Money, politics and power – reforming the international financial architecture

The latest edition of IIED's Make Change Happen podcast is out now! In this episode?we discuss international financial architecture?– the global system that includes the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, multilateral development banks and international financial institutions.?

IIED’s director of shaping sustainable markets, Laura Kelly, and senior researcher Mohsen Gul talk about the critical need for reform of the international financial architecture. IIED’s chief economist Paul Steele outlines three priorities for its reform, and principal researcher Ritu Bharadwaj talks about the Global SIDS Debt Sustainability Support Service, co-designed by IIED to alleviate crippling levels of debt and build economic resilience among Small Island Developing States.?

The discussion also features Isatou F Camara, director of finance at The Gambia’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, who explains that the current supply of climate finance falls drastically short of the required amounts Least Developed Countries need, calling for faster and more accessible funding to reach these countries. Listen now !

News and insights

Climate Change & Modern Slavery Hub launch

The intersection of climate change, migration and modern slavery is complex and poorly understood. This knowledge gap results in inadequate policies and programmes to protect vulnerable populations.?The?Climate Change & Modern Slavery hub, co-developed by IIED,?Anti-Slavery International?and Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), brings together existing evidence on these links, aiming to support informed decision-making and reduce vulnerability to all forms of modern slavery in the context of climate change.?Register for the launch of the hub on 9 October . ?

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Development and Climate Days 2024: Turning climate ambition into action – confronting uncomfortable truths

Join us on 17 November for Development and Climate Days 2024 (D&C Days) at COP29 – a day of informal discussion and honest dialogue linking climate change and development. As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, the event will examine mechanisms for holding key actors accountable for reducing the risk and vulnerability of those most threatened and impacted by the climate crisis. Register to attend now ! ?

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Research shows gap in climate protections for India's small-scale cotton farmers

Major fashion companies and government agencies need to boost support for India's small-scale cotton farmers as they battle the worsening impacts of climate change, new research from IIED suggests. Focusing on on two regions in India, Building resilience for cotton farmers in India: evidence from Gujarat and Maharashtra ?found that among the 360 farmers surveyed, more than half had suffered either major or complete crop loss due to flood and drought in the past five years. Find out more . ?

The benefits of backing family agroforestry businesses – food for thought

International Coffee Day, held at the start of October, is an annual opportunity to celebrate coffee and raise awareness of the work of smallholder farmers worldwide. This year’s event comes at a time when the livelihoods of smallholder farmers are being increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change.?IIED’s Duncan Macqueen explains why diversified family-run agroforestry businesses offer a sustainable, nature-based solution for smallholder farmers, including coffee growers, in climate-vulnerable nations such as Belize. Read the insight.

IIED at CBD COP16

The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) will be held from 21 October to 1 November 2024 in Cali, Colombia. IIED researchers and partners will lead and present at several events throughout the two weeks, discussing?a variety of topics ranging from biodiversity credits (biocredits) and sustainable wildlife management, to Indigenous Peoples and local communities-led conservation, among other issues.?

This year we have several official side events accepted into the COP programme, as well as supporting partners in their discussions and joining pavilion events. We hope to see you there. Check out our full programme of COP16 events .

New publications

Syrian refugees in Jordan: reevaluating responses to protracted displacement

To better understand the wellbeing and livelihoods of Syrian refugees living in?camps and urban areas in Jordan, we explored the experiences of refugees in two sites: Sweileh district in Amman and Zaatari camp. We analysed five dimensions of wellbeing: bodily, economic, political, social and psychosocial, based on a quantitative survey triangulated with qualitative data.?Our findings demonstrate that a forward-looking plan is needed that recognises Syrian displacement as predominantly urban. It highlights the urgent need to devise new approaches and policies that can deliver sustainable and equitable outcomes for all refugees, whether living in camps or in urban areas.?Download the working paper . ?

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Economic penalties for refugees running businesses in Nairobi

In Nairobi, businesses owned by refugees are more affected by financial hardship than those owned by Kenyans. A?culture of harassment, arbitrary arrest and extortion of people operating businesses in the city by inspecting officers and police affects refugees disproportionately. Refugee businesses expect to pay bigger bribes and higher (informal) fees for release than Kenyans and purposefully reduce their own incomes to try to minimise harassment.?This briefing provides insight into the challenges faced by refugees running businesses in Nairobi and recommends not only that the business permit system be made more accessible and affordable, but also that more protective measures be introduced. Download the briefing . ?

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Energising adaptation: key considerations for coupling energy access with climate adaptation and resilience

Energy products and services have the potential to support climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, but the links to adaptation and resilience remain murky.?We believe that a clearer recoupling of climate adaptation and energy access efforts would allow us to align the benefits of fulfilling climate adaptation needs through energy access and create more resilient households. With care, this would enable a quicker scale up and achieve stronger outcomes for everyone.?This paper is a first step towards promoting a common understanding between the worlds of climate adaptation and resilience and energy access. Download the working paper .