Sustainable markets blogs
-
Escalating local climate resilience finance
12 October 2021A new IIED report offers 30 practical options to help local people build vital resilience into their livelihoods, landscapes and food systems and calls for an urgent increase in climate finance to and through local organisations
-
Mining cobalt better
29 September 2021While the post-COVID-19 world looks at ‘building back better’, little has changed for artisanal cobalt miners in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Over the last 12 months, IIED’s research in partnership with Afrewatch DRC has found nascent efforts to improve the sector to be at risk of creating “islands of responsibility” while failing to drive the broad based societal and environmental change envisaged by the ‘building back better’ agenda
-
Addressing the ‘triple crisis’ COVID-19, climate change and nature loss: a catalyst for business to increase its sustainability?
8 September 2021The role played by businesses will be critical in helping the world to tackle current crises and 'build back better' – and there is lots of evidence that companies that prioritise sustainability can outperform the market
-
Civil society perspectives on the living income differential for cocoa producers
23 August 2021At an IIED webinar, civil society representatives discussed challenges and opportunities around design and implementation of the living income differential for cocoa producers
-
Turning up the heat – how chilli growing is conserving Uganda’s wildlife
15 June 2021Juliet Aneno explains how chilli-growing enterprises in Uganda are helping households generate non-poaching related income – supporting efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict around Murchison Falls National Park
-
Life and livelihoods: the impact of COVID-19 on small-scale fishing communities
8 June 2021Small-scale fisheries are a vital source of employment, income and food for millions, especially in developing countries, but COVID-19 has affected the entire aquatic food system. On World Oceans Day, Cristina Pita looks at the drastic impact on the life and livelihoods for the poorest and most vulnerable
-
Where’s the capital for homegrown companies? Why energy access investments in Kenya need to go local
29 December 2020The importance of local investments in energy access in Kenya is the focus of IIED's Kevin Johnstone
-
Getting personal: tailoring support to power up Tanzania’s rural businesses
1 December 2020Drawing on new survey findings, Sarah Best discusses how customising support for small and micro businesses in rural Tanzania could unlock productivity
-
Putting informal food systems at the centre of sustainable diets
16 October 2020A new report from IIED and Hivos calls for a rethink about how sustainable diets can be achieved in low-income countries, with informal food systems central to that goal
-
To address food insecurity in Uganda post COVID-19 the government must act now
24 September 2020In the wake of COVID-19, food insecurity in Uganda is drastically increasing. Food Rights Alliance and Twaweza East Africa call on the government to take specific and urgent action
-
Energy, finance and community business – show us the money
18 August 2020More ways are emerging to help businesses across sub-Saharan Africa get the energy finance they need to grow – but small businesses in rural communities are still missing out. What are their options?
-
Three pillars for food system change: inclusivity, joint vision and long-term commitment
16 July 2020A new paper identifies three key ingredients multi-actor initiatives need to drive change in the food system
-
Uganda’s hungry food vendors: counting the cost of COVID-19
11 June 2020Interviews as part of a new study show how lockdown restrictions are leaving Uganda’s food vendors hungry and vulnerable
-
Citizen-led research serves up answers on what Bolivian food vendors want
7 May 2020Guest blogger Jorge Vladimir Garcia describes the outcomes and challenges of research, led by traditional food vendors themselves, on what might help keep market eateries in La Paz popular in the face of rising competition.
-
Wanted: corporate global citizens to deliver the SDGs
24 January 2020Businesses are global citizens too – and have a prominent role in collective achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, explains guest blogger David Croft
-
We need more than business as usual, to leave no one behind
10 January 2020In the latest blog in our series exploring how business and investors can contribute to achieving the SDGs, Rijit Sengupta discusses the challenges and opportunities for businesses in India seeking to raise the bar on sustainability
-
The champions helping communities make better food choices
8 January 2020In Jember, Indonesia, children and young people are bearing the brunt of unhealthy eating habits. Isnatul Mu'allifin explains how this new generation is using data – gathered with and by the community – to drive tangible, positive change in people’s diets
-
Ten reasons why we have to rewrite the sustainability rule book, and now
8 December 2019Companies are lagging behind when it comes to action on climate change. Mike Barry shares his tips on becoming the sustainable business leaders of tomorrow
-
Urban food insecurity and malnutrition are about more than just food
16 October 2019Food insecurity, malnutrition and obesity are increasingly becoming urban issues, affecting the health of millions of children and adults. The new issue of Environment & Urbanization looks at the wider context of urban food and nutrition security and the challenges for policymakers
-
Rebalancing power in the Kenya-UK green bean value chain
9 September 2019Farmers and workers often struggle to influence decision-making and trading patterns within global value chains. A recent IIED webinar discussed an initiative to overcome hurdles for farmers and workers to secure a stronger voice and influence trading arrangements within the Kenya-UK green bean value chain
-
Beyond maize: exploring agricultural diversification in Zambia
22 August 2019Zambia's food system is widely seen as not working. A new report looks at how to increase crop diversity, support better nutrition and support resilience at local and national level
-
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
-
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.
-
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
-
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