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22. Achieving sustainable development objectives in international investment: Could future IIAs impose sustainable development-related obligations on investors?
- Author:
- Janani Sarvanantham and John Gaffney
- Publication Date:
- 11-2013
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
- Abstract:
- A number of influential international organizations recently have issued publications that discuss the promotion of sustainable development in international investment. These organizations include the United Nations; UNCTAD; FAO, IFAD, the UNCTAD Secretariat, and the World Bank Group; the Commonwealth Secretariat; the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC); and the South African Development Community (SADC).
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, Emerging Markets, International Organization, Foreign Aid, and Governance
- Political Geography:
- United Nations
23. A New Agenda for Education in Fragile States
- Author:
- Rebecca Winthrop and Elena Matsui
- Publication Date:
- 08-2013
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Brookings Institution
- Abstract:
- In the 13 years since the dawn of the new millennium, significant progress has been made in addressing some of the world's most important problems. One billion fewer people live in extreme poverty, 3 million children's lives are saved annually and 610 million children in developing countries are enrolled in primary school, more than ever before. However, this progress has not been shared evenly around the globe. Populations affected by weak systems of governance and that suffer violence and disasters have systematically been left behind. They are much less likely to enjoy progress vis-à-vis any of the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which include eradicating extreme poverty and hunger, improving children and women's health, and enrolling children in school. No country classified as a “fragile state,” for example, has met all eight of the MDGs. Children born in low-income, conflict-affected countries are twice as likely to die before the age of five years, twice as likely to lack access to clean water and more than three times as likely to not attend school than children living in peaceful, low-income countries. People living in poverty, many of whom are affected by conflict, are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and disasters. Children are especially affected, and those from the poorest families are up to 10 times more likely to bear the brunt of environmental disasters linked to climate change.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Development, International Political Economy, Peace Studies, Foreign Aid, and Peacekeeping
- Political Geography:
- United Nations
24. New Report Examines How to Enhance Training for UN Peacekeepers
- Author:
- Alberto Cutillo
- Publication Date:
- 08-2013
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Peace Institute
- Abstract:
- Among the many elements that determine the success or failure of United Nations peacekeeping operations, the effectiveness of individual peacekeepers plays a prominent, though often underestimated, role. But “effectiveness” is an elusive concept. It is the product of a number of factors, ranging from the will of peacekeepers to the quality and suitability of their equipment; from timely deployment to strategic planning; from logistics to financial support. Ongoing efforts to improve the effectiveness of UN peacekeeping cover all these areas and more, including training, as a means to ensure that UN peacekeepers are adequately prepared to accomplish their tasks.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Conflict Prevention, Arms Control and Proliferation, Development, Humanitarian Aid, Armed Struggle, and Peacekeeping
- Political Geography:
- United Nations
25. Feed the world? The challenges of global food security
- Author:
- Costanza Caputi
- Publication Date:
- 06-2013
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- European Union Institute for Security Studies
- Abstract:
- According to the UN's Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), food security exists when 'all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life'. This is determined by the four key dimensions of availability, access, utilisation and stability of food supply.
- Topic:
- Security, Agriculture, Development, and Food
- Political Geography:
- Europe and United Nations
26. Innovation in Urban Development: Incremental Housing, Big Data, and Gender
- Author:
- Allison M. Garland
- Publication Date:
- 11-2013
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University
- Abstract:
- Within the last five years, the global population reached a critical turning point, making the demographic shift from rural to urban; for the first time in history, the majority of the world's people now live in cities. Over the next two decades the number of city dwellers will soar to nearly five billion, 60 percent of the world's population. Virtually all of this urban growth is occurring in cities of the developing world, overwhelming ecosystems and placing tremendous pressure on the capacity of local governments to provide necessary infrastructure and services.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, Human Rights, Poverty, Governance, and Reform
- Political Geography:
- United Nations
27. The Pharmaceutical Industry's Contributions to the UN Millennium Development Goals
- Author:
- Carol Adelman, Yulya Spantchak, Jeremiah Norris, and Kacie Marano
- Publication Date:
- 05-2013
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Hudson Institute
- Abstract:
- Member States of the United Nations unanimously endorsed the Millennium Declaration on September 8, 2000. One of its provisions resolved "to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to make essential drugs more widely available and affordable to those who need them in developing countries." Then, in late September, the UN established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), drawing its authorization from the original Declaration. There are eight goals that address a variety of global issues, including education, poverty, environment, and health. The Goals were set to be achieved by 2015, with indicators applied to measure progress. For example, to measure poverty reduction, the number of people living under $1.25 per day is tracked. To measure progress in reaching universal education, primary school enrollment is tracked.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, and International Cooperation
- Political Geography:
- United Nations
28. 2015 and beyond: The governance solution for development
- Author:
- Craig Fagan and Santhosh Srinivasan
- Publication Date:
- 09-2013
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Transparency International
- Abstract:
- There are fewer than 1000 days remaining until the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Based on current progress, many will not be achieved. For Transparency International, a critical reason for the lack of success is weak governance and the corruption that follows.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Development, and Governance
- Political Geography:
- United Nations
29. Human Insecurity: Understanding International Migration from a Human Security Perspective
- Author:
- Todd Scribner and Francesca Vietti
- Publication Date:
- 01-2013
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Journal on Migration and Human Security
- Institution:
- Center for Migration Studies of New York
- Abstract:
- This article examines contemporary, mass migration from the perspective of human security. It tracks the development of the human security model of international relations, and compares it to the well-established state security model that has served as the dominant paradigm for international relations since the seventeenth century. The article argues that human security offers a more effective approach to many of the underlying problems and threats associated with mass migration, than does the traditional state-security model. It challenges national and international authorities to address threats to human security, in order to minimize forced migration and to create the conditions for migration by choice, not necessity.
- Topic:
- International Relations, Development, and War
- Political Geography:
- United Nations
30. Bigger Cities, Smaller Screens: Urbanization, Mobile Phones, and Digital Media Trends in Africa
- Author:
- Adam Clayton Powell III
- Publication Date:
- 09-2012
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- National Endowment for Democracy
- Abstract:
- Africa will become predominantly urban within 20 years, according to a United Nations report, with cities tripling in size and megacities developing throughout the continent. This suggests significant changes for Africans' consumption of media in general and digital media in particular, with implications for Africa's cities, politics, and civil society.
- Topic:
- Development, Science and Technology, Communications, and Mass Media
- Political Geography:
- Africa and United Nations