need to distinguish between South-South Cooperation, as a broad concept encompassing various exchanges like trade and investment, and development cooperation, which is a specific subset of those exchanges. It warns that the interchangeable use of these terms undermines their utility for policy-making and scientific study, particularly as the geopolitical landscape shifts and Southern powers assume more leadership roles.

The report compares the soap, detergent, and cosmetics sectors in South Africa and Zambia, noting that while South Africa has a more mature industry, both face capacity and competitiveness challenges. Zambia struggles with a trade deficit and poor packaging quality, while South African small firms face high input costs and regulatory barriers. The authors recommend developing natural product lines, operationalising industrial clusters, and improving supermarket access to foster regional import substitution.

The study examines the forestry value chains of South Africa, Mozambique, and Tanzania, noting a divide between South Africa's plantation-dominated, high-value sector and the natural forest-based, low-value sectors of Mozambique and Tanzania. It highlights limited intra-regional trade due to logistics and divergent domestic markets, with most production destined for domestic use or international exports to China and Japan. The report suggests that the region could become a significant pulp production site, particularly in Mozambique and Tanzania, provided land access and community conflict issues are resolved. It recommends establishing regional forums, data initiatives, and skills development to enhance the forestry sector's integration and competitiveness.

The research assesses agro-processing opportunities in South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Tanzania, and Mauritius, highlighting the potential for regional integration. It identifies specific growth opportunities in soybean production in Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique, and processing opportunities for tobacco in Mozambique. The paper recommends harmonising SADC standards, reducing transport costs, and reviewing sugar sector policies to strengthen regional value chains.

The document analyzes the tourism global value chains (GVCs), distinguishing between leisure and business tourism. It identifies that in Africa, the 'package booking' channel is more durable than in other regions, but the dominance of global lead firms often leads to leakages and underdeveloped linkages with local industries. While business tourism is a significant driver and has fostered the growth of African travel management companies like Satguru, the leisure sector faces constraints such as low domestic demand and restrictive government policies. The paper suggests that upgrading the value chain requires improvements in infrastructure, skills training—noting a lack of certified schools beyond Kenya and Zambia—and the deregulation of air markets to support low-cost carriers.

The African Peer Review Mechanism, established in 2003 to improve governance through voluntary peer review, experienced a period of decline between 2008 and 2016 marked by leadership vacancies and financial mismanagement. While recent reforms under the 'Three Rs Strategy' and the 2018 incorporation into the African Union as a specialised agency have revitalized the process and expanded its mandate to track Agenda 2063 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, significant hurdles remain. These include the failure to release country reports on time, a lack of political will to 'name and shame' poor performers, and dwindling attendance of heads of state at forums.

The 4th session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-4) focuses on 'Innovative Solutions to the Environmental Challenges and Sustainable Consumption and Production' to advance Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12. The assembly integrates input from the Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF), including the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), and technical data from the 6th Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-6) report. Key highlights include the exhibition of innovative projects such as the Flipflopi Dhow, a vessel made from waste plastic, and South African environmental risk and anti-poaching technologies.

The document argues that while President Jair Bolsonaro's administration represents a shift toward neoliberal economics and a closer alignment with the United States, these changes are unlikely to cause a schism within the BRICS. It suggests that Brazil's national interests will continue to drive cooperation, particularly in trade, development finance, and global governance. The author recommends that the bloc leverage Brazil's presidency to address trade imbalances with China through partial scope agreements and align the New Development Bank's loans with national development agendas to ensure financial sustainability.

The document analyzes the energy partnership between Russia and South Africa, noting that while a $76-billion nuclear deal was declared unlawful and abandoned, both nations maintain a strategic need for cooperation. Russia seeks to diversify its export markets through a 'Pivot to the East' to reduce vulnerability to global commodity shocks, while South Africa seeks to resolve a chronic electricity crisis. Current cooperation has shifted toward smaller-scale projects, such as an agreement between Rosatom and the South African government to build mini hydropower plants in Mpumalanga to power rural areas.

The document examines how the G20 has shifted from crisis management to a broader development focus, resulting in targeted engagements with Africa. It compares China's Industrialisation Initiative, which leveraged existing bilateral ties and focused on skills transfer, with Germany's Compact with Africa (CwA), a demand-driven model focusing on regulatory reforms to attract private investment. It also notes Argentina's approach of deepening diplomatic access for African representatives. The authors argue that while engagement has increased, Africa remains structurally excluded from global norm-setting and requires greater capacity and consistent representation within the G20 to influence global economic governance.

The document analyzes the precarious transition of power in the Democratic Republic of Congo following the announcement that Félix Tshisekedi won the December 30 election with 38.57% of the vote. It highlights immediate hurdles, including contested election legitimacy, the risk of violence from supporters of Martin Fayulu, and the necessity of securing the acquiescence of Joseph Kabila's regime and the military. The author argues that regional stability depends on Tshisekedi's ability to cooperate with leaders in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, South Africa, and Angola, as well as the continued engagement of the UN Security Council through MONUSCO.

The document examines the persistent instability in Lesotho, focusing on the politicisation of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), the failure of frequent elections to provide legitimacy, and a small economy heavily reliant on government spending. It argues that while security sector reform and electoral changes are necessary, long-term stability requires diversifying the economy and improving the relationship with South Africa to reduce the competition for state resources.

The document analyzes the tension between the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the African Union (AU), attributing the friction to perceived bias, the influence of the UN Security Council, and a clash between retributive and restorative justice. It explores the proposed African Court of Justice and Human Rights (ACJHR) and the Malabo Protocol as regional alternatives, while noting significant hurdles in funding and ratification. The author argues that while the ICC is limited by global power politics, Africa's path to accountability depends on the political will to ratify regional judicial frameworks and utilize hybrid courts.