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The document argues that IFIs, as subjects of international law, are bound by human rights obligations regardless of whether their charters explicitly mention them. It asserts that member States cannot escape responsibility for human rights violations resulting from IFI projects, even when acting through IFI decision-making bodies. The analysis concludes that IFI internal safeguard and accountability mechanisms are not equivalent to universal or regional human rights protections, and suggests that the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has the mandate to engage IFIs operating in the Americas.

The report examines how the consolidation of the global supermarket sector has shifted power to a few major retailers, creating a 'buyer-driven' commodity chain that often marginalizes smallholder farmers. While the fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) sector offers growth potential for developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, supermarkets' stringent private standards and aggressive business practices create high barriers to entry. However, the report argues that smallholders maintain comparative advantages in labour-intensive and organic production. It suggests that cooperatives, outgrower schemes, and public-private partnerships can help smallholders overcome scale and infrastructure problems to access these lucrative markets.

The policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) proposes specific amendments to the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules to distinguish 'State arbitrations' from private commercial ones. The authors argue that because State arbitrations often involve public funds, governmental misconduct, and critical public policy issues—such as drinking water systems or hazardous waste bans—they require higher standards of transparency. The brief proposes revisions to four articles to ensure public notice of proceedings, open hearings, public access to awards and documents, and the explicit ability for tribunals to accept amicus curiae briefs.

The document analyzes the challenges developing countries face when implementing 'TRIPS-Plus' intellectual property (IP) provisions found in free trade agreements (FTAs), particularly those signed with the USA, EU, and EFTA. It argues that while these agreements often impose higher standards of protection than the WTO's TRIPS Agreement, countries can adopt a 'creative and forward looking' implementation strategy. This includes utilizing existing flexibilities such as compulsory licensing and parallel imports, and modernizing national institutions and competition laws to balance IP protection with local innovation and public health needs.

The report examines the remittance landscape for immigrants in Norway, comparing 42 services across 21 mechanisms, including banks, money transfer operators (MTOs), and informal hawala systems. It highlights a restrictive regulatory environment that often drives users toward illegal services, particularly for transfers to Somalia and Iraq. The analysis reveals that real costs are often hidden through exchange rate spreads, with typical costs for NOK 1,000 transfers ranging from 5% to 25%. While bank transfers can be cheaper for larger amounts, they are often slower and less predictable than MTOs. The report argues that improving financial literacy and regularizing informal services could enhance the development impact of remittances and improve immigrant integration.

The author examines the 'credible commitment problem' in political transitions, where outgoing regimes or armed groups require guarantees that peace accords and amnesties will be honored. Using examples from Eastern Central Europe and Colombia, the text posits that the possession of incriminating information about government elites—often gained through infiltration—acts as a strategic insurance policy that compels governments to adhere to agreed-upon terms.

The document asserts that the World Health Organization (WHO) has a mandate to engage in trade policy discussions because the availability and affordability of pharmaceuticals are central to public health. It warns that the progress made by the Doha Declaration is being undermined by a surge in bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs), particularly those between industrialized economies and developing nations, which impose extensive intellectual property provisions that restrict access to low-cost medicines.

The report analyzes 26,170 foreign-made weapons seized by Rio de Janeiro police, cross-referencing them with international trade data to identify diversion points. It finds that while most seized weapons are Brazilian-made, foreign weapons—particularly from the US and Argentina—often enter Brazil via neighboring countries with lax regulations, such as Paraguay, or leak from official government stockpiles. The authors argue that exporting nations fail to adequately assess diversion risks and recommend stricter export licensing and stockpile controls.

The report examines the 'commodity price problem,' characterized by extreme short-term volatility and a steady long-term decline in real prices relative to manufactured goods. While high prices can provide windfall revenues, the authors argue that dependence on primary commodities creates a 'resource trap' that undermines fiscal planning, exacerbates social inequality, and encourages environmental degradation. The document concludes that because developing countries lack the resources to hedge against these risks, the international community should focus on income stabilization through mechanisms such as compensatory financing, national revenue management, and risk management instruments.

The 22nd Meeting of the IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), held in July 2005, primarily focused on reviewing and selecting proposals for the Second Round of the IAI Collaborative Research Network (CRN II). The committee recommended 10 proposals for funding, while noting a thematic imbalance and a need to strengthen the 'human dimensions' component of the portfolio. Director-elect Holm Tiessen highlighted a 'funding crisis' and the necessity for IAI to better demonstrate its purpose to member countries and improve the institutionalization of research networks. The meeting also discussed a forthcoming IAI-SCOPE RAP meeting to synthesize results from CRN1 and bridge natural and social sciences.

The 22nd SAC meeting, held in Sao José dos Campos, Brazil, in July 2005, primarily focused on reviewing proposals for the second round of the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN II) program. The committee recommended 10 proposals for funding, while noting a thematic imbalance, specifically a lack of projects addressing human dimensions and certain scientific themes. The meeting also addressed the need for the IAI to strengthen its capacity-building efforts, ensure the institutional sustainability of its networks, and better connect scientific discoveries with societal applications and policy-making.

This 2006 report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the economic relationships between India, Brazil, and South Africa. Based on interviews with 30 South African companies and government officials, it identifies significant non-tariff barriers, high business costs, and a lack of awareness among the private sector regarding the IBSA initiative. While it notes growth in bilateral trade—such as the 2004 SACU-Mercosur preferential trade agreement—it highlights that many South African firms perceive IBSA as a political rather than an economic project. The report recommends reducing customs duties, improving infrastructure, and involving the business sector more deeply in the formulation of trade agreements.

The document examines the dynamics of trade between China and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), noting that while South African exports of resources are booming, the region faces significant job losses in labour-intensive light industries like apparel and footwear due to Chinese competition. It discusses the tension between the welfare gains of cheaper imports for the poor and the political pressure from trade unions and business to protect domestic industry. The text suggests that SACU is likely to pursue a narrow, symbolic preferential agreement similar to its deals with Mercosur and India, although some participants argue that a comprehensive FTA would better force necessary economic adjustments and improve long-term productivity.

The report examines the trade and investment dynamics between SACU (primarily South Africa) and China, arguing that while Chinese imports threaten SACU's light manufacturing, the complementarity of their economies—specifically China's demand for natural resources—makes a phased free trade agreement (FTA) a strategic necessity for restructuring SACU's economy.

The document assesses the progress and deadlocks of the Doha Round negotiations as of November 2005. It highlights significant stalemates in agricultural market access, non-agricultural market access (NAMA), and services, while detailing specific disputes over fisheries subsidies, intellectual property rights (TRIPS), and the implementation of special and differential treatment for developing countries. It also reviews the impact of the 2005 expiry of textile and clothing quotas and the ongoing efforts to improve the WTO's Dispute Settlement Understanding.

In this inaugural address, the Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) asserts that Africa's development depends on internal agency rather than external aid. The author highlights the importance of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and NEPAD in fostering good governance and accountability. The text warns against a 'new scramble for Africa' driven by China's demand for raw materials, urging states to implement industrial policies and beneficiation to avoid neo-imperialist patterns. It concludes that while international interest and growth are positive, sustainable progress requires capable state institutions, proactive leadership, and a move away from ideological rigidity.

The report analyzes the stagnation of the Doha Round in mid-2005, highlighting a fundamental deadlock in agricultural market access and the reluctance of the US and EU to implement necessary structural reforms. It argues that while the round is branded as a 'Development Agenda,' tangible benefits for the poorest nations remain elusive, with progress hindered by protectionism and the rise of regional trade agreements. The author suggests that the round's success depends on whether rich countries offer genuine concessions to create a fairer trading system before a perceived 2006 deadline.

The document argues that WTO NAMA negotiations are largely ignoring environmental risks associated with tariff elimination in sectors like forestry and fisheries. It further cautions against the potential for non-tariff barrier (NTB) negotiations to undermine legitimate domestic environmental, health, and safety standards, while noting that developing countries often lack the capacity to meet these standards.

The document examines the relationship between natural resource access and poverty, arguing that neoliberal policies—such as trade liberalization, privatization, and industrial agriculture—exacerbate rural poverty by stripping local communities of their resources. It provides case studies from various regions to demonstrate how community-based management of forests, fisheries, and water, alongside sustainable energy and agro-ecological farming, can effectively alleviate poverty. The report calls for the unconditional cancellation of external debt, the recognition of an 'ecological debt' owed by the North to the South, and a structural shift away from corporate-driven development toward food sovereignty and environmental justice.

The document examines the relationship between environmental health and rural poverty, asserting that neoliberal policies—such as trade liberalization, privatization, and industrial agribusiness—exacerbate poverty by stripping local communities of their natural resources. It provides global case studies where community-led management of forests, fisheries, and water, alongside sustainable energy and agroecological farming, offers a viable path toward poverty eradication and environmental restoration.