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The report details a 2022 workshop organized by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Belmont Forum to promote transdisciplinary (TD) knowledge co-production. It analyzes three case studies—Jamaican Women in Coffee (JAWiC), NICH-Arctic, and FRACTAL—to identify common challenges such as power imbalances and conflicting priorities between funders and local communities. The document concludes with best practices for TD project implementation, emphasizing the need to center local timeframes and enhance communication, as well as pedagogical recommendations for future 'train the trainers' events.

The community biocultural protocol of Sahandrazana establishes a framework for the management of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in the Vatovavy region of Madagascar. It outlines the community's governance structure, the role of traditional leaders (Rois), and the specific steps external researchers or entrepreneurs must follow to obtain consent. The document emphasizes the integration of customary laws with national legislation, such as the Nagoya Protocol and Decree 2017-066, to ensure equitable benefit-sharing and the protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage.

The document advocates for the adoption of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) to protect coastal communities in Southern Africa from climate risks such as cyclones and sea-level rise. It identifies key barriers to implementation, including policy silos, insufficient funding, and lack of community inclusion, and proposes the creation of a regional community of practice to share best practices among SADC member states.

The document argues that coastal and island nations in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are highly vulnerable to climate risks, such as cyclones and sea-level rise, and should adopt ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as a cost-effective alternative to traditional engineering. While some progress exists, implementation is hindered by fragmented governance, lack of technical capacity, insufficient funding, and the exclusion of local communities. The brief recommends integrating specific EbA targets into 2025 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), aligning cross-sectoral policies, and utilizing a newly established regional community of practice to share best practices and coordinate a regional EbA strategy.

The report details a project (2019-2023) to integrate GESEP considerations into Bosnia and Herzegovina's environmental strategy. It outlines a three-level approach targeting the project team, activities, and outputs, resulting in a 'socially aware' strategy. Key outcomes include increased stakeholder awareness and the incorporation of GESEP principles into national development planning laws, though the report notes challenges such as COVID-19 limitations and a lack of redistributive measures.

The report assesses the current state of spatial management in the Southern Ocean, highlighting the tension between CCAMLR's conservation mandate and the 'rational use' of marine resources. It identifies a deadlock in the establishment of new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) due to eroding consensus and geopolitical tensions. The authors suggest transitioning from a narrow focus on MPA designation toward a comprehensive Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) approach to better integrate land-sea conservation and respond to climate change impacts.

The report analyzes the impact of corruption on renewable resource management through case studies in Madagascar, Peru, and Vietnam. It argues that anti-corruption efforts often fail because they are treated as secondary, technical goals rather than central political challenges. The document highlights how corruption facilitates environmental damage by bypassing laws and enabling illegal resource extraction. Key findings suggest that community-based management and technical solutions like e-payments are insufficient without addressing structural power dynamics, land insecurity, and the global nature of resource supply chains. The report concludes with five recommendations for conservation practitioners and donors, emphasizing risk management, donor coordination, support for civil society, protection of indigenous defenders, and the creation of global data systems for transnational law enforcement.

The project aims to reduce GHG emissions by 4.5 million tCO2eq over five years and 18.2 million tCO2eq over 20 years while benefiting 157,000 vulnerable people. It addresses barriers including poverty-induced dependence on natural resources, financial constraints, and weak institutional capacity in dryland areas. The initiative focuses on three components: forest protection and restoration, development of forest-based value chains (such as bamboo, honey, and resins), and capacity building for local government and community organizations.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of Colombia's sustainable debt market, which reached USD 2.4 billion by the end of 2022. It details the dominance of green bonds, the emergence of sustainability-linked bonds, and the role of the Colombian Green Taxonomy in guiding investments. The document also examines the country's climate vulnerability, the policy framework for adaptation and resilience, and specific opportunities across economic sectors such as energy, transport, and construction to support a low-carbon transition.

The policy brief examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) can bridge data gaps and provide evidence for governments reporting on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through an analysis of 13 VSS, the authors demonstrate high alignment with SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and provide guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies into their national reporting processes.

The report examines the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically focusing on how VSS data can alleviate government reporting burdens in Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through benchmarking 13 VSSs against five SDGs (2, 6, 8, 12, and 15) and providing practical reporting examples for Uganda, India, and Tanzania, the document demonstrates that VSSs can provide granular, on-the-ground data and 'best practice' case studies that complement state-centric reporting. It concludes with generic guidelines for governments to improve coordination with VSS bodies to advance the 2030 Agenda.

The policy brief examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and can be leveraged by governments to enhance their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through a mapping of 13 international and regional standards, the research demonstrates high coverage of goals related to decent work (SDG 8) and clean water (SDG 6). The document provides guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies from countries like Uganda, India, and Tanzania to address data gaps and promote policy coherence in their national reporting.

The document examines how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and can be leveraged by governments to overcome data gaps in their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Through an analysis of 13 international and regional standards, the authors demonstrate high coverage of goals related to decent work (SDG 8) and clean water (SDG 6). The brief provides practical guidelines for governments to integrate VSS data and case studies from countries like Uganda, India, and Tanzania into their national reporting to improve policy coherence and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

The document assesses the state of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in Southern Africa, finding that while there is growing political commitment and various local success stories, marine concerns are frequently overshadowed by terrestrial issues in national climate policies. It identifies significant hurdles to implementation, including capacity gaps, siloed government coordination, insufficient financing, and unequal resource rights. The author recommends establishing enabling bodies to support NDCs, adopting a 'seascape' approach to integrate land-sea interfaces, and scaling innovative financing like blue carbon and debt-for-nature swaps.

The report evaluates the implementation of marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) across SADC member states, highlighting the critical role of ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs in protecting vulnerable coastal populations. It identifies a significant gap between the potential of EbA and its integration into national climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While showcasing successful regional examples—such as Madagascar's community-led mangrove projects and Seychelles' innovative blue bonds—the document notes systemic challenges including overlapping ministerial mandates, limited local government capacity, and a lack of bankable project proposals for international climate finance. It recommends mainstreaming EbA into 2025 NDC revisions and strengthening regional cooperation to scale up nature-based solutions.

The document argues that financial service providers (FSPs) often avoid agricultural investments in developing countries due to perceived risks, but that VSSs can mitigate these risks by requiring sustainable practices and better governance. While VSSs show high coverage of legal compliance, soil and water conservation, and labour rights, they lack sufficient criteria regarding economic viability, transparency, and climate adaptation. The brief provides recommendations for FSPs, VSS providers, and governments to better align sustainability standards with financial requirements to close the investment gap.

The document argues that financial service providers (FSPs) often avoid agricultural investments in developing countries due to perceived risks. It finds that while voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) provide high coverage for legal compliance, labor rights, and forest conservation, they lack sufficient criteria for economic viability, transparency, and climate adaptation. The brief recommends that FSPs integrate VSS into ESG due diligence and that governments provide land tenure and financial incentives to support VSS-compliant farmers.

The policy brief examines the role of voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in reducing the perceived risks that deter financial service providers (FSPs) from investing in sustainable agriculture in developing countries. By analyzing 12 VSS across economic, environmental, and social dimensions, the report finds that while VSS provide high coverage for legal compliance, labor rights, and soil and water conservation, they lack sufficient criteria for economic viability, anti-corruption, and climate adaptation. The document recommends that VSS incorporate more business-oriented criteria and that FSPs use VSS for ESG due diligence and the structuring of sustainability-linked financial products.

The document argues that financial service providers (FSPs) often avoid agricultural investments in developing countries due to perceived risks. It examines 12 Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) and finds that while they provide high coverage for legal compliance, labor rights, and basic environmental conservation, they lack sufficient criteria regarding economic viability, transparency, and climate adaptation. The brief recommends that VSS incorporate more business-oriented criteria and that FSPs use these standards for ESG due diligence and structuring financial products to increase funding for sustainable farming.

The report assesses gender parity and agricultural roles in the Philippines, highlighting that while the country ranks high in general gender equality, rural female farmers face systemic barriers in land ownership, credit access, and strategic decision-making. It identifies the critical role of indigenous women as custodians of climate-resilient traditional knowledge and proposes a Gender Action Plan to empower women, youth, and indigenous peoples as agents of change in climate-resilient agriculture.