Oxfam Digital Repository

Grand Bargain 10 Years on: Protecting quality under scarcity

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Grand Bargain 10 Years on: Protecting quality under scarcity Scott, Rachel

The Grand Bargain reaches its 10-year mark in 2026 at a moment of acute funding cuts, hyper-prioritization and rising pressure to prioritize quantity over quality. The Facilitation Group are now leading consultations to inform negotiations on how the Grand Bargain evolves beyond 2026. This paper argues that progress since 2016 is real but fragile, and that the next phase must learn from what has enabled and hindered delivery. Oxfam calls for a focused forum that protects hard-won gains, proves progress credibly, accelerates practical change on the ground, and keeps quality and legitimacy non-negotiable under scarcity.

Local Solutions, Global Urgency: Addressing climate, conflict, and fragility in the Sahel and Horn of Africa

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Local Solutions, Global Urgency: Addressing climate, conflict, and fragility in the Sahel and Horn of Africa Nerghes, Adina

Climate change, conflict, and fragility converge most acutely in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, creating vulnerability cycles that undermine livelihoods, fuel displacement, and strain already fragile governance systems. Extreme climate events interact with weak institutions and insecurity, disproportionately burdening women, youth, and displaced groups. Yet these same groups are also central to resilience - their leadership and local knowledge are among the region’s strongest assets for adaptation, peacebuilding, and mediation. Assessments piloted by Oxfam in five countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Ethiopia, and Somalia) confirm that these crises are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing. This Discussion Paper provides contextual understanding as well as programmatic recommendations.

No Representation, No Peace: The African demand for a reformed Security Council

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMT

No Representation, No Peace: The African demand for a reformed Security Council Nalbandian, Elise; Mofya, Brenda; Kacheche, Lusungu; Ataya, Rosalie; Mura, Virginia

No Representation, No Peace exposes how Africa’s exclusion from permanent membership on the UN Security Council continues to undermine global peace and security. Drawing on case studies from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Western Sahara, the report shows how decisions taken without African representation have fuelled implementation failures, sidelined local voices, and entrenched injustice. It presents Africa’s unified Common Position—rooted in the Ezulwini Consensus and championed by the African Union’s Committee of Ten—which calls for at least two permanent seats for Africa with full veto rights, five non‑permanent seats, and sweeping reforms to make the Council more democratic, transparent, and accountable. Aligning with Oxfam’s Vetoing Humanity findings, the briefing outlines a six‑point agenda to secure Africa’s permanent voice, abolish the veto, strengthen AU–UN cooperation, and centre women and affected communities in peace processes. It is a call to correct historical injustice and build a fairer multilateral system.

Mitigating the Risks of Private Sector Involvement in the Electricity Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Mitigating the Risks of Private Sector Involvement in the Electricity Sector in Sub-Saharan Africa Alao, Olakunle; Twesigye, Peter

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) faces an electricity access crisis, with over 600 million people lacking access to reliable power. Chronic underinvestment, institutional fragility and fragmentation, and operational inefficiencies have rendered many state-run utilities incapable of sustaining reliable service delivery, let alone meeting rising demand. In response, governments often running on budget deficits and influenced by international financial institutions have embraced private sector participation (PSP) as a means to mobilise capital, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate electrification. Yet the outcomes of PSP across SSA are mixed, raising questions about its effectiveness, equity, and long-term sustainability.

This study undertakes a comprehensive, mixed-methods analysis of PSP in SSA’s electricity sector. It maps the evolution and extent of private sector engagement across generation, transmission, and distribution; quantifies its prevalence; and assesses its impact on six core performance indicators: financial viability, access, affordability, quality of supply, operational efficiency, and decarbonisation.

The findings of this study affirm that PSP, when embedded within robust governance and regulatory frameworks as well as transparent procurement mechanisms and coherent sector planning, can contribute positively to power sector performance. However, these gains are not automatic. The strongest correlations between PSP and performance are observed in countries where governance is credible, regulatory agencies are functional, and policy environments are stable. Conversely, in contexts where institutions are weak, PSP has often produced limited or even adverse outcomes, such as overcapacity, fiscal strain, high tariffs, and social inequities. In summary, PSP can be a valuable tool for accelerating power sector transformation, but only when it is thoughtfully designed, responsibly governed, and firmly aligned with the public good. Further, sustainable electrification requires not just more investment, but smarter, fairer, and more accountable systems that prioritise resilience, equity, and long-term development.