July 2026

Call for Papers: Navigating Global Climate Governance: The Impacts of COPs on the North African Region and the Path toward COP31

1. Background

As the global climate crisis accelerates, the Conference of the Parties (COP) under the UNFCCC remains the primary arena for international climate negotiations. However, the translation of these global commitments into local realities often reveals a profound disconnect. For the Global South, and the North African region in particular, decisions made in high-level plenary halls frequently fail to account for severe local vulnerabilities—ranging from acute water scarcity and desertification to the socio-economic burdens of green extractivism and unequal climate finance.

With COP30 approaching, and to move beyond institutional rhetoric, it is essential to critically analyze the structural impacts of global climate governance on North Africa. The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) North Africa Office seeks to enrich this vital dialogue through an impactful compilation of analytical papers, essays, and op-eds that combine theoretical depth with concrete field realities, empowering regional movements with the knowledge needed to engage in an informed debate on climate justice.

2. Object of the Call for Papers

The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) North Africa Office is inviting researchers, academics, environmental activists, climate policy analysts, and civil society experts to submit paper proposals exploring the multi-dimensional impacts of COPs on North Africa, with a specific, forward-looking focus on the challenges and opportunities surrounding COP31.

3. General Objectives

  • To Interrogate Global Climate Governance: Critically assess how international climate agreements (from Paris to COP30) reshape, alleviate, or inadvertently worsen ecological and socio-economic vulnerabilities in North Africa.
  • To Center Regional Realities and COP31: Provide localized, field-rooted analyses of how North African countries are preparing for, reacting to, or being impacted by the mandates of COP31, particularly regarding NDCs, climate finance, and adaptation strategies.
  • To Unpack Structural and Financial Dynamics: Analyze the geopolitical and economic barriers confronting the region, answering cross-cutting questions: who finances, who benefits, who decides regional climate priorities, and who bears the ecological costs of “green” transition projects?
  • To Amplify Alternative Narratives: Highlight the perspective of North African civil society, local communities, and grassroots movements, offering counter-proposals to mainstream, market-driven climate solutions.

4. Target Groups

The produced papers aim to reach a diverse audience, including:

  • Civil society organizations (NGOs), climate strike movements, and environmental justice networks in North Africa and the wider Mediterranean space.
  • Academic researchers, environmental economists, and political ecologists focusing on climate diplomacy, international relations, and just transition frameworks.
  • Policymakers and climate negotiators looking for independent, critically constructive regional perspectives.
  • Concerned citizens and youth activists seeking accessible yet structurally profound analyses of global climate politics.

5. Scope of Work and Suggested Themes

Selected authors will be expected to produce an analytical paper or essay ranging between 1,500 and 2,500 words (excluding references). Papers must combine rigorous desk research with qualitative insights or policy analysis.

We welcome proposals covering, but not limited to, the following themes:

  • The Road to COP30: North Africa’s position, regional coordination (or lack thereof), and the challenges of updating NDCs in a volatile socio-economic landscape.
  • Climate Finance and Debt Sovereignty: A critical look at the “Loss and Damage” fund, adaptation funding, and how climate finance mechanisms intersect with regional debt crises.
  • Green Extractivism vs. Just Transition: Case studies on green hydrogen, solar mega-projects, or critical mineral extraction in North Africa, analyzing their local socio-ecological impacts.
  • Water Scarcity, Food Sovereignty, and COP Mandates: How global climate policies address—or ignore—agricultural vulnerabilities, shifting rainfall patterns, and rural displacement in North Africa.
  • Civil Society Mobilization: The evolving role of North African activists in shaping alternative spaces, counter-summits, and climate justice narratives around the COP timeline.

6. Submission Guidelines, Qualifications, and Deadlines

Required Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience in climate policy analysis, academic research, political ecology, or socio-environmental journalism with a clear focus on the North African region.
  • Strong ability to articulate complex global policy frameworks (UNFCCC mechanisms, carbon markets, climate finance) alongside field-rooted realities or sharp socio-economic analysis.
  • Deep understanding of the political economy and environmental vulnerabilities specific to North Africa (Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania).

Submission Requirements:

Interested contributors must submit an application packet containing:

  1. An Abstract/Concept Note (Max 500 words): Outlining the proposed paper angle, thematic focus, methodology, and relevance to the North African context / COP31.
  2. A Brief Timeline: Outlining drafting and internal review phases.
  3. A Portfolio/Writing Samples: At least two previously published articles, policy briefs, or academic papers of a similar nature.
  4. An Updated CV of the author(s).
  5. Financial Author.
  6. Administrative Compliance: A valid business registration, tax identification, or equivalent professional legal status (for contractual/honorarium purposes).

Deadline for Submission: July 20, 2026.

  • Send to: Procurement.NorthAfrica@rosalux.org
  • Subject line: CfP Application: North Africa & COP31 Impact Series

7. Languages

Proposals and final papers can be submitted in English, Arabic, or French. Cross-lingual proposals or those accompanied by translation strategies to ensure regional accessibility are highly encouraged.

8. Publishers

The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS) shall be the primary publisher of the selected papers. RLS reserves the exclusive right to translate the finalized materials into other languages (including but not limited to Arabic, French, German, or English) and to publish, syndicate, or share the content across its global media platforms, book formats, dossiers, and partner networks.

9. Contact

For any questions, clarifications, or further information regarding this Call for Papers, please contact the team via email at Procurement.NorthAfrica@rosalux.org with the subject line: Questions & Info: COP31 Paper Series.