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This research paper examines the impact of foreign aid on political stability in the Melanesian Pacific (Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Vanuatu). It argues that while aid is officially presented as altruistic, it is often used by donor nations like Australia, Japan, and China to secure geo-strategic influence and resource access. The author finds that aid can support stability through governance and peace-building initiatives, but can also 'abet' instability by fostering corruption, widening wealth gaps, creating aid dependency, and inadvertently financing internal repression.

This 2005 IISD report analyzes the impact of EU trade policy on conflict in the developing world. It highlights a contradiction: while the EU uses 'soft power' initiatives (like FLEGT and the Kimberley Process) to curb conflict resources and 'carrots' (preferential access) to encourage good governance, its structural policies—such as massive agricultural subsidies and the push for reciprocal Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)—can undermine economic stability and fuel conflict. The report warns that commodity price volatility and the 'resource curse' further destabilize low-income countries, and recommends that the EU conduct conflict assessments of trade agreements and reduce agricultural subsidies to promote global peace and sustainable development.

This case study by Earthjustice describes a legal challenge against a 2005 Bush administration policy that sought to allow commercial logging within the Giant Sequoia National Monument, which was ultimately ruled illegal by a federal judge in 2006.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Africa, analyzing their potential to address infrastructure and service backlogs. Through eight case studies across sectors including transport, telecommunications, water, power, and eco-tourism, the document argues that while PPPs can offer efficiency gains and fiscal benefits, they are not a 'magic bullet' and are susceptible to the same failures as full privatisation, such as corruption, poor pricing, and lack of transparency. The report provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for African governments to improve regulatory frameworks, conduct thorough feasibility studies, and build institutional capacity to ensure PPPs deliver value for money and social benefit.

This research paper explores methodologies for linking global food system scenarios with local food security and livelihood dynamics. Using case studies from India and South Africa, the authors demonstrate how top-down global scenarios (such as those from the Global Scenario Group) can be downscaled to national and provincial levels, while proposing a bottom-up approach that uses livelihood systems as an intermediate scale to better capture local vulnerability and adaptive capacity.

This document is a legal submission dated January 27, 2005, filed by several organizations, including Asociación Civil por la Igualdad y la Justicia (ACIJ), Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), and Unión de Usuarios y Consumidores, requesting that the tribunal grant them access to hearings and the opportunity to present legal arguments as amicus curiae.

This report, a collaboration between the Center for Human Rights and Environment (CEDHA) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), examines the experiences of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in adopting the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. It details the organizational benefits, implementation barriers, and specific case studies of CEDHA and IISD, ultimately recommending that the GRI develop a dedicated sector supplement for CSOs or service-providing organizations to better address their unique operational realities.

This policy submission by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the challenges of aid delivery to Small Island Developing States (SIDS). It argues that while per capita aid is often higher for SIDS than for mainland developing countries, overall aid levels declined by over 50 percent between 1994 and 2004. The document proposes eight reforms to make aid more effective, including untying aid from donor procurement, harmonising policies across donors, and replacing GDP-per-capita assessments with vulnerability indices.

This 2005 IISD report examines food security as a fundamental human right, moving beyond simple supply metrics to include distribution and individual access. It evaluates four strategies for achieving food security: food self-sufficiency, trade liberalization, food sovereignty, and multi-functional agriculture. The report argues that while trade can stabilize supply, it can also undermine local production and increase vulnerability. It concludes that a pragmatic approach combining flexible trade rules with national policy space and sustainable agricultural practices is necessary to ensure long-term food security.

This report summarizes a 2004 workshop on renewable energy for decentralized rural electricity in developing countries. It concludes that while technologies like solar PV, mini-hydro, wind, and biomass are available, their adoption is hindered by cost, financing, and technical capacity. The report emphasizes that technology choice must be driven by local needs and productive uses of energy to alleviate poverty. It recommends that donors support national policies, accept higher risks for new technology adaptation, and encourage 'clustering' of projects to ensure sustainable maintenance and service.

This case study examines a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling regarding the interpretation of Section 19 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA). The court determined that the legal obligation to take 'reasonable measures' to prevent pollution is not limited to a person's own land but can extend to land owned, controlled, or used by others.

The report analyzes the impact of bilateral trade agreements on copyright and access to knowledge, noting that agreements involving the U.S. often impose protections (such as 70-year terms and anti-circumvention of TPMs) that exceed multilateral standards. It also summarizes IP disputes in the WTO regarding pharmaceutical compulsory licensing and genetic resource disclosure, as well as tensions at WIPO over the Substantive Patent Law Treaty.

This report, published by the Center for International Environmental Law and the South Centre, provides an overview of international intellectual property (IP) developments during the second quarter of 2005. It focuses heavily on the WIPO Development Agenda process, analyzing proposals from the Group of Friends of Development (FOD), the United Kingdom, and the United States to incorporate development goals into WIPO's mandate. Additionally, the document tracks IP-related negotiations and disputes within the WTO, WIPO, and other multilateral bodies, as well as the proliferation of bilateral and regional free trade agreements containing 'TRIPS-plus' provisions.

The 20th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council in May 2005 resulted in several administrative and strategic decisions, including the creation of a group to analyze member country participation, the endorsement of Mexico's proposal to register the IAI with the UNFCCC, and the approval of CPTEC/INPE as an Affiliated Institution for the Program on Climate Variability in the Americas.

This IISD Knowledge Communications Practice Note outlines eight success factors for strengthening knowledge management (KM) practices within organizations, drawing on examples from development agencies and research institutes. It emphasizes that KM is most effective when tied to operational needs, implemented at the level of project impact, and supported by a combination of internal and external communication strategies rather than a single overarching corporate strategy.

This 2005 practice note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive glossary and framework for the terminology used in knowledge management for sustainable development. It distinguishes between data, information, and knowledge, categorizes types of knowledge (explicit, tacit, and implicit), and defines various collaborative relationship models and communication tools used to mobilize knowledge for policy and practice.

This 2005 report assesses the sustainability of tourism in St. Lucia, finding that while the sector is a critical economic driver (38% of GDP), it suffers from high leakage due to foreign ownership (55-60% of hotel rooms) and a reliance on package tours. The analysis highlights a vulnerability to external shocks, such as the post-9/11 downturn, and notes a conflict between GATS trade obligations and the government's ability to regulate for environmental and social sustainability. While solid waste management has improved, energy consumption has risen, and the report recommends integrated national planning and voluntary sustainability certifications to optimize local benefits.

This report analyzes the political and economic state of Zimbabwe following the parliamentary elections on 31 March 2005, noting the ruling ZANU-PF's continued dominance despite allegations of fraud and a deteriorating national economy.

This research paper by Jakkie Cilliers examines the financial and structural challenges of expanding peacekeeping capacities in Africa, specifically focusing on the relationship between the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and regional organisations. It analyzes the proposed 'vertical deepening' of regional peacekeeping and the 'horizontal expansion' into peacebuilding, while evaluating the efficacy of the EU Peace Facility and the funding gaps for the African Standby Force (ASF).

This report documents the recommendations and proceedings of the 'Design for Health: Summit for Massachusetts Health Care Decision Makers,' held on September 28–29, 2004. Organized by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), the summit aimed to promote the adoption of sustainable, high-performance design in healthcare facilities to improve patient outcomes, staff performance, environmental health, and financial security.