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The document examines South Africa's role as a SADC facilitator in Zimbabwe, noting that the decision to end regional monitoring after the 2013 elections was driven by a desire to avoid military instability and migration. It argues that this 'security first' approach ignored Zimbabwe's deepening economic crisis and highlighted a lack of coordination between the South African government and its private sector in executing economic diplomacy.

The policy brief assesses the underperformance of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), noting that US imports from Africa remain dominated by energy commodities. It proposes a four-pillar strategy for the 2015 renewal: a clean, long-term extension of at least 10 years; the reduction of non-tariff barriers through expanded US Trade Hubs and relaxed rules of origin for least-developed countries; structural reforms including the Power Africa initiative and the development of African capital markets; and alignment with global trade frameworks like the TPP and TTIP to ensure African competitiveness.

The policy brief examines the historical marginalisation of black and coloured fishers in South Africa and the subsequent struggle for fishing rights. It highlights the transition from individual to collective rights under the 2012 Policy for the Small Scale Fisheries Sector (SSF policy) and the failures in the 2013 rights allocation process. The author argues that while transformation is necessary to address racially skewed ownership, it must be paired with procedural justice and effective law enforcement to combat poaching and restore trust in the sector.

The paper argues that financial inclusion is essential for alleviating poverty and stimulating local economic development in Africa. It identifies significant barriers to formal banking for the rural poor, including strict 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) regulations, lack of documentation, and geographic distance from banks. Consequently, many rely on informal savings and credit schemes—such as esusu in Nigeria and susu in Ghana—and informal remittance networks, which provide flexibility but carry high risks due to lack of regulation. The author highlights M-Pesa in Kenya as a successful model of mobile-led financial inclusion, contrasting it with less successful attempts in other countries. The document emphasizes that physical infrastructure must be paired with financial literacy to be sustainable and recommends that governments create enabling regulatory environments, diversify financial products (including Islamic banking), and improve credit-reporting infrastructure for SMEs.

The document argues that mining-led growth in Africa often fails to create local benefits due to a lack of effective partnerships, poor long-term planning, and a 'ring-fencing mentality' among companies. It recommends that mining investments be aligned with national development imperatives and that companies forge strategic partnerships with the state, NGOs, and other mining firms to share infrastructure and enhance community development. The author emphasizes the role of 'good practice' Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) in identifying partners and planning for the entire mine life cycle, including closure. A case study from Central Africa demonstrates how collaborating with a conservation NGO and local government led to sustainable infrastructure choices and long-term community training projects.

The document outlines the need for more inclusive, evidence-driven partnerships between African governments, extractive companies, and communities to move beyond raw material exports toward value-addition and beneficiation. It proposes the creation of Regional Mining Visions (RMVs) to set standards on social and environmental impacts and calls for strategic global partnerships with systemic players like China to enhance Africa's position in global minerals value chains.

The report examines the gap between Africa's strong rhetorical commitment to regional integration and the limited actual progress achieved. Using APRM data from 17 countries, it identifies systemic barriers including reluctance to cede national sovereignty, overlapping memberships in multiple regional economic communities (RECs), inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of private sector involvement. While some blocs like the East African Community (EAC) show more progress, most have not advanced beyond free trade areas or customs unions, and intra-African trade remains low compared to trade with external partners like the EU and China.

The document examines the evolution of African continental court structures, focusing on the 2014 Malabo Protocol. It argues that the protocol's creation of an 'Expanded Court' with jurisdiction over 14 international crimes is undermined by Article 46 A bis, which grants immunity to serving heads of state and senior government officials. The author contends this is a response to the perceived bias of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the use of universal jurisdiction by European states, ultimately serving to protect political elites rather than victims of human rights violations.

The policy brief contends that South Africa is failing to secure land tenure for those affected by apartheid-era dispossession. Instead of democratic reform, the authors argue that the state is implementing a separate legal regime for former 'homelands' that empowers chiefs and marginalizes rural communities, particularly regarding the distribution of wealth from platinum mining in the North West and Limpopo provinces.

The policy brief advocates for a shift in how protected areas (PAs) in Africa are valued, moving beyond biodiversity to include measurable economic contributions. It suggests that integrating ecosystem services into national development planning and adopting innovative financing—such as payment for ecosystem services (PES), carbon offsets, and 'wildlife-friendly' product certifications—can secure investment and improve local livelihoods. The authors emphasize that PAs must be co-managed with local communities to ensure equitable benefit sharing and sustainable resource use.

The 2015 SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project (ESP) is an educational competition for South African Grade 10-12 learners. Participants work in teams of three to produce a research paper of up to 12 pages focusing on a selected theme—Biodiversity, Climate Change, or Sustainable Development—and a specific topic such as energy, oceans, or air pollution. The project requires both a local and an international case example. The programme consists of three phases: the research paper, provincial or regional presentations for top papers, and the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference from 6-11 December 2015 in Gauteng, where top learners draft the 2015 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration for government and UN officials. Key deadlines include school registration by 11 May 2015 and final paper submission by 21 July 2015.

The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) is presented as a milestone in global financial governance designed to bridge the massive infrastructure financing gap in developing countries. Unlike traditional multilateral development banks controlled by developed nations, the NDB is based on 'new South–South co-operation,' emphasizing equal partnership and market-oriented operations. The author proposes five institutional design principles for the NDB: fair governance, market-based operation, non-intervention with high standards, localisation, and acting as a constructive supplement to existing institutions like the World Bank.

The document analyzes Russia's extensive but fragmented system of development institutions, noting a lack of common strategy and a heavy reliance on government funding over private investment. It identifies the Vnesheconombank (VEB) as the primary institution, though it often duplicates the roles of others like the Russian Agricultural Bank and Rusnano. The author argues that the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) could complement this system by investing in infrastructure projects, such as the Power of Siberia gas pipeline, and providing consultancy on public-private partnerships and foreign investment legal structures.

The BNDES serves as a national development bank that provides significant post-shipment credit to Latin America, primarily for infrastructure and capital goods. While the Brazilian government has promoted South-South integration, BNDES disbursements largely follow the dynamics of Brazilian trade and market demand. The bank faces criticism regarding the environmental and social sustainability of its projects and the high concentration of funding among a few large firms.

The report provides an 'Afro-realistic' analysis of accountability in Africa, contrasting the potential of continental initiatives like the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and Agenda 2063 with the practical challenges of domestic implementation. It investigates the roles of the African Union (AU), national parliaments, ombudsman offices, and civil society in curbing executive power and ensuring sustainable peace. The text highlights a tension between economic development and democratic governance, noting that while some states achieve growth, it often occurs at the expense of human rights.

The document analyzes India's transition from a borrower to an owner in multilateral financial institutions, its internal development finance structure, and its strategic use of development assistance to project soft power and counterbalance China's influence in South Asia. It highlights the tension between India's global aspirations and its domestic infrastructure deficit, which is estimated at $1 trillion under its 12th Five-Year Plan.

The document analyzes the emergence of the BRICS grouping as a non-hegemonic alternative to Western-dominated financial institutions, focusing on the creation of the New Development Bank (NDB) to address infrastructure deficits in the developing world. It details South Africa's strategic use of the NDB and its own development finance institutions, such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), to promote regional integration and economic growth within the SADC region and across the African continent.

The document examines the increasing role of BRICS countries in international development finance, specifically focusing on lending to neighboring regions. It highlights a gap between public loan announcements and actual spending, and argues that understanding the terms of these loans—whether commercial, concessional, or tied to resources—is critical to determining if they offer a true alternative to traditional institutions like the World Bank. The author applies theories of regional economic integration to suggest several possible motivations for this finance: market-driven efficiency, collective hedging against global institutions, the pursuit of non-market-oriented development autonomy, or the strategic ambitions of regional hegemons. Finally, the brief suggests that the national lending patterns of BRICS members may serve as a primary indicator for the future operations of the collective New Development Bank (NDB).

The document examines the paradox of resource-led growth in sub-Saharan Africa, where windfall revenues from minerals and hydrocarbons often correlate with declining governance and institutional quality. It highlights the negative externalities of extraction and the role of foreign investment in shaping 'elite bargains' between political and business leaders. The author argues that for resource wealth to foster sustainable development, research must focus on reducing commodity concentration, improving institutional accountability, and balancing the trade-offs between extractive growth and climate change mitigation.

The document examines Namibia's transition from a period of rampant overfishing by foreign fleets to a state-led governance model. It highlights the success in reducing illegal fishing and the implementation of 'Namibianisation' policies to promote local ownership and processing. However, it notes significant challenges, including the failure of sardine stocks to recover due to an ecosystem regime shift, the 'boom and bust' nature of deep-sea fisheries like orange roughy, and the prevalence of 'fronting' where foreign companies maintain control through proxy ownership. The paper argues that strong political leadership and effective rent capture mechanisms are essential for sustainable fisheries management in Africa.