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This policy brief examines the limited participation of African nations in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce. It analyzes the tension between the plurilateral JSI approach and the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, highlighting the digital divide and capacity constraints facing African states. The author argues that African countries should engage with the JSI to protect their developmental interests and prepare for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) e-commerce protocol.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) hosted a hybrid conference on 13 May 2022 titled 'The Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology in the Development Agenda'. The event focused on the role of nuclear technology in Africa's development, emphasizing institutional regulation, the inclusion of women and youth, and the pursuit of 'nuclear justice' and disarmament.

The Mauritius-China Free Trade Agreement (MCFTA) is analyzed as a strategically motivated pact that likely benefits China more than Mauritius. Due to a massive trade imbalance and limited industrial capacity, Mauritius is unlikely to significantly increase exports to China, while Chinese imports and real estate investments are expected to grow. The paper suggests the MCFTA may be a geopolitical tool for China to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean and a prototype for future agreements with other African nations, though it currently poses little risk of diverting Mauritian trade away from the African continent.

This policy brief argues that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) cannot reach its full potential without a unified industrial policy to address systemic supply-side constraints. The author contends that the current landscape of overlapping national, regional, and continental policies creates coordination failures and proposes a consolidated strategy focusing on pooled infrastructure resources, regional product specialisation, SME growth, clean energy, and indigenous technology.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the complex relationship between climate change and violent conflict in Africa. It argues that while climate change acts as a 'risk multiplier' that can exacerbate existing political, social, and economic tensions, the link to violence is indirect and highly contextual. The document emphasizes the need for conflict-sensitive climate adaptation strategies, particularly in fragile contexts, and calls for the Global North to fulfill climate finance commitments to support the Global South.

This policy brief examines the macroeconomic policy development in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. It details the Bank of Tanzania's (BoT) monetary and fiscal interventions to avert recession, the economic impacts of the pandemic on GDP and tourism, and provides recommendations for social protection, debt management, and climate-resilient economic growth.

This policy brief synthesises case studies from six sub-Saharan African countries to analyse government responses to trade and employment shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. It evaluates these responses against long-term goals of social inclusivity and climate resilience, highlighting how economic structure and financial depth influenced the capacity to implement fiscal, financial, and monetary stimuli.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs, commissioned by Oxfam South Africa, examines the potential role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in supporting South Africa's transition to cleaner energy. It discusses the IMF's integration of climate risks into its global financial stability mandate and the specific macroeconomic challenges facing South Africa, while cautioning against the IMF's historical policy orthodoxies.

This policy brief analyzes the macroeconomic response of the government of Benin and the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the use of expansionary monetary and fiscal policies to mitigate economic decline and ensure food security.

This fact sheet describes a project implemented by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) from January 2022 to June 2023. The project aims to enhance the resilience of coastal and island states in Southern Africa by integrating ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) into national climate policy responses.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the development financing gap facing African countries during their COVID-19 recovery. It argues that African nations lack the fiscal space available to advanced economies, facing high debt burdens and unfair credit ratings. The document proposes that the G20 and other development partners implement coordinated debt relief, reallocate resources to de-risk private investment, and establish fairer credit rating mechanisms to support sustainable economic transformation.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework's 'Two-Pillar Solution' to address tax avoidance and the digitalisation of the economy. It argues that the current global taxation framework is fragmented, allowing multinational corporations to avoid taxes through profit shifting and the lack of physical presence. The document highlights that developing countries, particularly in Africa, suffer disproportionate revenue losses as a share of GDP and are underrepresented in the negotiations of the global tax deal. It calls for greater transparency, fairer thresholds for profit reallocation, and the potential move of negotiations to a neutral body like the United Nations to ensure equitable outcomes for poorer nations.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the environmental, socioeconomic, and governance (ESG) impacts of Chinese ICT infrastructure projects in Tanzania and Cambodia. It concludes that while environmental impacts were minimal, socioeconomic outcomes were mixed and projects suffered from a lack of transparency.

This research paper examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security across Africa, highlighting how economic shocks and trade disruptions exacerbated hunger. It analyzes the varying vulnerability of different income groups and regions, the role of protectionist policies, and the potential for the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to build long-term resilience by increasing intra-continental food trade.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs compares the implementation of environmental, socioeconomic, and governance (ESG) standards in two Chinese-funded hydropower projects: the Bui Dam in Ghana and the Stung Tatay project in Cambodia. It examines China's domestic regulatory framework for hydropower and analyzes how local government capacity and transparency in the recipient countries influenced the success of ESG mitigation efforts.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) provides guidance and lessons for Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states on enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It emphasizes the need for inclusive stakeholder engagement, alignment with long-term development goals, and the use of quantifiable targets and evidence-based analysis to increase climate ambition and ensure effective implementation.

A statement by several African policy leaders criticizing the imposition of unilateral travel bans on Southern Africa following the detection of a COVID-19 variant, arguing that such measures are ineffective, economically damaging, and ignore the systemic inequities in global vaccine distribution.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of COVID-19 recovery and climate finance, arguing that the pandemic recovery period offers a critical window to 'build back better' through sustainable investment. It highlights the failure of developed nations to meet the $100 billion annual climate finance pledge and emphasizes the specific needs of African countries for increased adaptation funding and systemic reform of the global finance architecture.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the G20/OECD Inclusive Framework's 'Two-Pillar Solution' to address tax avoidance and the digitalisation of the economy. It argues that the current global taxation framework is fragmented, allowing multinational corporations to avoid taxes, and highlights how developing countries, particularly in Africa, suffer disproportionate revenue losses. The document criticizes the Inclusive Framework for the underrepresentation of African nations and the potential for the agreement to favor wealthy nations, recommending a shift toward more inclusive, transparent, and equitable negotiations, possibly under the UN.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the barriers to and enablers of private sector climate finance in Africa. It argues that while significant investment is required to meet Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) goals and adaptation needs, private investment is currently limited by regulatory, project, and economic risks. The document proposes a combination of regulatory reforms, credit enhancement mechanisms, and capacity building for borrowers to create a bankable pipeline of projects to attract private and impact investors.