DevDispatch Recommends: October 2022 Publications
Africa takes centre stage in November as the host continent of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27 being held from the 6th to the 18th November in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. Our special way of commemorating the event is by recommending three publications on climate change released in the sector this month. We also recommend publications on African trade, agriculture and food systems for your reading pleasure.
Happy reading!
Nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement. Synthesis report by the secretariat
By United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
Ahead of COP27, we recommend this report for climate change practitioners and environmentalists attending or following the conference to stay up-to-date on the state of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). It is a synthesis of the 166 latest available NDCs communicated by 193 Parties to the Paris Agreement and recorded in the registry of NDCs as at 23 September 2022. In overview, the report gives information contained in the NDCs stating that almost all Parties (95%) provided the information necessary for clarity, transparency and understanding of their NDCs in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 8, of the Paris Agreement and decision 1/CP.21, paragraph 2. Most Parties (80%) provided information on adaptation, with some (13%) identifying the adaptation component of their NDC as their adaptation communication, and a few (2%) provided information organized around the elements identified in the annex to decision 9/CMA, and almost all Parties provided other information, such as on the means of implementation necessary for NDC implementation; domestic mitigation measures; and/or economic diversification plans and response measures.
The report is a quick read with 45 pages.
2022 State of Climate Services: Energy
By World Meteorological Organization
Energy is the focal point of this World Meteorological Organization publication reporting that renewable energy sources and energy efficiency play a key role in combating human induced climate change, which is contributing to record levels of global warming. It details the ways in which climate change is putting energy security at risk globally, and the investments required for renewable energy to contribute to a sustainable future.
The report also includes case studies for climate services for energy security and renewable energy, and makes recommendations including the huge opportunity for Africa to help close the gap in the need for renewable energy.
The 52 paged report is recommended for climate change policymakers, climate change activists and practitioners.
The Closing Window: Climate crisis calls for rapid transformation of societies. Emissions Gap Report 2022
By the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The report declares a climate emergency and the unfortunate reality that current actions are not sufficient enough to combat the crisis. In line with this, it states that nations have not prioritised commitments to their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) which have barely impacted the targeted temperatures. In addition, unconditional NDCs point to a 2.6°C increase in temperatures by 2100.
The 132 paged report calls for rapid transformation by societies towards a net-zero world and presents its case by breaking down global emission trends, reviewing NDCs and long-term pledges, detailing the emissions gap, suggesting transformations needed to achieve the Paris Agreement in electricity supply, industry, buildings and transportation, and includes a segment on transforming food systems, and making a case for transforming the finance system to enable the achievement of the Paris Agreement.
This is a recommended read for climate change specialists and policy makers.
African Trade and Integration: Law, Practice and the Courts
By the Trade Law Centre (tralac) and the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida)
The publication anchors the law as a key pillar in establishing the African economic community, and argues that agreements and legal instruments play an important role in advancing integration.
The lengthy 294 paged book reflects on whether trade and economic integration on the African continent uphold the rule of law, which is a key matter in that trade liberalisation and economic integration are essentially about appropriate policies and governance. Its discussion points centre around the Dispute Settlement Mechanism of the AfCFTA, The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, The East African Court of Justice, The COMESA Court of Justice, Administrative and judicial settlement of customs disputes in Africa and the trade remedies and safeguards regime of the AfCFTA
This book is recommended for African trade legal practitioners.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Africa's Pulse, No. 26, October 2022 : Food System Opportunities in a Turbulent Time
By the World Bank Group
For quick reads, check out these blog posts
Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa has taken a major hit in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and the latter has contributed to elevated inflation driven by rising food and fuel prices. The report weighs in on these and more issues impeding economic advancement on the continent and forecasts that economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to slow to 3.3% in 2022, from 4.1% in 2021. This has resulted in food insecurity increasing significantly, affecting the poor communities disproportionately and raising social tensions.
It suggests policy responses to the crisis including:
- Achieving price stability while protecting the poor and vulnerable as essential to protecting development gains
- Governments boosting the quality of their investments
- Positioning domestic resource mobilization as essential to financing Sub-Saharan Africa’s development agenda
- Diversifying trading partners in order to enhance resilience and supply new markets
The report is 108 pages long and is recommended for economists and food and agriculture policymakers.
Transit Oriented Development in practice.
A powerful example of impact on the ground in the area of Housing by our Brazil Cities team – and a story of how interventions in one city led to an approach that was scaled up and adopted as part of a Brazilian national law that set the standards for better quality social housing.
Three Challenges to Safe and Affordable Urban Housing
The blog raises three critical challenges: (i) importance of core services in informal settlements and slums, (ii) need to support housing rental markets, and (iii) making better use of underutilized land in city centers.
Can Housing Be Affordable Without Being Efficient?
The blog highlights the importance of giving due attention to building efficiency in affordable housing projects, both location efficiency and on-site energy and water efficiency. The key message: over their lifetimes, efficient homes are more affordable, healthier and provide better opportunities for residents than conventional buildings.
Malawi Economic Monitor, December 2020 : Doing More with Less - Improving Service Delivery in Energy and Water
By the World Bank
The pandemic has induced a sharp recession in many countries across the globe. Malawi’s economy has been heavily affected, with growth projected at 1.0 percent in 2020, down from earlier projections of 4.8 percent. With population growth around 3.0 percent, this represents a 2.0 percent contraction in per capita GDP. Political stability has returned following the June 2020 Presidential elections, which should support investment. However, global and domestic factors emanating from the pandemic are affecting Malawi’s economy, including: 1) disruption in global value chains and trade and logistics; 2) decrease in tourism; and 3) decrease in remittances. This has combined with social distancing policies and behavior to also reduce domestic demand. The Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) provides an analysis of economic and structural development issues in Malawi. The publication intends to foster better-informed policy analysis and debate regarding the key challenges that Malawi faces in its endeavor to achieve high rates of inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Joint Forces: The Impact of Intrahousehold Cooperation on Welfare in East African Agricultural Households
By Els Lecoutere and Bjorn Van Campenhout
The study centres smallholder farming as an important means of sustenance for most households in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of the research therefore is to estimate the impact of cooperation between spouses in agricultural households on household welfare and household public goods provision with a focus on Uganda and Tanzania.
The study found that current produce and provision is below capacity owing to a lack of cooperation and unequal bargaining power between the main decision makers in agricultural households, which results in under-provisioning of public household goods. It also argues that a lack of cooperation within agricultural households in low- and middle- income country contexts reduces the efficiency of smallholder household farming and households’ well-being. Spousal cooperation as measured through the cooperation indices in the study were also found to be statistically significant positive mediators of the effects of the couples’ training intervention on household welfare and public goods provision. It concludes that policy and future programs that promote cooperation between spouses through gender- transformative household methodologies are important for improving welfare and public goods provision in agricultural households.
The 33 paged article is recommended for African agriculture ministries and policy makers.
The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Education, Livelihoods & Food Security Status: Policy Implications For Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
By P. Tamasiga, A.T. Guta, H. Onyeaka, H. Nkoutchou and M.S. Kalane.
Sub-Saharan countries were particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the COVID-19 as they were already experiencing weak health care systems, low financing for testing and very few resources for response measures. This data-driven report outlines the key trends of the COVID-19 pandemic by region, highlighting case trajectories, lockdown and containment measures, economic impacts, education impacts and health impacts. South Africa still accounts for the highest number of cases and deaths followed by Ethiopia and Nigeria.
Along with containing COVID-19, Central Africa is still facing the additional challenges of pre-existing health concerns, especially malaria.
The policy implications are focussed on supply chains, trade and market access, food and agricultural production, misinformation and the media, health, education and strategic communication. Sub-Saharan Africa has already been deemed to be the most at risk for food insecurity and this is expected to increase 2.5 fold.
Global progress report on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections, 2021
By WHO
This report looks into how effective the strategies planned for 2016-2021 have been in the fight against HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Progress has indeed been made despite the disruption of the global pandemic but in the same breath, there are still many targets that have not been reached. The number of new HIV infections has fallen by 23% to its lowest rate since 2010 with 1.7 million new infections in 2019 however this is far from the target of only 500 000 new infections.
Stigma and lack of resources to implement people-centred policies and services still remain the largest hindrance. COVID-19 severely affected the ability for people to get tested easily. This report analyses the success and shortfalls of each WHO region. The report recommends that the only way to try and get back on track is for governments to collaborate their efforts into universal health care systems beneficial for the most vulnerable.
This report is targeted at anyone who works with marginalised communities of people infected by HIV, hepatitis or any STIs and is also a good read for health care workers and policy makers. It is moderately long at 108 pages.
Mainstreaming gender in urban public transport
By Stockholm Environment Institute
Africa is the fastest urbanizing continent, yet walking still remains the most affordable mode of transport in urban areas. This is due to a lack of service provision. There is also a large gender inequality problem when it comes to transport both in operation and in use. This report seeks to shed light on the under researched matter of women’s participation in transport decision making and their use of public transport systems.
The report uses the case studies of Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kampala by interviewing all members of society from taxi drivers to policy makers in the ministries of transport and transport planners. The report identifies accessibility and safety of public transport systems, sexual assault and harassment, lack of integrated and gender sensitive urban planning and underrepresentation as larger barriers towards gene=der mainstreaming in transport.
This report is the perfect short read for city and transport planners at only 40 pages.
Terrorism in the Sahel Facts and Figures
By NATO Strategic Direction- South, ACSRT
The fight against terrorism in the Sahel is still a major issue that deserves attention as the number of terrorist attacks has increased by 18.5% in 2020. This report analyses current and past data to show a conclusive analysis on the rate of terrorism. The largest threats come from the following terrorist groups Boko Haram, ISGS, JNIM and ISWAP and the most affected countries are Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
This analysis is taken in the form of quantitative analysis with a lot of informative graphs and infographics as well as qualitatively by looking at the types of attacks. The report concludes that 2020 has been the most intense year in terms of terrorism in the Sahel.
This report is target to all members defence ministries and counter-terrorism organisations. It is a very brief read with only 37 pages.