The IIED blog
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Building transparency and trust into smallholder commodity trading and contract farming
13 November 2018Smallholder farmers have long had difficulties getting a fair price for their produce. A recent IIED webinar discussed how linking farmers to commodity exchanges and an ‘incentive-based’ contract farming (IBCF) approach can help improve farmer-buyer relations and establish more transparent trading arrangements
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Mining in the deep-sea bed: are we ready?
12 November 2018International law designates the deep seabed as the “common heritage of humankind”, but poorly regulated mining could cause irreparable damage to such a fragile ecosystem. Erika Solimeo and Brendan Schwartz argue that the International Seabed Authority needs a moratorium on mining extraction licences
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Three ‘E’s to guide the post-2020 biodiversity roadmap
6 November 2018Joji Cariño sets out three key principles that could underpin a new biodiversity deal where humans and nature work in harmony – and explains why indigenous peoples and local communities will be key in shaping this deal
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The future of work, technological change and global inequality
2 November 2018Technical and digital innovation are transforming the nature of work, employment patterns and international trade. IIED director Andrew Norton looks at how technological change brings both threats and opportunities – and how developing countries can take action to ensure their citizens have the skills they need
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African cities can raise more money. Kenya and South Africa offer useful lessons
31 October 2018Africa's cities are expanding at an unprecedented rate. Sarah Colenbrander and Ian Palmer highlight research that shows how Africa's national governments can support cities and unlock vital investment.
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Turn up the volume: community voices on illegal wildlife trade
31 October 2018Communities living alongside wildlife are the most powerful force for tackling the illegal wildlife trade crisis; it’s time for governments to listen and act
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As climate changes, Himalayan farmers return to traditional crops
29 October 2018Traditional crops and innovations are offering Himalayan farmers a way to deal with the challenges of climate change, but there is much work to be done for this to become a truly viable alternative
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The Ethiopian informal settlement jigsaw puzzle: an opportunity to re-sort the pieces?
25 October 2018Informal settlements are increasingly housing Ethiopia’s growing population – laying bare gaps in policy that must be addressed
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Co-production in urban areas: evolving form, enduring presence
24 October 2018How far can ‘co-production’ improve the lives of the one in seven of the global population living in informal settlements without secure tenure or adequate access to services? Authors of the October 2018 issue of Environment and Urbanization tackle this question by analysing the potentials and shortcomings of co-production
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Achieving real transformation in our food system
23 October 2018Frank Mechielsen of Hivos reports back from the annual Committee for Food Security, the main international platform that explores food security concerns. He describes how joint action can deliver much needed change in the way we produce and consume our food
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Incendiary observations from the 4th FLARE conference
22 October 2018Researchers into forest livelihoods recently met in Copenhagen to share ideas on how to support forests, sustainable forestry and forest peoples. Duncan Macqueen reports back on some of the highlights
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Food, sisterhood and dreams
16 October 2018On World Food Day, Nicole Szucs reports back from a dialogue on increasing dietary diversity and local food systems in Bolivia, and highlights a new video showing how women play a vital role in the food cycle, from production to consumption
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The role, influence and impact of women in biodiversity conservation
9 October 2018Guest blogger Cristiana Pașca Palmer asks: “How do we empower women, as agents of change and frontrunners, to build new pathways or accelerate transition to sustainability?”
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The IPCC’s report on global warming of 1.5˚C spells out the urgency of action
8 October 2018IIED director Andrew Norton looks at the new report on climate change
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Beyond survival – rethinking safety nets for pastoralists in Ethiopia
4 October 2018Pastoralists in Ethiopia are adapting to climatic and political stresses and finding livelihood alternatives. But challenges they face remain poorly understood by policymakers
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First steps towards a global agreement
21 September 2018IIED director Andrew Norton responds to the end of the first session of negotiations of new laws for the high seas, calling for a greater presence of the views of those most affected to ensure a fair and inclusive treaty
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Power that changes lives: three lessons from a rural energy champion
19 September 2018Mini-grids are providing rural communities in Tanzania with the energy they need to move beyond powering household appliances, to generating new business and boosting the local economy
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Addressing the political and technical challenges of measuring adaptation
18 September 2018Susannah Fisher outlines the challenges that need to be addressed in order to effectively measure progress on adaptation as part of the first global stocktake in 2023
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Creating knowledge and supporting action: citizen-generated evidence from food diaries in Uganda
14 September 2018Citizens in Western Uganda are using food diaries to generate data on food consumption – helping them understand their own diets and advocate for a better food system
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Locally controlled forest enterprises are the whole enchilada
10 September 2018Duncan Macqueen explains how community forest enterprises in Mexico are already supporting the integrated delivery of the SDGs
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New rules for high seas must include poorest countries’ needs
5 September 2018For new laws concerning the high seas to be effective and fair, it's vital that the poorest people are listened to and given an active role in protecting and managing our oceans. So says Essam Yassin Mohammed, who is in New York for the negotiations
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Governments must move to formal negotiations in Bangkok and start shaping the final rulebook
4 September 2018Achala Abeysinghe says this week’s UN climate talks need to make progress on agreeing the operational guidelines or ‘rulebook’ for the Paris Agreement – a vital step towards putting the climate deal into practice
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Transforming aid for urban areas
4 September 2018There is a new way to finance community-driven development, working with local funds set up and managed by grassroots organisations. This can work well at scale with local governments to meet basic needs and reduce urban poverty. David Satterthwaite explains why it’s time external agencies took note of this
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Negotiating transparency for the Paris deal: next stop, Bangkok
28 August 2018As climate experts gather in Bangkok for the final negotiating session before the December UN climate talks, guest blogger Tshewang Dorji discusses the transparency requirements of the Paris Agreement – and why these need to work for the LDCs.
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Going 'mobile first' to reach African audiences
23 August 2018Mobile means more than being on the move, it means connecting to the next generation of African audiences