Category Archives: Featured

Security Implications of Climate Change in the Sahel Region: Policy Considerations

Historically variable rainfalls in the Sahel region are expected to worsen under some climate change models, increasing the possibilities of droughts and other pressures that prompt community vulnerability, displacement, and fragility. However, analysis of the region has found no deterministic relation between environment and security dynamics. Environmental variables are of secondary influence compared to political, historical, and economic variables. Rather, addressing the impacts of climate change requires adjustments in national and regional development strategies that prepare for uncertainty, diversify livelihood opportunities, and include the input of communities most affected.



Extractive Sectors and Illicit Financial Flows: What Role for Revenue Governance Initiatives?

Resource-rich African countries experience comparatively higher levels of illicit financial flows, which often weaken the state through substantial losses of revenues. The concentration of authority over the extractive sector, poorly negotiated contracts, and weakly regulated integration into the global economy that are common in Africa facilitate these illicit flows. New international initiatives intended to improve transparency and recover assets and revenues are filling these gaps, but more work to strengthen African tax and revenue governance can further minimize the destabilizing effects of illicit financial flows.