State of the Nation address: giving short-shrift to mining?
The usual flurry of analyses has followed President Jacob Zuma’s annual state of the nation address. From a resource governance perspective, there are three things worth examining in further detail given the president’s off the cuff remarks during his address – to both the management of mines and the unions – that actions that damage the economy would not be tolerated.
Energy Indaba 2014: more regional focus can catalyse African Development
Recent years have witnessed the multiplication of energy-related events, policies and initiatives in South Africa. On the eve of the 6th Africa Energy Indaba (AEI) which takes place in Sandton, Johannesburg from 18 to 20 February 2014, this self-proclaimed ‘highest profile energy event’ on the continent seeks to bring together global and national energy stakeholders, government officials and business delegations to debate critical emerging issues for the sector.
Red Flags Ignored: Governance Values and Practices in Africa
Values are essential to set up normative standards that are indicative of the qualities of governance. This paper describes and analyses trends of governance values and practices in Africa using secondary data.
Mining for Development in Guinea: An Examination of the Simandou Iron Ore Project
The Simandou Mountain Range in Guinea possesses the world’s last substantial ‘tier-one’ iron ore deposit. Discovered in 1997, mining has yet to begin.
APRM and the Media: Getting the Story Right
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a voluntary scheme established in 2003 to improve member states’ governance collectively and individually through following best practices and examples set by others.
New research collection: The Political Economy of Regional Integration in Africa
SAIIA and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) have released a new set of short case studies that shed light on regional integration in Southern Africa – where it has worked well, where new thinking is underway, and what and who can drive concrete regional cooperation.
Peer Review Mechanism Gets Back to Business, But Stronger Participation at Heads of State Level Needed
The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a voluntary African governance promotion tool, now boasts an unprecedented 34 member states, 17 of which have completed their first reviews. But a lack of political enthusiasm for it – especially by heads of state – is endangering its relevance and impact on governance.
The Green Economy and the BRICS Countries: Bringing Them Together
The ‘green economy’ has been around as a concept since the 1970s but gained relevance again in the wake of the global economic recession in 2009 as government leaders looked towards new economic opportunities through sustainable, equitable and resilient economic growth.
2014 African Mining Indaba: Address three key pressure points to improve mining outlook
The increasingly adversarial nature of labour relations is having a dampening effect on South Africa’s mining investment prospects. On the eve of the 2014 African Mining Indaba (3 to 6 February 2014), observers worried about the persistent labour crisis and its likely long-term effect on investor sentiment should pay attention to three key pressure points. In conjunction, they will determine the future viability of South Africa’s mining industry.
The OAU/AU at 50: Democratic Governance as a Precondition for a Sustainable African Future
The 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU), previously the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), in May 2013 provided a fitting moment for the continental body to reflect on its achievements, challenges and the way forward.