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This research paper examines the implementation of the Direct Benefit Transfer for liquefied petroleum gas (DBTL) in the Mysore district of Karnataka, India, based on interviews conducted in October 2013.

The Centre for Environmental Rights has requested that the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority investigate and prosecute potential criminal offences following a drinking water contamination event in Bloemhof, Northwest, which resulted in the deaths of at least three infants and hundreds of hospital admissions.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International denouncing a police operation on May 23, 2014, against communities resisting the 'Progreso VII derivada' mining project in Guatemala.

This research paper analyzes the impact of 'mega-regional' trade agreements on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the strategic position of South Africa. It argues that the rise of agreements like the TPP and TTIP, driven by the needs of global value chains, threatens the WTO's centrality and creates a risk of a multi-bloc trade world. The author suggests that South Africa must recalibrate its trade strategy, move beyond a blocking strategy in the WTO, and utilize regional negotiations to prepare for new global regulatory norms to avoid isolation.

This briefing describes the concepts presented in the book 'Resource Revolution' by Stefan Heck and Matt Rogers, which argues that companies can spark a new industrial revolution by dramatically improving resource productivity through five specific strategic approaches.

This executive summary from the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the underdeveloped state of land rental markets in Brazil. It argues that restrictive legislation and land tenure insecurity hinder the efficient use of land, which could otherwise increase agricultural productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by repurposing degraded pastures.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (ATI) documents violence and human rights violations against environmental defenders between November 2011 and October 2013. It argues that these attacks are a global trend driven by a neoliberal extractivist model and corporate dominance, which often results in the criminalization and physical persecution of activists, indigenous peoples, and local communities.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) documents violence and human rights violations against environmental defenders between November 2011 and October 2013. It argues that these attacks are a global trend driven by a neoliberal extractive model that prioritizes corporate profit over the rights of nature and people. The document details various forms of repression—including criminalization, arbitrary detention, and targeted killings—and evaluates the effectiveness of international solidarity and legal strategies in protecting defenders.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of the banking sector in providing agricultural finance that supports climate adaptation within agro-value chains, with a particular focus on developing countries in Africa and a case study on the coffee sector in Uganda.

This briefing paper examines the policy tools available to Eastern African states to foster 'national champions' in the mining sector and maximize sustainable development benefits from foreign direct investment. It analyzes the effectiveness of ownership and performance requirements and evaluates how international investment agreements, specifically Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), may restrict the policy space of host governments.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the policy tools available to East African states to develop 'national champions' in the mining sector and the legal constraints imposed by bilateral investment treaties (BITs). It evaluates ownership and performance requirements, contrasting their developmental utility with the restrictive nature of international investment law.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a detailed response to the European Commission's 2014 public consultation on investment protection and Investor-to-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) within the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement (TTIP). The IISD analyzes proposed text—much of it derived from the EU-Canada Agreement (CETA)—and argues that there are significant inconsistencies between the Commission's stated goals of protecting the right to regulate and the actual legal language proposed, which the IISD suggests could still allow for expansive arbitral interpretations.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines agricultural cooperatives as a model for inclusive investment. It details the types of cooperatives, their benefits for smallholders, the role of foreign investment in reducing risk and improving skills, and the necessary government support and legal frameworks to ensure their success without undue state interference.

This report reviews Myanmar's investment treaty landscape as of June 2014, analyzing the legal implications of its bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and agreements negotiated through ASEAN. It highlights significant variations in drafting and provisions across these treaties, which increase the complexity of government compliance and the risk of costly investor-state arbitration claims.

This report synthesizes regional perspectives from Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean on the capacity-building needs required to integrate sustainable development (SD) principles into national and subnational planning. Based on workshops held in 2014, the document identifies gaps in multistakeholder participation, vertical and horizontal government coordination, cross-sectoral policy integration, and monitoring, evaluation, and reporting (MER) systems to prepare countries for the post-2015 development agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) analyzes the 2014 South African Defence Review. It describes the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as being in a state of critical decline and evaluates the financial feasibility of the government's long-term plan to rejuvenate the military by 2034. The author argues that the review's expansive mandate is out of step with the available budget and suggests a more focused approach centered on peacekeeping and a 'growth core' concept.

This research paper analyzes the potential impact of future oil revenues on political stability and economic development in Ghana, Liberia, Uganda, and Tanzania. Using a game-theoretic model, the author argues that oil rents often disrupt political incentives, leading to predation, repression, or patronage that undermines economic performance. While Ghana shows more resilience due to its robust democracy and civil society, the author concludes that radical policy interventions like 'cash-to-citizen' transfers are implausible. Instead, the paper advocates for incremental, incentive-compatible reforms that respect existing elite bargains to avoid instability.

This research paper by Khabele Matlosa examines the evolution of democratic governance in Africa, focusing on the relationship between the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG). It analyzes the transition from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) to the African Union (AU), the challenges of implementing governance reviews and National Programmes of Action (NPoAs), and proposes strategic imperatives to enhance synergy between the AU's governance and peace architectures.

This research paper examines the transition of Russia toward a 'green economy,' analyzing the gap between official policy documents and practical implementation. It highlights Russia's immense natural capital and the critical need to reduce its economic dependence on hydrocarbon exports and improve energy efficiency to ensure long-term sustainable development.

This policy brief describes the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Governance Platform, designed to coordinate efforts among African Union (AU) organs and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to strengthen democracy, human rights, and governance across Africa. It outlines the AGA's structure, its relationship with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), and provides recommendations to improve its effectiveness and citizen engagement.