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This policy brief analyzes Turkey's 2015 G-20 presidency, focusing on its priorities of inclusiveness, investment, and implementation, and their implications for Africa and low-income developing countries (LIDCs). The authors argue that while Turkey has expanded its diplomatic and economic engagement with Africa through a 'bottom-up' approach, the G-20's institutional framework remains problematic due to the underrepresentation of African nations and a disconnect between its finance and development tracks.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) maps trade-related elements within the draft Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Financing for Development (FfD) outcome document. It proposes a three-level architecture for follow-up and review—national, regional, and global—to ensure that trade policies are coherent with sustainable development objectives. The authors argue that because trade's contribution to the post-2015 Agenda is diffuse, a coordinated review process involving existing multilateral and regional mechanisms is essential to facilitate learning and policy improvement.

This research paper, published by the World Bank Group in June 2015, examines the role of investment contracts in large-scale agricultural projects in developing countries. It provides a framework for designing contracts that maximize positive socio-economic outcomes—such as job creation and food security—while minimizing risks like land loss and environmental degradation. The document integrates empirical evidence from UNCTAD and World Bank field studies with legal analysis from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

This guide from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) explains the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus, highlighting the need for integrated management strategies to address the unsustainable nature of traditional approaches to meeting the increasing demand for water, energy, and food.

This report details the 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), held in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 27–29, 2015. The meeting focused on 'The Post-Mining Transition and Environmental Management,' exploring how to integrate environmental, economic, and social planning into the mine life cycle to ensure sustainable transitions and community resilience after closure.

The 2015 SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project (ESP) is an educational competition for South African Grade 10-12 learners designed to build knowledge of environmental sustainability through research, presentations, and youth negotiations.

The SEI Strategy 2015–2019 outlines the Stockholm Environment Institute's framework for bridging science and policy to support sustainable development. The strategy focuses on enhancing scientific research through new 'SEI Initiatives', expanding policy engagement to include 'hard-to-reach' stakeholders like the private sector, and strengthening capacity development across individual, organizational, and institutional levels. It also details the enabling infrastructure required for delivery, including communications, ICT tools, financial management, and a custom monitoring system (PMEC).

This World Resources Institute briefing provides a perspective on UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Synthesis Report, "The Road to Dignity by 2030," which outlines a vision for the post-2015 development agenda to succeed the Millennium Development Goals. While the briefing acknowledges the report's compelling narrative and endorsement of 17 goals and 169 targets, it identifies several gaps in specificity regarding target values, the role of the private sector in accountability, and the definition of partnerships.

This guide, published by Natural Justice in December 2014, provides an overview of regional and international grievance and advocacy mechanisms available to indigenous peoples and local communities. It categorizes these tools into UN human rights systems, regional human rights systems, international and regional financial institutions, industry-specific standards, and other advocacy opportunities, detailing eligibility, processes, and potential barriers for each.

This amicus curiae brief, submitted by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) on behalf of members of the Mesa Nacional Frente a la Minería Metálica de El Salvador, argues that El Salvador's regulatory measures regarding the 'El Dorado' mining project are consistent with international human rights and environmental obligations. The document contends that the state must protect citizens from the risks of extractive industries, particularly in water-scarce and densely populated areas, and that public interest is defined through environmental democracy and the rights of access to information and participation.

This briefing paper examines the policy tools available to Eastern African states to foster 'national champions' in the mining sector and maximize sustainable development benefits from foreign direct investment. It analyzes the effectiveness of ownership and performance requirements and evaluates how international investment agreements, specifically Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), may restrict the policy space of host governments.

This conference report from the Green Economy Coalition details discussions held at Wilton Park in February 2014 regarding 'Real Green Economies'. The document critiques the macro-economic, top-down models of 'green growth' promoted by international institutions, arguing that they often ignore social justice and the needs of the poor. It advocates for a transition based on diverse, community-led pathways and the integration of social equity into green policy from the outset.

This report reviews capacity-building courses offered by 24 international organizations between 2013 and 2014 to assess how sustainable development is integrated into policy planning and implementation. The review identifies a significant gap in courses that directly focus on sustainable development policy and planning, suggesting that while thematic courses exist, there is a need for more integrated strategic frameworks and management tools to support the Post-2015 Development Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This research paper analyzes the proposed New Development Bank (NDB) led by the BRICS nations, examining its potential funding models, spending priorities, and currency choices. The author argues that a democratic governance structure with equal contributions is the most viable path to ensure the bank's legitimacy and facilitate the entry of other emerging economies.

This briefing by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network examines the necessity and methods of integrating climate change into the post-2015 development agenda. It argues that climate change poses a grave threat to poverty eradication and sustainable development, while suggesting that 'climate-smart' goals and targets can simultaneously address development and environmental objectives.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a set of recommendations to the Land Policy Initiative (LPI) to strengthen the guiding principles for large-scale land-based investments (LSLBI) in Africa, focusing on legal protections, project viability, stakeholder obligations, and dispute resolution.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes policy failures in the governance, accountability, and transparency of financial market actors and proposes policy innovations to advance green finance, specifically focusing on how China can adopt these measures to green its financial markets.

This briefing document, developed by RCS Global and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining (IGF), provides a step-by-step guidance process for governments in developing countries to create, implement, and monitor an effective Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) management strategy. The goal is to improve miners' quality of life and the sector's contribution to sustainable development while mitigating environmental degradation.

This background brief outlines the mission and strategic framework of the International Institute for Sustainable Development's (IISD) Mining and Sustainable Development Initiative. The initiative aims to ensure mining contributes to inclusive growth and social development without compromising the environment by shifting the focus of mining agreements from narrow fiscal benefits to a broader range of economic and social expenditures.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) is seeking funding through its 80th anniversary 'Sponsor a Delegate' campaign to support YOUTH@SAIIA. This initiative provides youth development through Model UN, inter-school quizzes, and an Environmental Sustainability Project, reaching over 5,000 participants in 2013. The campaign offers tiered sponsorship options ranging from R 200 to R 10,000 to cover costs such as transport, materials, and equipment.