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A May 2003 declaration by a broad coalition of civil society organizations calling on World Trade Organization (WTO) members to reject the launch of negotiations on investment and other 'Singapore Issues' at the upcoming Ministerial Conference in Cancun.

This briefing reports on an interview conducted on May 1, 2003, with Al-Sadig al-Mahdi, leader of the opposition Umma Party in Sudan. Al-Mahdi discusses the limitations of the IGAD-facilitated peace talks between the Sudanese government and the SPLM/A, arguing that a sustainable peace requires a more inclusive process involving 'new forces' and a transition to democratic elections.

This report by Friends of the Earth International describes the role of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities in Latin America in protecting and restoring biodiversity. It highlights specific local projects in Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Uruguay while critiquing the impact of industrial monocultures, the 'Green Revolution', and neoliberal trade policies on global biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes U.S. energy insecurity, focusing on the risks associated with oil dependence and the potential for energy efficiency to mitigate these threats. Using data primarily from the 2001 EIA Annual Energy Review, the document details the sources and uses of U.S. oil, the economic and security costs of dependence on OPEC and the Persian Gulf, and the technical potential for reducing oil consumption through vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels.

This briefing discusses the impact of oil discoveries off the coast of Western Sahara on the long-standing territorial dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front. It details the failure of the UN-led referendum process, the geopolitical tensions involving Algeria, France, and the United States, and the legal disputes over oil exploration licenses issued by Morocco in the occupied territory.

This April 2003 briefing by the Institute for Security Studies describes the severe humanitarian and political crisis in Burundi. It details the impact of prolonged conflict since 1993, including massive internal displacement, refugee crises in Tanzania, and a fragile food security situation exacerbated by drought. The document argues that humanitarian deterioration and political instability are mutually reinforcing, with peace prospects hindered by elite power struggles and the lack of a comprehensive ceasefire.

This position paper by Friends of the Earth International argues that current global trade rules, particularly those of the WTO, undermine food sovereignty and sustainability. It advocates for a shift from industrial, export-oriented agriculture toward localized, sustainable food systems that prioritize the rights of small farmers and the environment over corporate interests.

The report "Failing the challenge" by Friends of the Earth International is a critical response to Shell's 2003 corporate report. It argues that despite public commitments to sustainable development and human rights, Shell continues to cause significant environmental damage and health crises in communities surrounding its global operations, particularly in the Global South.

This report by Konrad von Moltke for the Commonwealth Secretariat argues for the creation of a Cotonou Investment Agreement to amplify the investment provisions of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (CPA). The author contends that existing bilateral investment treaties (BITs) are too narrow, focusing primarily on investor protection without empirical evidence of benefiting developing countries. The proposed agreement would balance investor rights with host state development goals, incorporate principles of good governance, and establish a Cotonou Investment Fund and an Observatory for ACP Investment to monitor progress toward sustainable development and poverty eradication in ACP countries.

This report, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the Commonwealth Secretariat, provides a strategic framework for negotiating a Cotonou Investment Agreement. It argues that investment agreements must balance investor rights with the sustainable development goals of ACP countries, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and the need for regional institutional support over traditional bilateral investment treaties.

This 2003 research paper outlines the framework of the NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), detailing its five-stage review process and the roles of the APR Forum, Panel of Eminent Persons, and APR Secretariat. It emphasizes the distinction between political governance review (handled by AU institutions) and economic/corporate governance review (handled by the NEPAD Secretariat and partners like UNECA). The paper also discusses the integration of the APRM within the broader African Union structure and the proposed mutual accountability between Africa and its international development partners.

This document is a table of contents and preface for the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Monograph No 83, titled 'Sustaining the Peace in Angola: An Overview of Current Demobilisation, Disarmament and Reintegration', published in April 2003. It outlines a structure covering the challenges of resettlement, Angola's institutional capabilities for DD&R, and the state of play regarding DD&R policies and practices in 2002.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) within the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and its integration with the African Union (AU). It details the APRM's organizational structure, the five-stage country review process, and the challenges of harmonizing political governance assessments with existing AU bodies like the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights.

A declaration by a coalition of non-governmental organizations and civil society groups explicitly rejecting the launch of negotiations on investment and other 'Singapore Issues' at the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Cancun in September 2003.

This research paper analyzes the environmental implications of NAFTA'S Chapter 11, arguing that its broad definitions of 'SSSS and expansive interpretations of investor protections may undermine public welfare and the right of governments to regulate for health, safety, and the environment.

This research paper by David H. Shinn analyzes Sudan's strategic position in Africa, focusing on its internal civil war, the economic impact of oil, and its complex bilateral relations with its nine neighboring countries as of March 2003.

This policy brief examines how the World Bank, IMF, and international trade/investment agreements (such as GATS and BITs) pressure developing countries to privatize water services. It argues that these mechanisms often create 'lock-in' effects, where legally binding international obligations prevent governments from regulating water prices or reversing privatization to protect the human right to water. The document emphasizes that water is a social and cultural good, not merely a commodity, and urges policy makers to conduct thorough human rights and environmental assessments before committing to liberalization.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International, produced for the 3rd World Water Forum in Kyoto, argues that water should be treated as a fundamental human right and a public trust rather than a commodity. It critiques the privatization of water services and the influence of international financial institutions in imposing market-based models on developing nations, advocating instead for sustainable, participatory, and public management that prioritizes basic human needs and ecosystem health.

This guide provides an introduction to selecting environmentally sensitive building materials, emphasizing the reduction of embodied energy, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the impact of industrial manufacturing on global ecosystems.

The first issue of the SADC Barometer, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in March 2003, evaluates the Southern African Development Community's (SADC) internal restructuring, regional security integration, and economic convergence. The report highlights significant disparities between South Africa and other member states, the impact of HIV/AIDS on food security, and the challenges of implementing a regional Free Trade Area (FTA) amidst non-tariff barriers and political instability in countries like Zimbabwe.