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 …
This book is interdisciplinary and provides cross-sectoral and multi-dimensional exploration of sustainable development and transportation in South Africa. Drawing on work from different disciplines, the book contributes not only to academia but also seeks to inform urban and regional policy with the view of contributing to the national aspirations of …
This research focuses on an emissions control strategy for the Metrobus fleet in Johannesburg, South Africa. While Metrobus has not set any fleetwide emissions reduction targets, both the Johannesburg Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for 2017/2018 and South Africa’s National Green Transport Strategy (GTS) have endorsed deployment of diesel dual-fuel (DDF) …
Assuming the COVID-19 pandemic ends or that successful vaccination programs are implemented, Southern Africa is projected to grow 3.2 percent in 2021 and 2.4 percent in 2022. But this recovery will be inadequate given the region’s estimated 6.3 percent contraction in 2020. Slow growth in South Africa—the region’s largest economy—has …
This report presents the main policy lessons emerging from the national Deep Decarbonization Scenarios developed in Brazil, India, Indonesia and South Africa. It includes a description of scenario’s main features, main synergies and trade-offs with country non-climate objectives, priority short-term policies and actions and key international enablers and accelerators of …
This research focuses on the delivery of water and sanitation by municipalities in South Africa. The overall purpose of the assignment is to provide informed recommendations to improve municipal water and sanitation services through systems strengthening interventions and approaches. An analysis of the relative efficacy of different strategies and programmes …
A report commissioned by the Cape Town-based Centre for Environmental Rights has found that climate change adversely affects mental health – and it will only get worse for future generations. The report also finds that the climate crisis disproportionately affects marginalised communities and disadvantaged groups, including women. The Centre for …
Developing countries with sizeable coal capacities, such as South Africa, Chile, and India, are exploring retirement of coal plants by repurposing them for productive uses including renewable energy generation, storage and ancillary services. However, a framework to establish the economic rationale for repurposing does not currently exist. This report presents …
The recent power sector decarbonisation report states that it is possible for South Africa to decarbonise its economy and assesses ways to ensure a just transition that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable. As a country with one of the most emissions-intensive power sectors in the world, and a nation …
WWF South Africa, along with partners at Six Capitals Advisory, is excited to announce the release of a special edition publication themed around climate risk and investment. The publication has been put together by the South Africa-UK PACT country programme to support action on just-transition pathways and a low-carbon economic …
This report uses four case studies from across the globe to draw lessons on how cities and regions can equitably manage the decline of major industrial and mining activities and minimize disruption to local economies. It finds commonalities among decarbonization transitions in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom and …
The thirteenth edition of the South Africa Economic Update, Building back better from COVID-19, with a special focus on jobs, examines how supporting young entrepreneurs could be one of the ways the country could address, unemployment, among its other pressing social challenge in an environment of weakened economic growth. The …
As the South African economy emerges from the downturn induced by COVID-19, policy makers are concerned with recovery, reconstruction, and transformation. This paper focuses on the recovery from the severely depressed levels of economic activity that occurred in April 2020. However, before considering the period after the economic trough of …
As the South African economy emerges from the downturn induced by COVID-19, policy makers are concerned with recovery, reconstruction, and transformation. This paper focuses on the recovery from the severely depressed levels of economic activity that occurred in April 2020. However, before considering the period after the economic trough of …
This briefing investigates the ‘driving forces’ or ‘trends’ shaping southern African food systems. The analysis is intended to raise awareness of the potential to shape future outcomes in this complex multi-faceted and interrelated systems and argues that the World Food Programme (WFP) can play a major role as a direct …
Approximately 30% of the whole SADC region is exposed to a variety of climate hazards and their combinations. High growing season temperatures are the most prevalent (10% of area). The occurrence of multiple hazards simultaneously in ~9% of the hazards affected area underscores the complexity of climate risks that agricultural …
Climate extremes are a major impediment to resilience of food systems in Southern Africa, where livelihoods and economies are highly sensitive to weather fluctuations. While the region boasts an incredible diversity of ecosystems, natural resources, economic activities and cultures, it is also characterized by rapid population growth, urbanization of coastal …
Given the chronic food insecurity and malnutrition prevalent in the Southern African region, this paper analyses the role of food security and nutrition in social protection programming and in bridging the humanitarian- development divide using the COVID-19 experience of several countries in the region.
Whitepaper discusses South Africa’s urgent need for affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy, to spur industrialization while addressing its climate change ambitions; Highlights how flexible gas power will play a critical role in South Africa’s future energy mix; Underscores how gas power complements renewables with a clear path to decarbonization through …
Marine protected areas (MPAs) play a vital role in conserving vulnerable and important ocean species, habitats and ecosystems. Ensuring effective management of these protected coastal areas is just as crucial. This detailed publication presents the results of the most recent 2018/19 assessment that was conducted with managers and staff of …
The paper argues that existing governance systems in the region generally fall short of the adaptive capacity required to navigate complex and volatile problems such as the COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of factors such as endemic corruption, weak state-society relations, and the stubborn legacies of the colonial project in the …
