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The report details a severe decline in Burundi's peace process by February 2003, marked by the FDD's suspension of talks, the failure of the December 2002 cease-fire, and a growing movement to dismantle the existing political system. It warns that the mandatory transition of the presidency on 1 May 2003 could lead to chaos due to a lack of national consensus and the incomplete integration of security forces.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the status of agricultural negotiations following the Doha Ministerial Declaration. It outlines the 'Doha Mandate' for market access, export subsidies, and domestic support, while highlighting the deep divisions between developed nations, the Cairns Group, and the Like-minded Group of developing countries regarding the implementation and definition of these commitments.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) details the status of negotiations within the WTO TRIPs Council regarding intellectual property rights, public health, and geographical indications following the 2001 Doha Declaration.

This working paper, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), outlines a project to establish an objective baseline of current trade law as it relates to key environmental issues. The initiative aims to provide a consistent platform for negotiators and civil society to distinguish between the current state of the law and how it should be shaped during the Doha Round of trade negotiations.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) sent a letter to the President of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on February 21, 2003, arguing that the Independent Investigation Mechanism (IIM) suffers from systemic structural and procedural failures. Using the Yacyreta, Cañabrava, and Termoeléctrica del Golfo cases as evidence, CIEL highlights issues with transparency, unpredictable timelines, and inadequate remedies, urging the IDB to implement fundamental reforms based on the models of other multilateral development banks.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the progress of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules following the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha. It examines the divisions between developed and developing nations regarding anti-dumping measures, subsidies—specifically fisheries subsidies—and the governance of regional trade agreements (RTAs).

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the progress and obstacles regarding trade and environment mandates following the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference (Doha). It details negotiations on the relationship between WTO rules and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), the liberalisation of environmental goods and services, and non-negotiating mandates such as market access and labelling.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the progress of the WTO Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance (WGTDF). Established by the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the group aims to analyze how the multilateral trading system can help resolve the external indebtedness of developing and least-developed countries and improve coherence between trade and international financial policies.

This February 2003 briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the internal power struggles within Zimbabwe's ruling ZANU-PF party and the reported attempts to negotiate an exit strategy for President Robert Mugabe amidst a severe economic collapse.

The report 'Empowering Communities Through Corporate Transparency' by the International Right to Know (IRTK) coalition advocates for the creation of disclosure standards for U.S.-based or U.S.-traded corporations operating abroad. It argues that a 'right-to-know loophole' exists where companies are not required to disclose environmental, labor, and human rights data overseas that they must disclose domestically under the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA). Through various case studies, the report illustrates how lack of transparency has contributed to industrial disasters, toxic pollution, and human rights abuses.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) examines the global trend of water privatization and the role of international financial institutions and corporations in commodifying water resources. It argues that water should be treated as a fundamental human right and a social good rather than a commodity, detailing various local and international resistance movements against corporate control of water.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) examines the global trend toward the privatization and commercialization of water resources. It argues that water should be treated as a social and cultural right rather than an economic commodity, highlighting how international financial institutions and multinational corporations marginalize poor populations and damage ecosystems through profit-driven management.

This research paper reviews the ongoing debate within the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding environmental labelling (eco-labels). It identifies structural obstacles, such as the lack of negotiating authority in the Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE), and substantive obstacles, such as the legal status of non-product-related process and production methods (nprPPMs). The paper highlights how issues like GMO labelling and labour standards complicate negotiations and emphasizes the critical need for technical assistance for developing countries to prevent eco-labels from becoming tools of "green protectionism."

This report analyzes the adoption and impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Argentine agriculture from the 1990s to 2003. It details the rapid expansion of glyphosate-tolerant soybean, the regulatory framework managed by CONABIA, and the socio-economic shifts resulting from structural reforms and technological intensification. The document evaluates the distribution of benefits between producers and multinational seed companies, the environmental effects of the 'no-till' (siembra directa) system, and the challenges posed by illegal seed markets ('bolsa blanca').

This 2003 fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International examines the role of the European Investment Bank (EIB) in providing development loans, particularly to Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. It argues that while the EIB is a central financial institution for the EU's relations with developing nations, it lacks a formal development strategy and fails to integrate sustainable development or poverty eradication goals into its project evaluations, which remain focused on economic and technical criteria.

This 2003 fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International describes the European Investment Bank (EIB) as a powerful yet 'invisible' financial institution that operates with limited public oversight. The document criticizes the EIB for its lack of transparency, inadequate environmental and social safeguards, and its failure to be held accountable by EU institutions or the public, particularly regarding its lending activities outside the European Union.

This research paper introduces MARKAL-Equity, a model developed to assess the distributional impacts of meeting Kyoto Protocol emission targets on different income groups in Canada's residential sector. The study finds that low-income households are the most vulnerable to energy price increases, experiencing the greatest reductions in energy service demand and consumption, and lacking the financial capacity to switch to more efficient technologies compared to middle- and high-income groups.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the potential conflicts and synergies between the WTO's TRIPS Agreement on intellectual property and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It analyzes how patent laws regarding biological resources, technology transfer, and traditional knowledge intersect with national sovereignty and the goal of equitable benefit sharing.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the debate within the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding trade facilitation (TF). It explores the tension between developed countries and business groups seeking legally binding rules to reduce border delays and costs, and developing countries concerned about the administrative burdens, potential for dispute resolution penalties, and the impact on national standards and environmental agreements.

This briefing paper examines the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) within the WTO framework, focusing on its structure, the challenges of reaching consensus, and its implications for sustainable development and developing countries.