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This research paper introduces the 'minerals-energy-food (MEF) complex', a new analytical framework designed to address the limitations of existing natural resource governance frameworks, which the authors argue fail to differentiate between physical resources and traded commodities or capture global drivers of resource use.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the governance challenges associated with the over-exploitation of natural resources. It argues that current resource use is unsustainable and unevenly distributed, calling for transformative change through inclusive decision-making, the protection of human rights for marginalized groups, and a shift toward circular economies.

This policy brief examines the governance challenges associated with the sustainable use of natural resources, highlighting the gap between the principles established in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration and current global trends of over-exploitation and inequitable distribution.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that gender equality is a prerequisite for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights how systemic barriers, discriminatory laws, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on women hinder environmental and social progress, while demonstrating that women's leadership in natural resource governance and climate action leads to more effective and sustainable outcomes.

This briefing argues that the European Union's (EU) reliance on 'formalisation'—increasing legalisation and transparency—in natural resource governance has failed to improve human wellbeing in producer countries. Using case studies from Sierra Leone's diamond sector and Liberia's forest sector, the author contends that these technocratic approaches often ignore local socio-political contexts and fail to deliver tangible benefits to affected populations. The document calls for the EU to adopt a 'human security' approach, shifting focus from state security to the security of individuals, specifically targeting freedom from want and fear.

This report, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 2017, evaluates the legal and policy framework of the mining sector in Mauritania. Using the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) Mining Policy Framework, the assessment analyzes six thematic pillars: legal and policy environment, financial returns, socio-economic returns, environmental management, post-mining transition, and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The report identifies strengths in the country's geological information systems and fiscal attractiveness, but highlights significant gaps in legislative consolidation, environmental monitoring capacity, and the formalization of the emerging ASM sector.

This research paper examines the causes and resolution of land-use conflicts between farmers and pastoralists in Tanzania, specifically focusing on the Pawaga division. It argues that these conflicts are driven by historical evictions, 'green grabbing' for conservation, large-scale agricultural investments, and a formal land dispute settlement system that is biased against pastoralists. The author proposes a community-based coalition model, piloted by the Tanzania Natural Resource Forum (TNRF), as a more effective alternative to formal judicial and administrative mechanisms.

This research paper examines the intersection of Ghana's emerging offshore oil and gas sector and its artisanal fisheries. It argues that while the oil sector has created specific tensions—particularly regarding exclusion zones and maritime safety—the primary threats to the sustainability of Ghana's fisheries are fleet overcapacity, illegal fishing practices, and environmental stressors. The author advocates for a shift from merely minimizing oil-sector impacts toward a constructive 'socio-ecological compact' and integrated maritime governance to support the long-term viability of artisanal fishing.

This research paper examines the conflict between international regulatory norms, such as the CITES ivory trade ban, and the diverse local values held by communities in elephant range states and consumer markets. Using Cameroon's Congo River basin and Southern African states as primary examples, the authors argue that ignoring local societal values and the impacts of globalisation can lead to adverse reactions, undermining long-term conservation goals.

This international statement, issued by Friends of the Earth International and various social movements, criticizes the emergence of corporate-focused guides that reinterpret the 2012 Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT). The authors argue that these guides shift the focus from human rights to business risk management, inappropriately transfer state responsibilities to private investors, and promote a false equivalence between corporations and marginalized communities.

This international statement, published by Friends of the Earth International and signed by various social movements and civil society organizations, criticizes the emergence of operational guides that adapt the UN's Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT) for the benefit of private investors and corporations. The authors argue that these guides shift the focus from human rights to commercial risk management, inappropriately transfer state governance responsibilities to private actors, and promote a false parity between corporations and marginalized communities.

This international statement, published by Friends of the Earth International and signed by numerous social movements and NGOs, criticizes the emergence of corporate-focused guides for implementing the UN's Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure (VGGT). The authors argue that these guides shift the focus from human rights and the needs of marginalized communities to the business interests and risk management of private investors, effectively facilitating 'corporate capture' of natural resources.

This research paper examines strategies to address biomass scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on moving from cycles of over-exploitation and degradation to sustainable production. Using the Lake Tana sub-basin in Ethiopia as a case study, the authors analyze the impact of supply and demand strategies, emphasizing the importance of soil productivity and integrated natural resource governance.

This synthesis report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development proposes a commodity-by-commodity framework to assess sustainability risks and vulnerabilities for importers, specifically focusing on China's global resource needs. The report argues that China's reliance on inward supply chains exposes it to systemic risks—including natural hazards, local conflict, and resource nationalism—which are currently managed in a tactical rather than strategic manner.

This seminar report, compiled by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE), documents a March 2012 meeting in Kampala, Uganda. The event brought together 44 delegates to discuss the governance of Africa's natural resources, focusing on oil, mining, and renewable resources (land, forestry, and fisheries). The report highlights the tension between the potential for wealth generation and the risks of corruption, conflict, and 'elite capture', while emphasizing the need for transparency, local community inclusion, and African-led research and policy solutions.