14. Policy and Planning

14.1 African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)

African Economic Research Consortium [updated March 2004]
8th Floor, International House
PO Box 62882, Nairobi
KENYA
Contact: Ms. Seneiya Kamotho
Tel: +254 2 228057
Fax: +254 2 219308
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://www.aercafrica.org
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Development; Policy and planning
Publications: Journal of Economic Policy

AERC was established in July 1988 with the principal objective of strengthening local capacity for economic policy research in sub-Saharan Africa. Its mission rests on two basic premises. First, development is more likely to occur where there is sustained, sound management of the economy. Second, such management is more likely to happen where there exists an active, well informed group of locally based professional economists to conduct research which is relevant to policy. AERC's role, therefore, is to support locally based researchers in their effort to conduct economic inquiry, to promote retention of such capacity, and to encourage its application in the relevant policy context.

The Consortium currently brings together 15 funders in support of a commonly agreed programme of research activities, information dissemination and the training of future potential researchers. The AERC's advisory committee designates themes which it deems most pertinent to policy needs.

Networking is the key strategic instrument for implementing AERC's activities. Individual researchers in the region are networked, and supported by resource persons. Activities are coordinated and overheads are shared. This alleviates professional isolation, encourages exchange of experiences, and creates peer pressure for enhancing quality.

Both the AERC Newsletter and Research News are downloadable from the AERC website.

The African Economic Research Consortium is a regional representative to the Global Development Network with its secretariat at the World Bank. The GDN is an open, worldwide network of policy and research institutes which aims to support the generation, sharing and application to policy of development knowledge.

14.2 Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC)

Caribbean Policy Development Centre [updated July 2004]
PO Box 284
Bridgetown
BARBADOS

Contact: Christopher Sinckler, Executive Coordinator

Tel: +1 246 437 6055 Fax: +1 246 437 3381
E-mail: [email protected] / [email protected]
Web: http://www.cpdcngo.org
Geographic coverage: Caribbean
Languages: English
Subject areas: Capacity building; Policy and planning
Publications: Publications list available on request.

The Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) was established by Caribbean NGOs to work towards policy change in the interest of Caribbean people. CPDC involves all major language areas of the Caribbean- English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and the range of Creole languages used in the region.

Its mission is to help NGOs in the Caribbean:

understand where and how policies are made and how they affect our daily lives
share information about these policies;
build the confidence and ability of Caribbean people to influence public policy;
work constructively with governments to design and support policies which benefit
and improve the lives of Caribbean peoples;
work together to change policies which do not benefit Caribbean peoples.

CPDC promotes development which: -

- is people-oriented
- is based on active and effective participation of people in the decision making processes
- protects human rights
- is environmentally sustainable
- is equitable in terms of gender, race, class, generation, ability / disability
- encourages leadership and learning at all levels

CPDC is a regional network, whose membership comprises other regional development organisations, national networks, umbrella organisations and national agencies with regional perspectives in their work programmes.

Since its inception the CPDC has undertaken research, analysis, public debate, advocacy and lobbying, and has formulated policy positions on a variety of issues relevant to Caribbean society. CPDC's current programmes are focused on Caribbean development policies in the areas of good governance, regional integration, trade agreements and capacity building of Caribbean civil society organisations.
CDPC's research and analyses are presented to its network members at strategy meetings where consensus is sought. The findings and results are advocated and circulated as CPDC publications.

14.3 CIOEC-Bolivia (Coordinadora de Integración de Organizaciones Económicas Campesinas de Bolivia) [Coordinating Centre for the Integration of Organisations Dedicated to Peasant Economies]

CIOEC-Bolivia
Casilla 245 - Sucre
BOLIVIA
Tel: +591 2 310547 or 310751
Fax: +591 2 310547 or 310751
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.cioecbolivia.org/
Geographic coverage: Bolivia
Languages: Spanish
Subject areas: Policy and planning; Sustainable development
Publications: List of publications accessible online

Since 1991, CIOEC has coordinated and represented the Bolivian OECAs (Organizaciones Económicas Campesinas - Peasant Economic Organisations). Its mission is to develop actions that contribute to the OECAs having sufficient technical, political and economic resources for permanent competitive development. CIOEC-Bolivia has programmes for strengthening and improving the management of the OECAs. OECAs see themselves as the principal actors in the rural development process, and CIOEC is the organisation that supports them in marketing their products, and informs and facilitates their policy decision making.

Information on publications is available at http://www.cioecbolivia.org/publicacionesbase.htm

14.4 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável (CNDRS) [National Council For Sustainable Rural Development]

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Rural Sustentável
SCN Qd.01 - Ed. Brasília Trade Center - Sala 501
CEP:70711-902
Brasília, DF
BRAZIL
Tel: +55 61 3285218
Fax: +55 61 3285175
Web: http://www.cndrs.org.br/
Geographic coverage: Brazil
Languages: Portuguese
Subject areas: Family farms; Land reform; Policy and planning; Sustainable development

CNDRS - linked to the Ministry of Land Reform - was created to discuss the National Plan of Sustainable Rural Development. This plan determines the objectives and targets of the National Plan for Agrarian Reform and the National Plan for the Strengthening of Family Farm Production. Therefore it has to coordinate public policies related to these issues at the national level. There are also hundreds of similar councils at state and county levels that contribute to the work of CNDRS.

14.5 International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

International Institute for Sustainable Development [updated July 2004]
16 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor
Winnipeg
Manitoba R3B OY4
CANADA
Contact: Marlene Roy, Information Resources Coordinator
Tel: +1 204 958 7700
Fax: +1 204 958 7710
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://iisd.ca/
Geographic coverage: Developing countries
Languages: English
Subject areas: Capacity building; Policy and planning; Sustainable development

IISD was established in 1990 as a registered charitable organisation. It contributes to sustainable development by advancing policy recommendations on international trade and investment, economic instruments, climate change, measurement and indicators, and natural resource management. By using Internet communications it reports on international negotiations and broker knowledge gained through collaborative projects with global partners, resulting in more rigorous research, capacity building in developing countries, and better dialogue between North and South.

IISD's vision is better living for all - sustainably. Its mission is to champion innovation, enabling societies to live sustainably. IISD receives financial support from the governments of Canada and Manitoba, other governments, UN agencies, foundations and the private sector.

The IISD Information Centre is a clearing house for sustainable development policy research and analysis. Its role is to:

develop a highly focused collection and database on sustainable development;
provide international access to the collection;
respond to information and research inquiries;
inform decision makers about the latest sustainable development information materials.

The collection and database (SD-Cite) holds over 10 500 titles on sustainable development and related topics, as well as hundreds of organisational files and corporate environmental reports, and close to 400 journals, magazines and newsletters from around the world. The collection comprises:

definitive works on the concept and practice of sustainable development;
general works on the interrelations of environment, development and economics;
documents from key sustainable development processes at the international, national and local levels;
literature contributing to and influencing sustainable development.

The Publishing Services department of the International Institute for Sustainable Development works to ensure that knowledge generated through its projects and initiatives reaches engaged audiences throughout the world.The IISD Publications Centre includes books, papers and other materials capturing much of IISD's institutional and research history. Many of IISD's publications are available for sale, and almost all publications are available for free in PDF format.

IISD also hosts the following networks:
Climate Change Knowledge Network expertise, experience and perspectives from research institutes in developing and developed countries active in the area of climate change. It provides a forum for rigorous research on the issues within the international climate change structure and a means for furthering dialogue between countries as they undertake efforts to address climate change.

The Sustainable Development Communications Network (SDCN) is a group of leading civil society organizations seeking to accelerate the implementation of sustainable development through broader, integrated information and communications about what we know.The network focuses its efforts on integrating Internet communications into broader communication strategies.

Trade Knowledge Network (TKN) is composed of research and policy institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America that are exploring the connection between trade and sustainable development and working to ensure that increased international trade can contribute to sustainable development in their countries and regions. The goal of the Trade Knowledge Network is to foster long-term capacity to address the complex issues of trade and sustainable development in partner-country research institutions, governments and the wider policy community, including business, academia, and environment and development NGOs.
The SD Gateway integrates the online information developed by members of the Sustainable Development Communications Network.

14.6 MWENGO

MWENGO
Reflection and Development Centre for NGOs in Eastern and Southern Africa
20 McChlery Avenue
Eastlea
Harare
ZIMBABWE
Tel: +263 4 721469
Fax: +264 4 738310
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.mwengo.org/
Geographic coverage: Eastern and Southern Africa
Languages: English
Subject areas: Development; Education/training; Land management; Policy and planning
Publications: Mwengo Update (monthly newsletter); publications list available online

MWENGO is an acronym from the Kiswahili expression Mwelekeo wa NGO which translates as 'direction or vision of NGOs'. MWENGO is a reflection and development centre for NGOs working in eastern and southern Africa. Formally established in 1991 at a regional meeting of NGOs in Harare, Zimbabwe, MWENGO's mission is to strengthen the capacities of NGOs in Eastern and Southern Africa in order to articulate and implement a development agenda rooted in African experience and analysis.

Its goals are to:

promote research analysis and documentation, within and among NGOs, of practical experiences and economic, social and political conditions affecting development approaches, and to enable them to assume an informed leadership role on shaping African development with donors, international agencies and governments;
strengthen the technical and managerial capacity of NGO staff to design, plan, implement and manage programmes that utilise resources efficiently, and to be more responsive and accountable to their constituencies;
build the institutional capacity and integrity of NGOs to create and democratise accountable structures for decision making, and to have a clearer understanding of their identity, role and mission;
define a constructive civil role and practical strategies to enable NGOs to become advocates for more democratic governmental institutions and decision-making processes;
enhance the role and ability of NGOs to participate in the policy-making processes related to development at the national, regional and international levels, to represent the interests of their constituencies.

It has a publications list and Mwengo Update, its monthly newsletter, is available online.

Landweb is a network and information exchange tool for NGOs working on land advocacy and issues in Eastern and Southern Africa: http://www.landweb.org/about.htm

14.7 Regional and International Networking Group (RING)

Regional and International Networking Group
RING Secretariat
IIED
3 Endsleigh Street
London WC1H 0DD
UNITED KINGDOM
Contact: Viv Davies, RING Coordinator
Tel: +44 20 7388 2117
Fax: +44 20 7388 2826
E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected]
Web: http://www.iied.org/networks/ring.html
Geographic coverage: Global
Languages: English
Subject areas: Policy and planning; Sustainable development;
Publications: RING/IIED Briefing Papers and Reports

The RING is a global alliance of research and policy organisations that seeks to enhance and promote sustainable development through a programme of collaborative research, dissemination and policy advocacy. Its Secretariat is located within the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

Its vision is to promote and develop collaborative working in support of sustainable development through:

linking grassroots communities and policy makers;
linking civil society and research agendas;
sharing and disseminating knowledge between the North and South, and between regions.

Its objective is to ensure that international sustainable development policy making and institutions are informed and influenced by local realities, and hence are supportive and enabling of local action.

The RING works to ensure the full participation and understanding of the rights and responsibilities of all major stakeholders in the environment and development policy-making process, including the private sector, the state and civil society. This gives the RING a unique inter-regional and regional perspective on major sustainable development issues.

New August 2004
South Centre

South Centre
CP 228
1211 Geneva 19
SWITZERLAND

Tel: +41 22 791 80 50
Fax:       +41 22 798 85 31
E-mail: [email protected]
Web:       http://www.southcentre.org/
Geographical coverage: Developing countries
Languages: English; French
Subject areas: Policy and planning; South-south cooperation
Publications: South Letter - quarterly journal; South Bulletin - bi-weekly newsletter; TRADE Working Papers Series and Occasional Papers Series.

The South Centre is an intergovernmental organisation of the developing countries and as such an instrument of South-South co-operation. It is intended to meet the need for analysis of development problems and experience, as well as to provide intellectual and policy support required by developing countries for collective and individual action in the international arena. The South Centre’s central objectives are to:

· promote South solidarity, South consciousness and mutual knowledge and understanding among the countries and peoples of the South;

· promote various types of South-South co-operation and action, South-South links, networking and information exchange;

· contribute to South-wide collaboration in promoting common interests and co-ordinated participation by developing countries in international forums dealing with South-South and North-South matters, as well as with other global concerns;

· foster convergent views and approaches among countries of the South with respect to global economic, political and strategic issues related to evolving concepts of development, sovereignty and security;

· contribute to better mutual understanding and co-operation between the South and the North on the basis of equity and justice for all and, to this end, to the democratisation and strengthening of the United Nations and its family of organisations.

Currently, 46 countries are members of the South Centre. The Centre, however, works for the benefit of the South as a whole, making efforts to ensure that all developing countries and interested groups and persons have access to its work and activities, irrespective of membership.

The Centre works to assist in developing points of view of the South on major policy issues, and to generate ideas and action-oriented proposals for consideration by the collectivity of South governments, institutions of South-South co-operation, inter-governmental organisations of the South, and non-governmental organisations and the community at large. It is carried out by means of policy-oriented research and analysis and by publishing and disseminating as widely as possible the results of this work, including via the Centre’s website.

The Centre’s publications, which are also accessible online and can be downloaded, include:

· Books;

· South Letter - quarterly journal;

· South Bulletin - bi-weekly newsletter;

· Trade-Related Agenda, Development and Equity (TRADE) Working Papers Series and Occasional Papers Series.

14.8 Third World Network (TWN)

Third World Network
228 Macalister Road
10400 Penang
MALAYSIA
Tel: +60 4 2266728 or 2266159
Fax: +60 4 2264505
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.twnside.org.sg/twnintro.htm
Geographic coverage: Developing countries
Languages: English
Subject areas: Environment; Policy and planning; Sustainable development
Publications: Third World Resurgence (monthly); Third World Economics (bimonthly); SUNS bulletin (daily); TWN Features Service

TWN is an independent, non-profit, international network of organisations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, the third world and North - South issues. Its objectives are to conduct research on economic, social and environmental issues pertaining to the South; to publish books and magazines; to organise and participate in seminars; and to provide a platform representing broadly Southern interests and perspectives at international fora such as the UN conferences and processes.

Since its formation in 1981, TWN has gained a reputation as a credible and challenging source of analysis and policy advocacy rooted in the concerns and priorities of the South. Its publications and contributions to debates at international conferences have added initiative and momentum to a growing coalition within the developing world, together with key Northern partners, working towards equitable and sustainable development.

TWN's international secretariat is based in Penang, Malaysia. It has offices in Delhi, India; Montevideo, Uruguay (for South America); Geneva; London and Accra, Ghana. It has affiliated organisations in several third world countries, including India, the Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Peru, Ethiopia, Uruguay, Mexico, Ghana, South Africa and Senegal. It also cooperates with several organisations in the North.

TWN publications include:

Third World Resurgence - a monthly magazine on development, ecology, economics, health, alternatives and South - North relations;
Third World Economics - a bimonthly economics magazine focusing on the GATT/WTO, the World Bank/IMF and related issues;
SUNS Bulletin - the daily South - North development bulletin published from Geneva, Switzerland;
TWN Features Service - a service to the media providing three features a week.

For more information, a publications catalogue and subscriptions details, please write to or E-mail the TWN Publications Department.

14.9 Third World Network, African Regional Secretariat (TWN-Africa)

Third World Network
Africa Regional Secretariat
Accra-North PO Box 19452
GHANA
Contact: Yao Graham, Coordinator
Tel: +233 21 511188 or 9
Fax: +233 21 511188
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.kimito.free-online.co.uk/twnweb/twn/about.htm
Geographic coverage: Africa
Languages: English; French
Subject areas: Capacity building; Environment; Gender issues; Policy and planning; Sustainable development; Trade; Women
Publications: African Agenda (bimonthly); GERAlinks (bilingual newsletter)

The Africa Secretariat of TWN was established in Accra, Ghana in 1994. The purposes of establishing the Africa secretariat were to:

bring TWN's perspectives to the debates and challenges facing Africa;
feed African issues and perspectives into the campaigns and analysis of TWN;
strengthen the capacity of African NGOs to participate and intervene in policy debates and economic decision making.
Since 1994, the Africa Secretariat has established TWN's presence firmly in Africa. This has been achieved through a combination of strategies:
information dissemination on issues of African and third world interest;
research which has a policy relevance to struggles for economic justice and sustainable development;
campaigning and advocacy around policy issues, in collaboration with partners throughout Africa and in the North.

TWN-Africa publishes briefing papers, often timed as strategic interventions in critical policy debates. It also publishes the bimonthly magazine African Agenda. The secretariat has a translation unit which enables it to initiate and strengthen links with civil society groups in French-speaking African countries.

TWN also acts as host to the Gender and Economic Reforms in Africa (GERA) Programme, directed by an all-African Steering Committee of women experts and activists, which aims to analyse and transform economic policies from a gender perspective, and link African researchers and advocates dedicated to gender equality and economic justice by:

providing grants to African women's organisations for research and advocacy on gender and economic policy issues, with a focus on trade and investment;
implementing a regional advocacy programme on key gender and economic policy issues;
providing a forum for discussion and exchange between researchers and advocates;
working with an extensive range of experts and international institutions on key gender and economic issues;
liaising with national and international networks working on gender.

GERA also publishes papers on key gender and economic policy issues, the findings of GERA action research, and GERAlinks, a bilingual newsletter linking more than 1000 researchers and activists in Africa and around the world.