Search Climate Insights Directory

This research paper discusses the necessity of integrating governance education into African universities to support national and continental development, noting a disconnect between the recognized importance of good governance and the current state of higher education infrastructure and policy focus.

This statement, delivered on the 75th anniversary of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), outlines the evolving role of think tanks in the 21st century, specifically within the African context. The speaker emphasizes the necessity of informed public debate to guide government action and argues that African think tanks must overcome financial and political constraints to diversify global knowledge production and influence policy outcomes.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the integration of governance education within African universities. Based on a 2008 scoping study and a 2009 workshop, the paper argues that while higher education is critical for national development, governance education has been historically neglected. It identifies systemic challenges—including resource scarcity, 'brain drain', and political interference—and proposes regional cooperation and ICT integration as pathways to improve the quality and relevance of governance training to support initiatives like the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the multifaceted role of Chinese construction firms and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Botswana's infrastructure sector. It analyzes the shift from government-funded aid projects to competitive public tenders, the low-cost strategies employed by Chinese firms, and the emergence of new commercial financing models for large-scale energy projects.

This research paper examines the role of co-operatives in governing the artisanal fisheries sector in Angola. It argues that co-operatives can serve as a mechanism for co-management and a tool for formalising a largely informal subsector, provided they are treated as voluntary, bottom-up enterprises rather than top-down state instruments.

This research paper analyzes the political landscape of Gabon during the 2009 presidential election following the death of Omar Bongo. It examines the candidacy of Ali Bongo, the fragmentation of the opposition, and the historical use of oil wealth to maintain power through a presidential dynasty.

This research paper examines the decline of South Africa's clothing and textile sector following the end of the Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) in 2004 and the subsequent rise of Chinese exports. It argues that while imports from China have caused significant job losses, the sector's primary failure is a lack of competitiveness due to high labour costs, low productivity, and rigid labour markets. The author suggests that further trade protection is unlikely to be effective and instead advocates for non-trade industrial policy tools, such as skills and capital upgrades, and a strategic shift toward high-end niche products.

This research paper examines the role of human rights in African international relations, arguing that while there is a robust framework of regional and international treaties, human rights often remain a "variable concern" subordinated to national interests and geopolitical strategies. The author analyzes the tension between international monitoring mechanisms and the pursuit of "African solutions to African problems," specifically highlighting the controversy surrounding the ICC arrest warrant for Omar Al-Bashir and the influence of China's non-interference policy on the continent.

This research paper by Mireille Affa’a Mindzie, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in August 2009, examines the role of human rights in African international relations. It analyzes the tension between the formal commitment to international human rights standards and the practical application of these standards in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy, where national interests and the pursuit of 'African solutions to African problems' often take precedence.

The paper argues that while neoliberal policies drove growth in resource-rich African nations, they failed to reduce poverty. It advocates for a balanced approach where African governments nurture domestic industries and legislate private sector social responsibility to ensure economic benefits reach the wider society.

This research paper analyzes Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's June 2009 visit to Africa and parallel summits in Yekaterinburg as part of a broader Russian strategy to challenge a unipolar world dominated by the United States and reassert influence in the developing world.

This research paper reflects on Malawi's political trajectory 45 years after its independence from Britain, analyzing the transition from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy and the persistent challenges of governance and socio-economic development.

This research paper by Nicole Fritz for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the 2008 campaign by southern African civil society to block the MV 'An Yue Jiang', a Chinese vessel attempting to deliver arms to the Zimbabwe Defence Force. The author examines the legal strategies, regional coordination, and geopolitical factors that led to the ship's failure to deliver its cargo, ultimately returning to China.

This report examines South Africa's perspective on the G20 summits in Washington and London, focusing on the country's interests in global financial stability, its role as a representative for other African nations, and the internal political dynamics influencing its foreign policy.

This case study describes how coordinated civil society actions across Southern Africa successfully blocked a shipment of weapons destined for Zimbabwe following controversial elections.

This research report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines forestry governance in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on the transition from hierarchical to network governance. It analyzes national policy, the impact of forest title conversions, and provides a detailed case study of tripartite governance structures in Bikoro Territory, Equateur Province, implemented by the IUCN.

The author reflects on three major shifts in global history—the end of Eurocentrism and Empire, the end of the Cold War, and a current shift away from Anglo-Saxon dominance—while arguing that South Africa's future depends on an active, self-reliant citizenry rather than a reliance on 'great men' leaders.

This research paper examines the potential implementation of 'buy local' conditions within South Africa's infrastructure investment programme, arguing that such measures act as import restrictions that encourage monopolistic pricing and reduce economic competitiveness.

This research paper evaluates the quality of recommendations provided in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) reports for six pioneer countries, arguing that while the reports identify governance problems effectively, they often fail to provide actionable, concrete policy guidance.

This research paper argues that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has failed to practically demonstrate the principle of "African solutions for African problems" by not providing sufficient financial support for Zimbabwe's Short-Term Economic Recovery Plan (STERP). While SADC facilitated the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and the subsequent unity government, the author contends that the regional body's reliance on lobbying international donors, rather than committing its own tangible resources, undermines the credibility of the regional recovery effort.