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The Jasiri Gender Bond is an innovative financial instrument launched by NMB Bank in Tanzania to provide capital and resources to women-led SMEs and MSMEs, bridging the gender finance gap through inclusive capital market mechanisms.

This case study describes the impact of the Jasiri Gender Bond in Tanzania, focusing on its role in empowering women entrepreneurs and the specific growth of Maggy Dress-Up, a plus-size clothing business.

This case study describes the impact of the Jasiri Gender Bond, launched in February 2022, on women entrepreneurs in Tanzania, specifically highlighting the expansion of Mkajungu Hardware.

The Europe Gas Tracker Report 2023 by Global Energy Monitor analyzes the rapid expansion of gas infrastructure in the European Union following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The report argues that a 'gas panic' has led to uncoordinated buildouts of LNG terminals and pipelines that risk creating massive overcapacity and locking the region into fossil fuel dependency, potentially undermining the EU's climate goals under the European Climate Law and the Fit for 55 package.

This fact sheet explains the legal and practical application of the CO2 Performance Ladder (CO2PL) as a procurement tool in the Netherlands and Belgium. It details how the instrument provides award advantages to companies reducing carbon emissions while remaining compliant with the 2014 EU Procurement Directive.

This meeting report describes a remote training workshop held on November 23–24, 2022, by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) for members of Women in Mining of West Africa (WIMOWA). The workshop focused on gender equality and local content in the mining sector, specifically addressing women's participation in direct employment and local procurement.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can help reduce poverty among smallholder farmers. Based on a study of 13 major standard initiatives and 12 meta-studies, the document analyzes VSSs across three dimensions of poverty: access to resources, opportunities and choice, and power and voice. While VSSs can provide benefits such as better crop prices and improved natural resource management, the brief concludes that their overall impact on poverty reduction is inconclusive and context-specific, requiring significant external support from governments and the private sector to be effective.

This policy brief, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in March 2023, examines the role of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) in reducing poverty among smallholder farmers. Based on a 2021 study of 13 major agricultural standards, 12 meta-studies, and 57 interviews across six countries, the document argues that while VSS can support poverty reduction through improved crop prices and resource conservation, they are not a standalone solution and require supportive ecosystems, government intervention, and improved governance to be truly effective.

This policy brief, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in March 2023, examines whether voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can help reduce poverty among smallholder farmers. Based on a 2021 study that analyzed 13 VSS initiatives, 12 meta-studies, and 57 interviews across six countries, the document argues that VSS can be a tool for poverty reduction when integrated into broader strategies. It identifies key barriers to access for smallholders and provides recommendations for VSS designers and policymakers to enhance the socio-economic and environmental benefits of these standards.

This policy brief provides a state-of-play analysis of the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on Electronic Commerce as of December 2022. It examines the evolving global e-commerce governance landscape, including national regulatory trends and the rise of Digital Economy Agreements, while detailing the progress of JSI negotiations, the restructuring of the consolidated negotiating text, and the efforts to address the digital divide and development concerns.

This report provides a status update on the World Trade Organization (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce as of December 2022. It analyzes the initiative's progress during its fifth year, contrasting it with broader trends in national, regional, and multilateral digital governance. The report highlights a shift toward a potentially less ambitious agreement for the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), focusing on resolved trade facilitation issues while deferring controversial market access and data flow topics.

This report provides a status update on the WTO Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on e-commerce as of December 2022. It analyzes the evolving landscape of digital trade governance at national, regional, and multilateral levels, noting a trend toward more flexible regional Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) and an increased focus on the digital divide within the WTO's broader Work Programme. The author suggests that the JSI is likely moving toward a less ambitious agreement focusing on minor facilitation points to ensure a conclusion by the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13).

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the drivers of conflict between local residents and foreign-born migrants in the Atteridgeville and Diepsloot townships of Gauteng, South Africa. The research concludes that tensions are primarily driven by socio-economic pressures—including high unemployment, poor service delivery, and competition for scarce resources—rather than innate xenophobia.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that increasing climate change literacy across Africa is essential for moving from reactive coping mechanisms to transformative adaptation. It highlights significant gaps in public understanding of the human causes of climate change, particularly among women and rural populations, and advocates for the integration of climate literacy into education and national development agendas to build climate-resilient development pathways.

The 'Strategic Plan for Advancing Energy Efficiency Across Demand Sectors by 2030' is a report prepared by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and the Ministry of Power, Government of India, for the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group. It outlines a framework to double the global annual rate of energy intensity improvement by 2030 to align with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal 7.3. The plan focuses on five pillars: buildings, industry, transport, financing, and behavioral changes, proposing specific policy actions, technological deployments, and high-impact opportunities to accelerate decarbonization.

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the relationship between socio-economic status and exposure to PM2.5 air pollution in Bangkok. Based on a study of five districts and 400 participants, it finds that informal workers and low-income residents face higher exposure and more health symptoms, while public perception of air quality often contradicts government monitoring data.

This briefing by Ember argues that the European Union's Fit-for-55 renewable energy target of 40% for 2030 is outdated due to the rapid acceleration of clean technology deployment. Based on industry forecasts for solar, heat pumps, and electric vehicles, the analysis suggests the EU is currently on course to reach a 45% renewable energy share by 2030, with the potential to reach 50% if policy and financial support are strengthened.

A Global Energy Monitor briefing on the expansion of gas extraction in Africa, highlighting a shift toward new market entrants and the associated climate and socio-economic risks.

This executive summary describes the States’ Electricity Transition (SET) Scoring system developed by Ember to evaluate the electricity transition across 16 Indian states, which represent 90% of India's annual power requirement. The analysis focuses on four dimensions: decarbonisation, power system performance, power ecosystem readiness, and policies and political commitments. While some states like Karnataka show strong performance across all metrics, others, particularly Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, require significant improvements in decarbonisation and system performance to meet national targets.

This case study describes how a community-led savings initiative, the Samabay Samiti, established by World Vision in the village of Datinakhali, Bangladesh, helps residents break a cycle of debt caused by frequent climate-induced disasters. By providing microloans and livelihood diversification training, the program enables members—particularly women—to build assets and achieve financial self-resilience.