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This case study examines the operational challenges faced by Packaging Industries Malawi (PIM) Limited, the country's largest paper packaging company. It details how systemic issues—including foreign exchange shortages, high transport costs due to Malawi's landlocked status, unreliable utilities, and a lack of technical skills—hinder the company's competitiveness and profitability.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the potential of bond markets as an alternative to bank loans for financing large-scale infrastructure projects in Africa. It details various bond types—including municipal, corporate, sovereign, diaspora, and Islamic bonds—and analyzes the current state of bond markets in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. The author argues that while bonds offer lower borrowing costs and avoid equity dilution, their growth in Africa is hindered by underdeveloped secondary markets, weak regulatory frameworks, and a lack of institutional investors.

This fact sheet from the South African Institute of International Affairs outlines the 'key certainties' and 'key uncertainties' regarding the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Southern Africa, highlighting trends in urbanisation, energy costs, and climate vulnerability.

This statement, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development in 2021, calls for an immediate end to international public finance for fossil fuels to align with the 1.5°C warming limit of the Paris Agreement. It urges governments and public finance institutions to shift funding toward clean energy and a just transition, particularly for low-income countries in the Global South, ahead of COP 26.

This fact sheet by WWF South Africa explains the purpose, design, and potential impacts of the South African carbon tax announced in the 2018 budget speech. It outlines how the tax aims to shift costs from society to polluters to drive a transition toward a low-carbon economy, while expressing concern that current tax rates and allowances are too low to effectively incentivize emission reductions.

The Green Economy Strategy Framework by GreenCape outlines goals to establish the Western Cape as a leading green economic hub in Africa and the lowest carbon province, focusing on renewable energy, resource efficiency, and green technology investment.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the necessity of reforming investment treaties and the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system. It argues that traditional treaties, which prioritize investor protection, often conflict with sustainable development goals, create significant financial burdens for states, and discourage necessary public interest regulations, particularly regarding the energy transition.

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) provides a critique of the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA), arguing that the government is increasingly relying on the private sector to deliver key infrastructure and manage the energy transition, which the IEJ claims undermines state capacity and affordability for the poor.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments on the South African National Petroleum Company Bill, B2 - 2026, arguing that the draft legislation prioritizes petroleum expansion and commercialization over environmental governance, climate commitments, and constitutional rights. While acknowledging the potential for improved coordination by consolidating PetroSA, iGas, and the Strategic Fuel Fund, the CER recommends rejecting the Bill in its current form until significant amendments are made to align it with South Africa's climate obligations and environmental laws.

This report details a workshop held on March 5, 2019, at the Century City Conference Centre, organized by GreenCape, Inspired Evolution, and SAPVIA. The event brought together 39 delegates from industry, government, and academia to address the emerging challenge of end-of-life (EOL) solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on legislative barriers, technical recycling solutions, and logistical strategies to prevent landfilling.

The COP29 South African Youth Statement, presented by the Youth Policy Committee Global Change Working Group via Youth@SAIIA, outlines a comprehensive set of demands for the South African government delegation to COP29. The statement advocates for a climate justice approach that integrates human rights, gender equality, and social justice, calling for urgent reforms in water sanitation, waste management, and the energy transition to protect marginalized communities.

This research paper examines the increasing flow of foreign direct investment from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—specifically the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—into Africa. It details how these states are leveraging Africa's renewable energy potential and mineral resources to diversify their own hydrocarbon-dependent economies and secure food supply chains, while providing Africa with an alternative to Western and Chinese financing to address its infrastructure gap.

The report details the design and pilot of the Energy Savings Insurance (ESI) instrument, aimed at stimulating energy efficiency investments for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by mitigating the risk of underperformance. It focuses on a 2015 pilot in Mexico's agro-industry sector and outlines a replication strategy for Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa.

This document is a final impact assessment template for the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS), specifically detailing the design, intended outcomes, and projected impacts of a proposed carbon tax in South Africa. It outlines a phased approach to internalise the costs of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to encourage a transition to a low-carbon economy while mitigating adverse effects on industrial competitiveness and low-income households.

The SEforALL 3-Year Business Plan 2021-2023 outlines the transition to 'SEforALL 3.0,' a strategic shift from global agenda-setting toward an implementation-focused model. The plan prioritizes data-driven decision-making, partnerships with high-impact countries, and the delivery of specific 'Results Offers' across four thematic areas: Energy Diplomacy and Advocacy, Energy Access and Closing the Gap, Energy Transitions and Climate Change, and Intersection with Other SDGs. The organization aims to mobilize USD 58.9 million over three years to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) by 2030.

The report examines the role of the energy transition't a specific set of policies and financial mechanisms to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy in the energy sector. It emphasizes the need for integrated policy frameworks, international cooperation, and targeted investment to overcome barriers to decarbonization. Key focus areas include the scaling of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies. The document highlights the importance of a just transition to ensure that the shift to clean energy is equitable and inclusive, supporting workers and communities affected by the transition. It also discusses the role of technology innovation and the need for increased funding for developing countries to meet their climate goals.

The SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration 2022 is a statement by South African youth and educators outlining recommendations for a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. It focuses on four primary areas: global climate change and energy transition, the creation of inclusive societies, the development of sustainable communities, and socio-economic growth. The document calls for increased youth participation in policy-making, the decarbonisation of the private sector, the protection of marginalised groups, and the strengthening of African supply chains and infrastructure.

The 2025 Policy Bulletin: Climate Finance for Development, published by the Climate Policy Initiative and partners, provides actionable recommendations for Public Development Banks (PDBs) to accelerate low-emissions and climate-resilient development. It focuses on operationalizing Paris alignment, enhancing public-public collaborations, mobilizing private finance, and supporting just energy transitions in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

This briefing note by the Forum on Trade, Environment, & the SDGs (TESS) examines the 'twin transition'—the simultaneous pursuit of digital and green transformations. It analyzes how digital technologies can both enable climate action and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, focusing on the implications for developing countries and the pathways toward a net-zero digital economy by 2050.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the transition to electric two- and three-wheelers (E2W and E3W) for last-mile delivery in South Africa. It analyzes the economic viability, operational strategies, and environmental impacts of replacing internal combustion engine (ICE) motorcycles with electric micro-mobility solutions, highlighting the role of innovative financing and charging infrastructure in overcoming high upfront costs.