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The minutes of the Twentieth IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP), held from June 27-29, 2012, in Arlington, VA, USA, detail the approval of a new tripartite governance structure for the IAI Directorate, the selection of eight research projects for the Third Round of the Collaborative Research Network Program (CRN 3), and updates to the institute's standing rules and financial budget for FY 2012-2013.

The minutes of the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held from June 27-29, 2012, in Arlington, VA, USA, detail the transition to a tripartite governance structure and the approval of new scientific projects and operational budgets.

Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica issued a statement expressing grave concerns regarding the nomination of Ernest J. Moniz as Secretary of Energy due to his support for nuclear power and fracking, while expressing support for the nomination of Gina McCarthy as EPA Administrator.

The policy brief examines Mongolia's Index-Based Livestock Insurance (IBLI) project, a World Bank-supported initiative designed to protect herders from mass livestock losses caused by 'dzuds' (extreme weather). By using aggregated mortality indices rather than individual loss assessments, the program reduces transaction costs and provides financial security to sparsely populated areas. The system employs a tiered response: herders absorb losses under 6%, private Livestock Risk Insurance covers losses between 6-30%, and Government Catastrophic Coverage handles losses over 30%. While the program has successfully insured millions of animals and provided critical payouts, the brief emphasizes that insurance must be part of a broader strategy including sustainable grazing and veterinary improvements. Key success factors identified include the use of long-term census data, public education to drive demand, and the maintenance of affordable premiums through public-private partnerships.

This research paper examines how institutional interactions between trade and environment are shaped by overarching norms, specifically highlighting the prevalence of liberal environmentalism within climate change and biosafety regime complexes.

This research paper evaluates the impact of climate change and adaptive management on irrigation water supply within the Cache Creek watershed in Yolo County, California, using the Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) system calibrated with 1971–2000 historical data.

This research paper introduces a formal framework to resolve conceptual confusion regarding vulnerability to climate change by using formalisation to make the structure of definitions and assessments explicit.

This report evaluates climate risks and management capacities for the water and agriculture sectors in the Dominican Republic, with a specific focus on the Yaque del Sur basin. It combines scientific modeling (WEAP and DSSAT) with participatory community research to identify vulnerabilities and propose adaptation strategies. The analysis highlights a critical water deficit in the Yaque del Sur basin, exacerbated by rising temperatures and declining precipitation, which threatens food security and rural livelihoods. The report identifies significant gaps in institutional coordination between disaster risk management and climate change adaptation bodies and recommends a comprehensive national program to integrate these approaches, improve data accessibility, and implement specific field-level interventions such as crop diversification and irrigation efficiency improvements.

This report, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the UNDP, evaluates climate risks and management capacities within Nicaragua's health sector. It identifies a strong correlation between extreme weather events—such as floods and droughts—and the prevalence of waterborne and vector-borne diseases, while highlighting systemic vulnerabilities in water access, sanitation, and health infrastructure. The document recommends integrating climate risk management into national health policies and improving inter-institutional coordination to protect public health and achieve broader development goals.

This report, prepared by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the UNDP, evaluates climate risks and management capacities in Peru, with a specific focus on the agricultural sectors of the Junín and Piura regions. It analyzes the interaction between climate threats—such as El Niño, droughts, and frosts—and the vulnerability of rural populations, providing recommendations for integrated risk management and policy coordination.

The IAI Directorate Report for July 2012 - April 2013 details the transition between Collaborative Research Network programs (CRN2 to CRN3), the implementation of capacity-building workshops across the Americas, and significant operational and legal challenges faced by the Institute in Brazil.

This research paper surveys foreign investment trends and business models in Indonesia's agricultural sector. It identifies contract farming and land concessions as the primary investment structures, analyzing their impacts on productivity and rural livelihoods. The author argues that while these models offer potential benefits, they are often undermined by an unfavorable business environment, lack of transparency in land use, and regulatory inconsistencies, leading to policy recommendations for land reform and enhanced farmer capacity.

This report documents the 6th African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), held in November 2012 in Abuja, Nigeria. The conference focused on the role of staff colleges in preparing military officers to address emerging security challenges in Africa, emphasizing the need for a balance between academic education, professional military studies, and tactical training to develop flexible, intellectual leaders.

The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration is a statement of recommendations for the Post-2015 Development Agenda, formulated by South African youth during the 2nd Annual South African Institute of International Affairs Young Leaders Conference in Johannesburg. The document outlines priorities across three thematic areas: addressing inequalities, managing conflict, violence and disasters, and ensuring environmental sustainability.

This 2013 report by WWF South Africa identifies and describes the country's Water Source Areas (WSAs), highlighting that a small fraction of land provides the majority of the nation's surface water. It emphasizes the interdependence between engineered water infrastructure and the ecological infrastructure (catchments, rivers, and aquifers) that feeds it, while detailing the threats facing these critical regions.

The 2013 report 'STORIES OF SUCCESS' describes WWF-South Africa’s Graduate Development Programme, an internship initiative designed to transition new graduates into professional roles within the environmental sector. The programme provides structured induction, mentorship, and networking opportunities to develop a cadre of creative environmental leaders.

A letter from Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica to President Barack Obama urging the administration to reject austerity measures and budget cuts to non-defense discretionary spending and social safety nets in response to the 'fiscal cliff'.

The document describes how South Africa, Brazil, China, and India (the BRICS/BASIC group) have coordinated their efforts in the World Trade Organization and climate change negotiations to advocate for the interests of developing countries. It highlights their role as a counterpoint to advanced economies and their efforts to redefine South-South economic ties through new partnerships with other developing and least-developed nations.

This research paper examines the potential for services trade liberalization, specifically in financial and logistics sectors, to enhance food security within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The authors argue that while liberalization alone may not solve rural financial exclusion or infrastructure gaps, integrating food security objectives into services sector reform could provide a strategic rationale for deepening regional integration.

This 2012 agreement between the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay establishes the headquarters for the IAI's Directorate of Finance and Integrated Operations in Uruguay. It defines the legal status, privileges, immunities, and operational facilities provided by the host state to ensure the IAI can function as an international intergovernmental organization.