South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA)

The communiqué from July’s #T20 Brazil Midterm Conference includes several policy proposals relevant to the African continent and could shape the agenda of South Africa’s #G20 Presidency in 2025.   Get the highlights here 👇 https://bit.ly/3Yc5axK   You can keep up to date with the latest in SAIIA’s work by signing up to our newsletter.   👇 https://bit.ly/4faa8RA

[CAREERS EVENT] Formative Futures: How to find employment with your humanities degree 📅14 August 🕓4PM - 7PM (SAST)  📍SAIIA Head Office Hall, University of the Witwatersrand Join SAIIA and KAS South Africa for an evening dedicated to exploring the power of humanities degrees in today's job market. Despite challenges, humanities graduates are integral to shaping policy, media, law, and more. Gain insights, advice, and network with industry players. Let's empower the next generation of versatile professionals! *Note: Programme and speakers will be announced later* Don’t miss out! Seats are limited, so register now: bit.ly/SAIIACAREERS #HumanitiesCareers #YouthEmployment #SAIIA #KAS #CareerDevelopment #CareerEvent

✨ REPORT LAUNCH ✨ SAIIA, together with the Malawi Economic Justice Network, unveils a new report that explores the governance challenges identified by civil society organisations in #Malawi. Through the Malawi African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Popular Sensitisation Project, CSOs developed a comprehensive governance assessment of the country’s strengths and weaknesses. Launched in Lilongwe today, the report highlights these 9 key issues and makes recommendations to address them: 🗳️Political and electoral governance ✊ Human rights 🤳 Access to information ⚖ Corruption 💳 Social protection 📚 Education 🏥 Health 👷♀️ Employment 🌍 Climate change and environmental governance   👉 Download a copy: https://lnkd.in/dFD4SGif #CivilSociety #Governance #ElectoralReforms #APRM

Our explainer on the geopolitics of energy minerals breaks down how Africa can lead the green energy transition.   It is crucial that Sub-Saharan Africa, home to approximately 30% of global mineral reserves, leverages the global demand for minerals to pursue its own developmental agenda.👇 https://bit.ly/3LzDknE You can keep up to date with the latest in #SAIIA’s work by signing up to our #newsletter. 👇 https://bit.ly/4faa8RA #greenenergy #greentransition

[IN THE NEWS] #SAIIA Chief Executive Elizabeth Sidiropoulos unpacks US President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the November elections with eNCA. 📺 Watch the interview here: https://bit.ly/4bX60lh  #USelections #SAIIA #foreignpolicy #internationalaffairs #JoeBiden

[IN CASE YOU MISSED IT] Green taxonomies have become a norm for standardising green definitions around the world. They can be a useful tool for the Global South to attract international capital that is aligned with national investment priorities, writes Bridget Boulle. #greentaxonomy #GlobalSouth #climateadaptation #policybrief Read more:👇 

One of the key outcomes of Brazil's G20 presidency this year is the launch of the Initiative on the Bioeconomy. The G20 has no permanent secretariat and the presidency only lasts a single year - that means that there is enormous pressure on the country holding the presidency to drive progress on priority issues, while also ensuring a measure of continuity with past presidencies. With the G20's extensive and complex agenda, it's easy for policy issues driven by a country during their presidency to lose momentum in subsequent years. Earlier this week, NatureFinance, the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Department of Science and Innovation, with the support of the African Natural Capital Alliance, met in Pretoria to explore ways to ensure momentum on the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative into South Africa's upcoming G20 presidency in 2025. We had senior representatives from three ministries attending, DIRCO's G20 Sous Sherpa xolisa mabhongo, Science and Innovation's Ben Durham and DFFE's Khorommbi Matibe. It was an honour to be joined by the African Union's Harsen Nyambe, as the integration of the African Union agenda is a key priority for South Africa when it takes up the G20 presidency next year. Fantastic also to be joined by my good friend Sibongile Mavimbela from the SADC Secretariat. The biggest takeaway for me is that there is very strong interest from South Africa to build on Brazil's excellent work on the bioeconomy. This commitment is supported by an impressive depth of technical expertise, strong institutional mechanisms to support collaboration across relevant departments (as well as government-society), and a supportive policy framework. Takeaway number 2 - there is no single, universally accepted definition of what the bioeconomy is, but we shouldn't let that get in the way of progress. We certainly do have a good grasp of the basic principles - and indeed, a lot of work is going on under the Brazilian presidency this year to formalise these principles. Takeaway 3 - Africa (and other regions of the Global South) has enormous potential to create opportunities for its people through the bioeconomy. Currently, much of that potential is not yet realised, and much of the value that is being created sits in the Global North. This needs to change. Finally, the bioeconomy can result in triple win outcomes for nature, communities and the economy - but that is in no way an automatic outcome. These triple wins are hard to achieve and will be impossible without strong governance support, effective policy frameworks, and a commitment to achieving such outcomes by all stakeholders. If we don't get this right, the bioeconomy is simply going to go the way of so many other sectors - the rich get richer, and the poor and marginalised remain so. We cannot allow this to happen. A huge thanks also to Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment for valuable insights from Brazil!

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and SAIIA recently convened a conference on "Reimagining Global Economic Governance: African and Global Perspectives" in Johannesburg. During 19 to 21 June, we gathered diverse voices to discuss a new institutional framework for global economic governance, crucial for addressing current challenges like climate change and technological advancements. There is a growing call, especially from #Africa and the #GlobalSouth, for more inclusive and effective global institutions. A highlight was Mr Trevor Manuel's keynote address. The former South African minister and anti-apartheid activist shared insights on South Africa's global economic leadership and the upcoming Finance Track of its G20 presidency. 👉 Read more about the discussions: https://lnkd.in/dKSa7_ss #G20 #GlobalEconomicGovernance #GlobalEconomy

Green taxonomies that are tailored to the Global South are crucial in promoting sustainable finance and environmental goals. We can develop this by: 👉 Creating taxonomies as a first step. 👉 Making sure taxonomies work well together and ensuring they’re useful locally. 👉 Considering adapting to local needs, being resilient, and thinking about social impacts. Learn more in our Green Taxonomies in the Global South policy brief ✍️: https://lnkd.in/dRN876vN   #GreenFinance #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateAction #greentaxonomy

[EXPLAINER] Rising demand for critical minerals is driving increased exploration and mining in Africa. This competition gives Africa a unique opportunity to form mutually beneficial partnerships and develop its mineral extraction and processing with essential social and environmental safeguards. ✍️ Jordan Mc Lean and Adrian Joseph unpack the need for African states to strengthen mineral governance 👇 https://lnkd.in/dr8wBF8n #mineralresources #mining