Zambia’s Constitutional Groundhog Day
Since independence, Zambia has had five major constitutional amendments (an average of one every 10 years), a fact that has raised concerns about the country’s constitutional foundations.
Archives: Publications
China’s ban on domestic ivory trade is huge, but the battle isn’t won
China has published a notice that the processing and sale of ivory and ivory products ‘will be stopped by December 31, 2017.’ Following a decision taken at the latest Convention on International Trade in Endangered Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) conference to end all domestic trade in ivory, China has duly made a credible commitment to this end.
Regulations for foreign investor act weighted towards dispute settlement
On December 15 2015, President Jacob Zuma assented to the controversial Protection of Investment Act when much of the South African public was on a festive holiday break. This piece of legislation is meant to replace the bilateral investment treaties that SA terminated in 2012, resulting in consternation and outcry from the international investment community based in the country.
54 states and infrastructure financing challenges in Africa
The UN Conference on Trade and Development estimates that between USD$ 1.6 trillion and USD$ 2.5 trillion is required annually for the period 2015–2030 to bridge the infrastructure-financing gap in developing countries.
New development finance measure should be TOSSD out the window
Last year the world embarked on a new set of Sustainable Development Goals that should guide international development efforts until 2030. In tandem, the OECD club of donors have been developing a new statistic to measure their contribution towards these goals.
South Africa’s State-Building Role in the DRC: Kicking the Can down the Road
As the mooted presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo is postponed to December 2018, South Africa’s most significant engagement in post-conflict reconstruction and development (PCRD) since its return to African affairs in 1994 hangs in the balance.
Côte D’ivoire’s Comeback: The Revival of Ivorian Regional Diplomacy
Over the past few decades, Côte d’Ivoire has been a passive and often problematic actor within its region. This has been the case since the death of the first president of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, on 7 December 1993.
Drought in Southern Africa points to urgent need for climate change plans
It is expected that temperatures in Southern Africa will rise to between 1.5°C and 3°C due to climate change by the year 2050. This is likely to cause heavy fluctuations of weather patterns and more frequent severe weather events like droughts and floods. Agriculture will be severely affected.
Foreign investment Promotion and domestic Protection: a Balancing act
This paper analyses South Africa’s relationship with sustainable inward foreign direct investment (FDI).
A Place for Subnational Governments at the International Climate Negotiating Table
It can be difficult for subnational governments and cities to acquire a place at the negotiating table for international climate events, such as UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gatherings.
