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The SADC Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Monitoring Mechanism allows private sector actors to report trade barriers via an online database, but the resolution of these barriers is often ineffective. NTBs affect products accounting for $3.3 billion, or 20%, of regional trade, with transport-related barriers being the most persistent. Resolution is hampered by inefficient National Monitoring Committees, a lack of technical expertise, and a political preference for cooperative rather than litigious dispute settlement. The document argues that resolution depends on political will, as some states maintain barriers to protect local industry or revenue. Proposed solutions include strengthening business membership organisations, capacitating national focal points, and creating forums for facilitated dialogue between the private sector and government.

The document examines Namibia's strategy to position the Port of Walvis Bay as a competitive alternative to other SADC ports. It details the role of the Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) and the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) in expanding infrastructure and improving trade facilitation. Key developments include a new container terminal funded largely by the African Development Bank and the conceptual SADC Gateway Port. While the port benefits from strategic location and political stability, it faces challenges in human capital and administrative bureaucracy.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) completed the Fourth Review of the Policy Coordination Instrument (PCI) for Rwanda on July 1, 2021, and approved a one-year extension of the program through June 27, 2023. The report assesses Rwanda's economic recovery following a 3.4 percent GDP contraction in 2020, focusing on balancing COVID-19 response measures with long-term fiscal sustainability and debt management.

The document details a roundtable on restoring multilateral trade cooperation, focusing on the impact of mega-regional agreements (TPP, TTIP) and Global Value Chains (GVCs) on Africa. It assesses the Trade Facilitation Agreement's (TFA) new approach to Special and Differential Treatment (SDT), argues that the Doha Round's 'single undertaking' approach is a structural failure—particularly in agriculture—and suggests a 'critical mass' plurilateral approach as an alternative. The discussions emphasize that African countries must move beyond raw material exports by proactively engaging in GVCs and regional integration while navigating the shift from market-access negotiations to rule-based trade frameworks.

The report diagnoses the stalemate of the WTO's Doha Round, attributing it to a leadership vacuum, fundamental disagreements on agriculture and development, and the 'straightjacket' of the single undertaking. It examines the shift toward a 'new architecture' of trade, specifically mega-regional preferential trade agreements (MPTAs) like the TPP and TTIP, and plurilaterals like TISA, which focus on 'behind the border' rules relevant to global value chains (GVCs). The authors argue that while MPTAs risk balkanising trade and diverting investment from non-members, the WTO could regain relevance by adopting plurilateral 'critical mass' approaches for agriculture and GVC-related policies, while strengthening special and differential treatment (S&DT) for least developed countries.

The G20 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting Outcome Document and Chair's Summary, convened on 18 September 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, outlines a strategic framework to address global food insecurity and malnutrition. Under the South African Presidency's theme of 'Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability', the ministers identified four priority areas: inclusive market participation, empowerment of youth and women, innovation and technology, and climate resilience. The document emphasizes the role of multilateral trade, public-private partnerships, and the voluntary transfer of technology to transform global food systems.

This 2012 case study examines the operational challenges faced by Aluminium Africa Limited (ALAF), a Tanzania-based aluminium and steel manufacturer. ALAF reports significant barriers to regional trade within the SADC area, including inadequate energy infrastructure (marked by power rationing and cost increases), inefficient border controls and port services in Tanzania, and regulatory uncertainty. The company also highlights difficulties in accessing skilled labour and foreign currency in markets like Malawi. While ALAF has invested in backup power and lobbied via the Confederation of Tanzania Industries, it notes a lack of tangible government action to resolve these systemic constraints.

The document presents a color-coded rating system (Red, Orange, Green) for South Africa's performance across themes including justice, party-state relations, representation, nation building, service delivery, and the environment. Most rated categories are marked as 'Orange', with an overall rating of 'Orange minus'.

The conference reviewed the achievements and challenges of the APRM from 2003 to 2013, emphasizing the critical but often inconsistent role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in monitoring and implementing National Programmes of Action (NPoAs). Key discussions focused on the need to universalise the mechanism, integrate it into the emerging African Governance Architecture (AGA), and better harness the contributions of the African diaspora and youth.

This research paper by Amanda Lucey argues for the integration of peace and security into the discourse of South-South Cooperation (SSC), specifically in the context of the BAPA+40 conference. The author contends that while the original 1978 Buenos Aires Plan of Action (BAPA) focused on economic and social development, the contemporary African reality necessitates a holistic approach where peace and development are viewed as mutually reinforcing.

The report analyzes South African foreign direct investment (FDI) in Mozambique, noting that while South Africa was the primary investor (49% of FDI from 1997-2002), businesses face significant hurdles. Key obstacles include systemic corruption, inefficient bureaucracy, a weak judiciary, and high import taxes. While large-scale projects like Mozal and Sasol succeeded through high-level government support, smaller firms are more exposed to 'small corruption' and bureaucratic delays. The document highlights a stark geographic imbalance in investment, with the majority concentrated in Maputo, and calls for structural reforms in land rights, infrastructure, and the financial sector to foster sustainable growth.

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This policy brief analyzes the barriers to technology transfer from Chinese telecommunications equipment providers, specifically Huawei and ZTE, to South African companies. Based on fieldwork conducted in 2015, the author identifies three primary obstacles: the rise of managed services contracts, challenges regarding the legitimacy and professionalism of Chinese firms, and a weak institutional and regulatory framework in South Africa.

This policy brief examines the approach of AVIC International, a Chinese state-owned company, toward local skills development in Kenya. It argues that AVIC treats skills development as a top business priority, utilizing a flexible 'industrial bootstrapping' approach to create a variety of for-profit and CSR programs. While participants report high satisfaction and improved perceptions of Chinese firms, tangible outcomes such as machinery utilization and widespread job creation remain limited.

This policy brief examines the adaptation and integration of Chinese immigrants in Zambia, challenging the narrative of 'Chinese self-isolation' through survey data and comparative analysis. It argues that perceived isolation is often a result of workplace requirements rather than ethnocentricity and recommends that African governments and Chinese entities improve localization efforts.

This policy brief examines the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) into Africa, focusing on the shift from resource trade to infrastructure and industrial cooperation. It highlights the opportunities for regional integration and industrialization, while warning of the financial risks associated with debt-based lending and the need for African governments to ensure project viability and local capacity building.

This 2018 policy brief by the SAIS China-Africa Research Initiative analyzes the nature of Chinese manufacturing investments in Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Based on fieldwork from 2014 to 2016, the authors identify four distinct types of Chinese firms—categorized as 'geese'—investing in African manufacturing, ranging from large global supply chain actors to small opportunistic clusters. The report examines the impact of these investments on local value addition, technology transfer, labor relations, and the environment.

This policy brief examines local skill development and knowledge transfer within Ghana's construction sector, specifically comparing the practices of Chinese enterprises against other foreign and local firms. Based on 2016 survey data from 12 enterprises and 240 employees, the study finds that Chinese firms contribute significantly to local job creation and skill development, challenging perceptions that they rely primarily on imported labor. The authors identify systemic challenges such as low technical education quality and high labor turnover, recommending stronger collaboration between the industry and vocational institutions, and the integration of training requirements into project contracts.

This policy brief examines the impact of Chinese investments in Tanzania's plastic recycling industry and the subsequent effects of China's 2018 import ban on waste materials. It highlights how Chinese firms have facilitated technology transfer and local business growth, while also noting significant environmental and health risks and a potential decline in local waste sourcing due to the import of cleaner waste from Europe and the US.

This policy brief examines the development of railway infrastructure in Ethiopia, comparing the Chinese-funded Addis Ababa-Djibouti standard gauge railway (SGR) with the Turkish-built Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya/Weldiya (AKH) line. It analyzes the trade-offs between different financing models, the effectiveness of technology transfer and capacity building, and the role of Ethiopian government agency in project design.