The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
South Africa's ambition is to build a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable economy. This ambition depends on the extent to which the country is able to shift from its heavy dependence on coal to low-carbon activities and to address the growing risks presented by climate change. This low-carbon path and …
The report finds that the adaptation finance gap in South Africa is particularly pronounced at subnational level, and risks attainment of national adaptation commitments. Closing this gap requires tapping an array of climate finance sources, both national and international. However access differs between municipalities, reflecting different revenue raising and financial …
Food and nutrition insecurity in the SADC region continues to be unacceptably high, requiring concerted efforts for the region to build resilience to address the multiple and increasing shocks it faces. As a result of the complex interaction between persistent structural issues and recent shocks experienced in the region, the …
The population of South Africa is estimated to be 60,6 million by the end of June 2022. Between 2002 and 2022 South Africa experienced a positive population growth year-on-year. A positive growth rate indicates that the population is increasing, despite the devastating impact of COVID-19 globally and within South Africa’s …
An economic modelling study of three African countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya and South Africa – shows that a shift towards a circular plastics economy will generate more economic activity and create more jobs than a business-as-usual scenario. A new report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) shows …
This report examines the possible financial implications of phasing out fossil fuels in six emerging economies based on scenarios published by the International Energy Agency in its 2021 World Energy Outlook and suggests strategies for managing the transition. To comply with the Paris Agreement, the world will have to phase …
Act to amend the National Forests Act, 1998, so as to provide for clear definitions of natural forests and woodlands; to provide for public trusteeship of the nation’s forestry resources; to increase the promotion and enforcement of sustainable forest management; to increase the measures provided for in the Act to …
This sixteenth issue of the South African Child Gauge focuses attention on child and adolescent mental health and how early experiences of adversity ripple out across the life course and generations at great cost to individuals and society. It calls on South African society to put children at the centre …
This publication shows how the three pillars of drought management: (1) monitoring; (2) vulnerability assessment; and (3) risk mitigation and response, help to integrate the management of the two phenomena. With climate change seriously affecting the water cycle in many parts of the world, it is important that stakeholders understand …
The annual Commonwealth Malaria Report has revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted malaria services, leading to an increase in malaria incidence and mortality rates. Data from the report also indicates that the Commonwealth is currently not on track to halve malaria cases and/or deaths by 2023. Many countries remain on …
Understanding the place of humans – including investor communities – in nature is largely informed by the dissociated relationship between the market price and the value of ecosystem goods and services in economic and financial systems. Financial institutions and business can no longer overlook nature in their decision-making because functioning …
The Africa Wealth Report is the continent’s annual benchmark for private wealth research. Now in its 7th year, the report provides the most comprehensive review of the wealth sector in Africa, including trends among high-net-worth individuals, the luxury market, and wealth management. The report reveals that total private wealth currently …
SA Cities Network’s (SACN) latest State of Cities report strongly points to the need for a “whole-of-government and all-of-society approach” to address rampant urban governance issues. The report is a five-year analysis of nine key cities and their performance, and includes trends, insights, inclusivity, productivity and governance. The report found …
This framework provides insights into some of these questions. It categorises existing research, knowledge and best practices and outlines the necessary building blocks for planning, implementing, and monitoring improvement in the HIV response among men and boys within a broader gender equality framework. The framework is an evidence-based action road …
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has released its annual statistics on power generation in South Africa for the year 2021. Highlights include the increased contribution of renewable energy technologies to the total energy mix, and loadshedding in 2021 overtaking 2020 as the most intensive year of loadshedding …
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has published Capturing Green Recovery Opportunities from Wind Power in Developing Economies. The report, written in collaboration with BVG Associates, highlights the vast and largely untapped socioeconomic and environmental opportunities which could be unlocked by wind energy in a group of developing economies from …
Thoroughly investigating corruption in a wildlife crime court case can disrupt organized criminal groups to a greater extent by potentially identifying higher-level individuals for investigation, arrest, conviction, and appropriate sentencing. Corruption is one of the most important facilitators of the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), and its effects can be seen …
This report aims to assist the South African government by identifying whether or not its energy fiscal policies are aligned with its stated objectives for the energy sector. Fiscal policies denote broad government spending, including subsidies, taxes, and grants. As such, the report is a tool to support government and …
Flooding poses a significant threat to cities in the global South, due to a combination of factors including unplanned city extensions, prevalent poverty and low adaptive capacity. Depending on the location, physical characteristics, and climate change risk of different urban areas, they can be affected by different types of flooding. …
