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This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies argues that Burkina Faso must urgently implement a holistic security sector reform to address a deadly jihadist insurgency and historical tensions between civilian and military elites.

This 2021 update from RMI analyzes the economic, health, and jobs impacts of 'clean energy portfolios' (CEPs)—which combine solar, wind, storage, demand flexibility, and energy efficiency—as alternatives to the more than 88 gigawatts of gas power plants proposed across the United States in 2021.

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 report examines how the African Union's Green Recovery Action Plan (GRAP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can jointly foster resilient and sustainable economic recoveries in six specific African nations.

This guide from the NewClimate Institute provides a stepwise approach for policy makers to establish sector-level climate planning processes to support national and international policy making.

This research paper examines how legal pluralism—the coexistence of statute, custom, and practice—affects women's access to land inheritance in Lesotho, utilizing qualitative data from Maseru and Mafeteng.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics examines the environmental and climate impacts of the global livestock sector, arguing that a shift toward plant-based diets and alternative proteins is essential to meeting climate targets. It details the growth of meat production, the role of government subsidies in supporting industrial agriculture, and the emerging market for alternative proteins, while highlighting the need for systemic policy changes and a reduction in meat consumption, particularly in high-income regions.

This statement from the Africa Policy Research Institute and other signatories condemns the travel restrictions imposed on Southern African countries following the detection of the Omicron variant. The authors argue that these bans are scientifically unjustified, racially biased, and economically damaging, while highlighting a systemic failure in global vaccine equity.

An open letter from South African marine scientists and legal experts to President Cyril Ramaphosa and government ministers urging the halt of offshore seismic surveys due to environmental risks and legal deficiencies.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-Rio analyzes the relationship between forest fires and subsequent deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2013 to 2020. The study finds that while forest fires are not systematically used as a direct first step to clear vegetation in the same location, they serve as a strong leading indicator of imminent deforestation in the surrounding vicinity, particularly in rural settlements and occupied public lands.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International arguing that 'Nature-based Solutions' (NbS) are a form of corporate greenwashing used by governments and companies to avoid deep emission cuts, potentially leading to land grabbing and human rights violations in the Global South.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) can alleviate poverty for the estimated 500 million smallholder farmer families globally, focusing on access to resources, opportunities, and power.

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 case study describes the 'Closing the Loop on Textile Waste in Kenya' partnership, a multistakeholder initiative that uses chemical recycling technology to transform post-production textile waste into high-quality raw materials for new clothing. The project aims to address the environmental impact of Kenya's growing garment industry while providing employment for local women.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from the DETER and PRODES monitoring systems. The study finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, there is a strong spatial association, with a significant portion of deforestation occurring in the immediate vicinity of previously degraded areas, particularly in medium or large private properties, rural settlements, and undesignated areas.

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.

The document introduces the Local2030 Coalition, a United Nations-led platform and network created to accelerate the local implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the structural decline of the coal mining sector in Colombia, using the 2020 crisis and the surrender of mining titles by Prodeco as evidence of the challenges facing a just transition toward a decarbonized economy.

This briefing from the Stockholm Environment Institute outlines how international financing institutions (IFIs) can direct resources toward sustainable agricultural water management, drawing on a study of IFI investments in irrigation and drainage infrastructure from 2010 to 2019.