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The document analyzes the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ghana, tracing its roots in the Danquah-Busia tradition and its performance after taking power in 2000. It evaluates the NPP's economic policies, such as the 'golden age of business', and its efforts toward poverty reduction and Millennium Development Goals. The paper also discusses internal party dynamics, the role of ethnicity in voting patterns, and the factors contributing to the NPP's defeat in the 2008 elections, including perceptions of corruption and unfulfilled campaign promises.

The document examines the role of Chinese investment and technology in expanding solar energy access in Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa. It highlights the potential of a joint venture between China's Tianpu Xianxing Enterprises and Kenya's Electrogen Technologies to establish a solar panel factory in Nairobi, which could significantly reduce retail prices for solar home systems. The paper argues that while Kenya has a dynamic private sector-led solar market, it lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework and government subsidies, which are essential for scaling renewable energy to meet the needs of rural populations.

The author contends that structural adjustment programmes (SAPs) and subsequent 'good governance' prescriptions failed to spur development in Africa because they focused on formal institutional arrangements while ignoring neo-patrimonialism. In neo-patrimonial states, rulers are primarily accountable to followers (clients) rather than the general public, creating a tension with Western norms of transparency. The paper suggests that state decay occurs when the informal sphere fully takes over formal structures, leading to a 'self-reinforcing spiral of state decay'. To reverse this, the author argues that African governments must move away from donor-driven blueprints and instead operationalise local, indigenous measures of legitimacy and accountability to serve developmental goals.

The paper examines the failure of structural adjustment programs and subsequent 'good governance' initiatives in Africa. It posits that the tension between formal institutional norms and informal neo-patrimonial practices—where leaders prioritize clients over the general public—has led to state decay. The author argues that for governance to be effective, it must be conceptualized locally, integrating informal realities into development plans rather than merely replicating Western models of transparency and accountability.

The policy brief examines the systemic failures of the WTO's negotiating process, highlighting how the 'single-undertaking' principle and consensus-based decision-making have led to paralysis. It argues that the diverse interests of 153 members—ranging from developed nations seeking new regulatory areas to poor countries struggling with existing obligations—make universal consensus increasingly unworkable. The author suggests that 'critical mass' plurilateral agreements, as outlined in the Warwick Report, offer a viable middle ground to maintain the multilateral system while allowing flexible progress for subsets of members.

The document assesses the dysfunctional state of Pakistan, characterized by military dominance and Islamist extremism, and argues that South Africa is uniquely positioned to assist through its experience in conflict resolution and democratization. It evaluates the fragile India-Pakistan peace process and identifies significant untapped economic potential for trade and investment between South Africa and Pakistan, while noting that political dissonance and the 'India factor' have historically hindered these ties.

The paper argues that the technocratic language of the APRM's Economic Governance and Management section often obscures opportunities for civil society to advocate for socio-economic rights. To address this, the authors propose five evidence-based indicators—Strategic Planning and Resource Allocation, Expenditure Management, Internal Controls and Monitoring of Performance, Handling of Misuse/Abuse of Resources, and Accountability to Oversight Institutions—to help citizens monitor whether public resources are effectively translated into services like health, education, and housing.

The document analyzes the shift in Chinese migration to Africa from ideologically driven state projects to profit-centered entrepreneurial and labor flows. It identifies four main types of migrants: temporary labor migrants, small-time entrepreneurs, agricultural workers, and transit migrants. The paper highlights the diversity of these groups, their settlement patterns as 'sojourners' or 'transnational citizens', and the mixed reactions from host communities, ranging from admiration for their work ethic to anti-Chinese sentiment driven by economic competition and political mobilization. A detailed section on South Africa distinguishes between indigenous Chinese South Africans, Taiwanese, and new immigrants from the PRC.

The document assesses the transport sectors of SACU member states, highlighting a significant shift from rail to road and the strategic importance of South African infrastructure for landlocked neighbors. It identifies regulatory fragmentation and high logistics costs as primary barriers to trade. The report advocates for the implementation of the SADC Transport Protocol and provides a strategic framework for member states to align their national policies with the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) to attract investment and improve efficiency.

The paper provides a framework for civil society organizations (CSOs) to interpret the 'Economic Governance and Management' section of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) questionnaire. It argues that citizens have a fundamental right to efficient public services and that CSOs should use evidence-based tools to monitor strategic planning, expenditure management, internal controls, and the accountability of supervisory institutions. Using examples from the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, the authors illustrate how poor management—such as outdated epidemiological data or lack of internal audit committees—directly undermines the delivery of healthcare, housing, and education.

The document analyzes how China's decentralization and internationalization have empowered its provinces to act as multilayered foreign policy actors in Africa. It details their roles in trade, construction, investment, and aid, noting that while they often act as agents of the central government, they increasingly pursue independent economic interests. The authors argue that this subnational engagement facilitates deeper Sino-African relations but can also create diplomatic friction due to labor disputes and unethical business practices. The paper suggests that African nations should adopt a multilevel approach to engagement by partnering directly with Chinese provinces to attract investment and share developmental expertise.

The document examines the bilateral relationship between China and Mozambique, highlighting how Mozambique's reliance on traditional Western donors and the influence of the FRELIMO party have constrained China's influence compared to other African nations. It details Chinese investments in infrastructure, such as the Mpanda Nkua dam, and identifies significant controversies surrounding illegal logging and poaching in the fisheries sector. The report also explores future cooperation in agriculture, biofuels, and the establishment of special economic zones, while noting Mozambique's strategic value as a maritime gateway for landlocked SADC countries.

The report details a dialogue on the vulnerabilities of African economies to climate change and the potential for trade policy to enhance resilience. It emphasizes the need for predictable financial mechanisms, the diffusion of low-carbon technologies, and the reform of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to better serve African interests. The document highlights the potential of organic agriculture and renewable energy to create jobs and reduce poverty, while warning against arbitrary trade restrictions and poorly evidenced environmental labels that could undermine the competitiveness of African exports.

The document analyzes the tension between South Africa's early post-apartheid commitment to human rights and its subsequent foreign policy priorities, which shifted toward African solidarity, global governance reform, and strategic relations with powers like China. It highlights specific controversies, such as the treatment of Zimbabwe and the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama, as evidence of this shift.

The document analyzes the evolution of China's financial sector and its strategic move into Africa. It highlights how state-owned banks, such as ICBC and CDB, support resource acquisition through project finance and infrastructure loans. The paper identifies a shift toward commercial banking, exemplified by ICBC's 2007 investment in South Africa's Standard Bank, and discusses the influence of Chinese migration and excess foreign reserves on this expansion.

The document details the participation of the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) as a Lead Technical Agency (LTA) in Kenya's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process, specifically focusing on the socio-economic development section. While the authors acknowledge the national importance of the work, they highlight significant operational failures, including confused roles between the APRM Secretariat and LTAs, bureaucratic delays caused by the National Governing Council (NGC), and financial disputes where the Secretariat failed to pay full budgeted amounts. The paper concludes that while think tanks can contribute valuable expertise to such continental initiatives, the process in Kenya was marred by poor coordination, a lack of professional recognition for researchers, and a disregard for contractual obligations.

The document details the operational difficulties faced by the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) during Kenya's implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). While the process provided opportunities for interaction with policymakers, it was marred by bureaucratic delays, confusion over roles between the National Governance Council (NGC) and the Secretariat, and financial disputes. The authors highlight the tension between maintaining academic integrity and government desires to highlight positive achievements, concluding that clearer role definitions and adherence to contractual obligations are essential for future collaborations between think tanks and government bodies.

The document examines the failure of the private sector to drive economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, attributing this to the political dominance of elites who extract surplus from producers. It contrasts the vulnerability of African peasants and foreign firms with the relatively stronger private sector in South Africa. The author proposes a new form of democracy that empowers producers through land ownership and independent financial institutions to foster a genuine capitalist market economy.

The paper examines the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis on Sino-African trade, arguing that the 'decoupling' of the world economy is incomplete. It identifies two primary transmission mechanisms: the immediate financial channel, characterized by crashing stock exchanges, and the lagged trade channel, where a US recession reduces Chinese export income and subsequently lowers China's demand for African raw materials. While lower soft commodity prices may benefit food-importing African nations, the overall outlook for commodity exports to China and the EU is described as gloomy due to the depth of the recession in developed economies.

The research paper advises South Africa to support the institutionalization of the G20 while focusing on four medium-term priorities: global growth, regulatory reform and IMF reconfiguration, Asian currency management, and the Doha Round of WTO negotiations. It suggests a cautious approach to fiscal expansion due to inflation and current account deficits, and emphasizes the need to protect and increase African representation within the IMF to avoid a diminished voice in global financial governance.