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This reader's guide provides an overview of the core legal text of the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA), a plurilateral initiative within the World Trade Organization (WTO) aimed at facilitating foreign direct investment (FDI) to foster sustainable development, particularly in developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs).

This guide details the WTO's Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement, which aims to increase FDI in developing countries and LDCs by improving transparency, simplifying administration, and promoting sustainable investment. It outlines a plurilateral approach where signatories commit to procedural reforms, while benefiting from Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) for capacity building.

The 'Essential Monitor’s Guide for Prairie Water Retention' is a technical guidebook published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in February 2024. It provides a framework for monitoring the water quantity and quality of water retention projects—natural infrastructure designed for flood and drought mitigation, water quality improvement, and biodiversity enhancement. The guide details the necessity of water and contaminant mass balances, recommends specific monitoring tools and equipment, and explains how to use rating curves and automated samplers to collect data in the challenging environments of the Canadian Prairies.

The 2024 Global Market Report: Tea examines the economic and social challenges facing the global tea sector, specifically the vulnerability of smallholder farmers and the limited impact of Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSSs) on their livelihoods.

This research paper by Facundo Calvo analyzes the agriculture negotiations for the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), arguing that success depends on moving beyond non-binding declarations toward binding commitments. The author focuses on the potential for an exemption from export restrictions for least developed countries (LDCs) and the deep divisions among WTO members regarding domestic support and public stockholding.

The WTO faces critical reform challenges ahead of MC13, primarily the restoration of its dispute settlement system, which has been paralyzed since 2019 due to US blocks on Appellate Body appointments. Key tensions include the shift toward plurilateral agreements (JSIs) versus multilateral consensus, the integration of environmental and industrial policies into the trade agenda, and disputes over which countries qualify for Special and Differential Treatment (SDT). While some members advocate for 'reform-by-doing' through informal initiatives, others insist on formal, inclusive consensus to maintain legitimacy.

This research paper by Rashmi Jose analyzes the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA), a proposed treaty aimed at increasing foreign direct investment (FDI) flows to developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs). The author examines the agreement's core commitments, its special and differential treatment for developing nations, and the significant legal and political challenges associated with integrating the IFDA as a plurilateral agreement into the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework.

This research paper analyzes two critical development issues facing the World Trade Organization (WTO) ahead of the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference (MC13): the operationalization of special and differential treatment (SDT) for developing economies and the transition process for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) graduating from their category.

This technical report provides a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) of the proposed rehabilitation of the Tirana–Durres railway in Albania. Using a systemic approach, the assessment compares a business-as-usual scenario with a railway scenario to quantify economic, social, and environmental impacts over a 30-year period (2023–2053). The analysis demonstrates that while the project is not economically viable under conventional cost-benefit analysis, it is highly profitable when integrating non-tangible societal benefits.

This fact sheet defines Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) for adaptation—also referred to as ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction (Eco-DRR)—as actions to manage natural ecosystems to increase the resilience of people and ecosystems against climate change impacts.

This report provides a technical transfer pricing framework for lithium, designed to help developing countries accurately tax lithium exports. It details the differences between brine and mineral extraction, analyzes the global supply chain dominated by a few key producers and the Chinese refining market, and explains how to use price-reporting agency indices to determine fair market value based on product grade and specifications.

This report provides a transfer pricing framework for determining the price of lithium minerals, specifically applying the Comparable Uncontrolled Price (CUP) method. It details the physical characteristics of lithium deposits, production processes for brines and spodumene, and the economic factors influencing market prices to help developing countries ensure appropriate tax revenue from lithium exports.

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines how mining companies and partners in South Africa, Peru, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are leveraging digital technologies and infrastructure to improve community engagement and gender equality.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) advocates for the use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the mining sector to enhance sustainable development. It distinguishes SEA from project-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), demonstrating through case studies in Namibia, Ghana, Romania, and Mozambique how SEA can influence national policies and regional planning to better manage cumulative impacts, resource use, and stakeholder interests.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) promotes the use of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in the mining sector to enhance sustainable development. It distinguishes SEA from project-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), highlighting how SEA integrates environmental, social, and economic considerations into high-level plans, policies, and programs (PPPs). Through international case studies, the document outlines the benefits of SEA for governments, companies, and communities, identifies common implementation obstacles, and provides recommendations for integrating SEA into national and regional mining planning, particularly for critical minerals.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) within the mining sector. It distinguishes SEA from project-level Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), positioning SEA as a strategic tool to integrate environmental and social considerations into policies, plans, and programs (PPPs). Through case studies from Namibia, Ghana, Romania, Mozambique, and Canada, the document demonstrates how SEA can optimize infrastructure, improve governance of artisanal mining, and manage mine closures, while identifying key institutional and political obstacles to its implementation.

This fact sheet defines Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation and provides a framework for making these strategies inclusive. It emphasizes that climate impacts vary based on identity and social position, and argues that NbS must account for diverse needs, priorities, and barriers to participation to be effective and equitable.

This guidance note from the International Institute for Sustainable Development explores the intersection of climate change adaptation and peacebuilding, specifically focusing on how conflict-affected states can implement National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes that are sensitive to peace and conflict dynamics.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) issued a statement welcoming a new joint ministerial coalition on fossil fuel subsidy (FFS) reform launched by the Netherlands at COP 28. While the IISD views the coalition as a promising 'first-mover club', it provides six specific recommendations to ensure the initiative converts international commitments into national policy frameworks by COP 29.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) evaluates the Government of Canada's proposed regulatory cap on oil and gas sector emissions, arguing that while the framework is a positive step, its current targets are insufficient to meet national 2030 climate goals.