Blog archives
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New rules for governing high seas must be fair for everyone
20 August 2019As the third session of BBNJ negotiations starts in New York, Essam Yassin Mohammed makes the case for a global ocean treaty that is fair and equitable for everyone
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Climate justice and the IPCC special report on land
13 August 2019The IPCC’s new report detailing how climate change is impacting land is a significant warning for climate justice, writes IIED director Andrew Norton
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For street vendors, finding water and toilets isn’t just a nuisance, it’s cutting into earnings
12 August 2019Guest blogger Carlin Carr argues that providing street vendors access to safe, clean water, sanitation, and hygiene resources benefits not just sellers but the wider community
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The two faces of Bandung’s street food: recreation and reliance
7 August 2019A new report highlights the central role that street food plays in the food security of low-income workers
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Tackling widespread hunger in cities means listening to the urban poor
5 August 2019As urban food insecurity attracts growing interest in policy debates, Cecilia Tacoli makes the case for ensuring that the views of poor urban residents both inform and shape solutions.
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The rise of Nairobi’s concrete tenement jungle
31 July 2019Guest blogger Baraka Mwau describes how the transition to ‘low-cost’ rental housing in Nairobi is unfolding
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Taking stock: how the LDCs became masters in climate activism and optimism
29 July 2019As Achala Abeysinghe moves on to a new role at the Global Green Growth Institute, she reflects on her time at IIED and shares how – as legal, technical and strategic adviser to the Least Developed Countries – she has seen this dynamic group turn climate diplomacy on its head
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Biodiversity loss – more than an environmental emergency
25 July 2019The development community has a blind spot for biodiversity and its connection to social issues, says IIED’s Dilys Roe in an opinion piece published by The Lancet Planetary Health
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Science with citizens, or science for citizens?
23 July 2019Alejandro Guarín says citizen science is a great way to crowdsource knowledge, but involving citizens in research can also be a powerful tool for social change
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Twitter, visas and communication strategies
4 July 2019Rosalind Goodrich says the challenges of getting UK visas for visitors attending IIED's Communications Learning Week struck a cord with Twitter users – and helped inform the workshop discussions on communication strategies
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London Climate Week: is the world ready with its emergency response?
3 July 2019A London Climate Action Week debate saw progressive voices share how they’re showing leadership in tackling the climate emergency – and call on the rest of the world to match their ambition
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Why procurement should be the "next frontier" in transparency for mining
1 July 2019Mine sites often spend more on obtaining goods and services – hundreds of millions of dollars a year – than anything else. Jeff Geipel says this procurement needs better data and transparency, but it has the potential to become a lever for economic and social development.
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Bwindi: bees, baskets and brilliant guided walks
27 June 2019Tracking rare mountain gorillas is on the bucket list of many a traveller – both at the luxury end of the market and for backpackers. But what about the people who live in the same places as gorillas? Dilys Roe reports on a project helping local people to develop new businesses that benefit from tourism
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Evaluating change can be challenging; it starts with quality data collection
25 June 2019NGOs are increasingly being asked to report on the impact of their work, and good monitoring and evaluation is key. Conservation Through Public Health, a Ugandan NGO, has some lessons to share with other small NGOs and – spoiler alert – it all begins with good data
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China’s investments, Africa’s forests: from raw deals to mutual gains?
19 June 2019The grand-scale Belt and Road Initiative is driving ever greater Chinese investment in Africa’s forests. But will the benefits of this ‘development’ reach local people? And will it be sustainable? A recent IIED project in Cameroon highlights both the potential and the pitfalls of surging investment.
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Keeping Bolivia’s culture alive through food
18 June 2019On Sustainable Gastronomy Day (18 June), guest blogger Angel Ramos explores initiatives that are helping to preserve Bolivia’s rich food heritage
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Climate action: let’s be bold in Bonn
14 June 2019As the UN climate change conference kicks off in Bonn on Monday (17 June), Subhi Barakat calls for negotiators to be bolder and braver with an emphasis on action
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Achieving transformational change for the ocean
11 June 2019Making progress on Sustainable Development Goal 14 – life below water – is a complex and increasingly urgent challenge. A new handbook offers practical guidance on monitoring, evaluation and learning for SDG14, and emphasises the importance of using systems thinking
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It is time to control fishing on the high seas to protect the life of the ocean and coastal people who depend on it
8 June 2019As the state of the ocean continues to grab headlines, World Oceans Day (8 June) is an opportunity to make sure new measures to govern the high seas include fishing – the greatest threat to life in the deep ocean
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Steering gender to the centre of the blue economy
6 June 2019This year World Oceans Day (8 June) focuses on promoting gender equality in all ocean-related activities. Eugenia Merayo looks at the challenges women face – and says a sustainable blue economy must involve the active representation and participation of both women and men at all levels
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Making Indian cities inclusive means making them more walkable
5 June 2019Walking, cycling and using public transport are the main ways of getting around Indian cities. But as India's cities expand and car ownership increases, pedestrians are being marginalised – and their safety is being put at risk
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To stay ahead of climate change, cities need to act now
4 June 2019How can cities in low- and middle-income countries address climate change risks? IIED's David Satterthwaite looks at the challenges facing city governments across the world
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Leading on nature: can the new Secretary of State deliver bold action on environment and poverty?
31 May 2019The UK's new Secretary of State for International Development has impressed with a strong public statement on the need to focus aid funding on climate and environmental challenges. IIED welcomes his commitment, and suggests an agenda for action
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Climate adaptation: its time is now
29 May 2019As adaptation shares more of the limelight, champions of community-based adaption have messages on three key areas that international policymakers must hear
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Vietnamese forest and farm producers work towards more resilient livelihoods and landscapes
27 May 2019As the UN launches the Decade of Family Farming, Duncan Macqueen considers the role of the Forest and Farm Facility programme in improving incomes, employment and sustainable agricultural practices for Vietnamese farmers