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This research paper by Victoria Ayer provides strategic advice for civil society organisations (CSOs) to influence parliaments and achieve legislative change, particularly in developing democracies. It emphasizes the importance of understanding electoral systems, conducting non-partisan research, building long-term relationships with political 'champions', and maintaining organisational legitimacy through financial transparency and community rooting.

This guide, written by Victoria Ayer for the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), provides strategic advice for civil society organizations (CSOs) on how to effectively engage with and influence parliaments to achieve legislative and social change. Drawing on the author's experience training over 120 organizations across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and the Balkans, the document emphasizes the importance of understanding electoral systems, building long-term relationships with legislators, and providing high-quality, non-partisan data to fill resource gaps within parliamentary institutions.

This research paper argues that South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have failed to hold Robert Mugabe's regime accountable for electoral fraud and violence in Zimbabwe. The author contends that South Africa has underplayed its influence and calls for a decisive regional response, including sanctions and the recognition of the March 29, 2008, election results, to protect democratic institutions in Africa.

The Handbook for African Civil Society is a guide designed to help civil society organizations (CSOs) actively participate in the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the APRM's five stages of review, its continental and national institutional structures, and the four thematic areas of governance it assesses. The manual provides strategic advice for CSOs to move from passive participants to leaders in the process, highlighting potential obstacles such as government fear and resource scarcity, while offering methods to influence power levels within the mechanism to promote good governance and socio-economic development in Africa.

This research paper by Juliet Nakato Odoi examines the challenges and strategies for civil society participation in Uganda's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. It highlights the limitations of relying on umbrella organisations, the lack of transparency regarding draft documents, and the efforts of Minority Rights Group International (MRG) and Care International in Uganda to ensure the needs of ethnic minorities were represented in the Country Self-Assessment Report and the subsequent Programme of Action.

This research paper details the efforts of the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) to ensure that access to information and whistleblower protection were included in South Africa's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. It highlights systemic obstacles, including the government's control over the National Governing Council (NGC) and the exclusion of specialist NGOs. Despite these challenges and the removal of key recommendations from the Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR), ODAC's persistence led to the inclusion of a 'Know Your Rights' campaign and a commitment to review the Protected Disclosures Act in the final, binding Programme of Action (POA).

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) details the efforts of the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) to influence South Africa's self-assessment under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The document describes the challenges ODAC faced due to government control over the process, the strategic use of parliamentary committees and technical agencies to ensure their concerns regarding access to information and whistleblower protection were heard, and the eventual inclusion of these issues in the final Plan of Action.

This practical handbook, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), provides guidance for Technical Research Institutes (TRIs) tasked with conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It outlines the chronological process of creating Country Self-Assessment Reports (CSARs), offering strategies to manage the technical, managerial, and political challenges inherent in evaluating national governance.

This guide, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) in June 2008, provides practical instructions for Technical Research Institutions (TRIs) conducting research for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). It details the planning, methodology, and political navigation required to produce National Self-Assessment Reports (NSARs) and Action Plans (APs), drawing on experiences from pioneer countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.

This research paper by Faten Aggad of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the Programmes of Action (PoAs) of the first six countries to undergo the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. The author argues that PoAs often fail to address the recommendations of the Panel of Eminent Persons, confuse high-level objectives with concrete action items, and lack transparent costing and integration with existing national development plans.

This research paper by Faten Aggad, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in June 2008, analyzes the Action Plans (PA) of the first six countries to undergo the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. The author argues that there is a significant gap between the recommendations issued by the Panel of Eminent Persons and the actual commitments adopted by governments in their Action Plans, often due to a lack of clear guidelines, a confusion between goals and specific actions, and the prioritization of national sovereignty over peer recommendations.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs, authored by ZESN chairperson Dr Reginald Matchaba-Hove, argues that Zimbabwe's March 2005 parliamentary elections were not free and fair. Despite some improvements following the adoption of SADC democratic principles, the author identifies 13 dimensions of unfairness, ranging from a weak electoral commission and repressive legislation to discrepancies in vote counting and gerrymandering.

A case study on the Borough of Dolphin Coast municipality's private sector water and sanitation concession involving Siza and SAUR Services, highlighting financial instability, uneven service delivery, and public health risks.

This research paper describes the severe economic collapse of Zimbabwe in early 2004, characterized by hyperinflation, high unemployment, and a breakdown of productive capacity. It examines the failure of emergency currency auctions introduced by the reserve bank to stabilize the economy amidst political instability and the collapse of the agricultural sector.

The research paper examines the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) trilateral coalition, highlighting its shift from purely political goals, such as UN Security Council reform, toward pragmatic economic and social cooperation. While the coalition seeks to enhance south-south trade and technology exchange, the author notes that these countries remain heavily dependent on northern markets and investment.

This research paper examines the socio-economic conditions of border communities between South Africa and Mozambique, highlighting how poverty, restrictive legislation, and corruption fuel organised crime and smuggling networks involving sugar, alcohol, and salt across Southern Africa.

This research paper examines the role of transnational organised crime networks and 'middlemen' in fueling African conflicts through the illicit trade of weapons and natural resources. Using the case studies of Leonid Minin and Victor Bout, the document highlights the sophistication of these networks, their use of front companies and tax havens, and the systemic failures of international law enforcement and national legislation to prosecute sanctions-busting activities.

This research paper examines the viability of a regional peacekeeping force in Somalia following a UN Security Council vote in December 2007. It analyzes the instability caused by the conflict between the Transitional Federal Government and the Union of Islamic Courts, the role of Ethiopian military intervention, and the challenges of assembling an African Union-led force. The author specifically evaluates South Africa's capacity and willingness to contribute troops, concluding that South Africa has opted out due to existing commitments and the high risk of failure in a country without a formal ceasefire.

This research paper examines the relationship between governance, corruption, and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, arguing that while good governance may not be the primary driver for short-term investment—particularly in resource-rich nations—it is essential for long-term economic stability and resource management.

This report provides an analysis of the parliament of Lesotho, covering its composition, electoral system, and the role of the political opposition, concluding with recommendations from Professor Francis K Makoa.