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This policy brief examines the necessity and challenges of regulating and supervising the microfinance sector. It argues that while a 'one-size-fits-all' approach is inappropriate, appropriate oversight is critical for financial stability and consumer protection. Using Indonesia as a case study, the document highlights the balance between enabling growth through deregulation and implementing corrective prudential measures.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the effectiveness of investment incentives in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). It argues that fiscal incentives cannot compensate for a weak investment climate and recommends a transition from automatic tax holidays toward targeted, performance-based incentives and transparent tax administration.

This research paper proposes an analytical framework to bridge the gap between local climate change adaptation case studies and higher-level public policy, using examples from Sweden, Canada, and Indonesia.

This research paper analyzes the compatibility of the Australian Government's Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. It examines the bill's proposals to ban illegally logged timber imports and domestic processing, while requiring due diligence from importers and processors. The authors conclude that the legislation is likely WTO-compatible provided it is implemented non-discriminatorily and does not afford protection to domestic products.

This concept note provides conceptual guidance for the development of Indonesia's national climate change adaptation action plan (RAN-API), intended for completion and launch at the COP in December 2012.

A briefing by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network detailing Indonesia's 2011 two-year moratorium on new permits for primary natural forests and peatlands as a strategy to meet greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.

This report and accompanying analysis from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outline the fiscal burden of fuel subsidies in Indonesia, the government's reform efforts to reduce gasoline and kerosene subsidies, and the potential for transitioning to electric induction cooking to reduce LPG subsidy costs.

This research paper examines the politicization of rice in Southeast Asia and argues that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should strengthen existing information-sharing and reserve mechanisms to improve regional food security and market stability, rather than attempting full trade liberalization.

This report details the outcomes of an expert meeting and field visit held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2012. The event was part of the 'Building REDD+ Policy Capacity for Developing Country Negotiators and Land Managers' project, delivered by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins. The meeting focused on two primary determinants for the success of REDD+: the development of Safeguard Information Systems (SIS) and the fostering of effective private sector engagement.

This case study describes the impact of the World Resources Institute's (WRI) New Ventures project, highlighting the Brazilian company Ouro Verde as an example of a sustainable enterprise that provides economic value to the Amazon rainforest through the sale of Brazil nut products.

The Bottom-Up Energy Analysis System (BUENAS) is a stock accounting model developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to project energy demand and evaluate the impact of energy efficiency policies, specifically Energy Efficiency Standards and Labeling (EES&L) programs, across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

This 2012 report provides an action plan for reforming fuel subsidies in Indonesia, specifically targeting the subsidized gasoline 'Premium'. It highlights the fiscal burden of these subsidies (US$18.1 billion in 2011) and analyzes the government's plans to restrict consumption and introduce alternative fuels like CNG and LGV. The report identifies significant infrastructure gaps in refineries and filling stations, political risks associated with the 2014 elections, and a lack of effective public communication. It recommends transitioning from ad-hoc pricing to an automated, market-based pricing mechanism and improving social safety nets to mitigate the impact on vulnerable populations.

This report summarizes a high-level discussion titled "The Missing Piece? Climate Change Mitigation and the Benefits of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform," held as an official side event of the UNFCCC COP 17 on December 7, 2011, in Durban, South Africa. The event focused on the scale of fossil fuel subsidies compared to climate finance and the necessity of reforming these subsidies to enable green growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This 2012 report summarizes a task force meeting in Durban, South Africa, aimed at identifying lessons learned for REDD+ policy capacity in developing countries. The discussions prioritized three 'pillars'—Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV), safeguards, and financing—as the primary areas for research and policy development. The report emphasizes the need for country-driven processes, effective communication with local communities, and the integration of national experiences (such as those from Brazil, Kenya, and Indonesia) to inform international negotiations and national implementation.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for the Asia region. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and exposure, providing a framework for integrating disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation to enhance long-term resilience in Asian countries.

This research paper examines housing vulnerability to climate hazards in Vietnam, with a specific focus on Central Vietnam and the city of Da Nang. It analyzes how socio-economic status, poor construction practices, and a lack of professional technical guidance contribute to structural weaknesses in homes, particularly semi-permanent housing. The document highlights the 'two-fold source of vulnerability' where the use of modern materials without safety standards increases risk, and discusses the economic benefits of investing in disaster-resistant reinforcement to break the cycle of poverty caused by repeated disaster recovery costs.

This report, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesizes findings from the IPCC Special Report on Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation (SREX) specifically for the Asia region. It examines the interaction between climate extremes, human vulnerability, and exposure, providing guidance for decision-makers on integrating disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation to build long-term resilience.

This briefing, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network in 2012, synthesises findings from the IPCC SREX report specifically for the health sector. It examines how climate extremes—such as heatwaves, floods, and droughts—interact with human vulnerability and exposure to create disaster risks, and provides a framework for health policy-makers to integrate disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA).

The Annual Partner Survey 2011-2012 report details the results of a voluntary survey conducted by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in late 2011. The survey gathered feedback from 202 participants—including NGOs, individual consultants, and research institutes—regarding the quality of CDKN's products, its effectiveness in knowledge sharing and partnership facilitation, and its overall influence on organizational practices and policies.

This report surveys the diverse methodologies used to calculate and report 'leverage ratios' in climate finance, highlighting the lack of a universal definition. It examines how various institutions—including the World Bank, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF)—measure the ability of public funds to catalyze private and other public investments, and proposes a more rigorous framework for assessing financial effectiveness.