Voices from the South Centre

South Centre briefs senior developing country officials from trade and commerce ministry

2009-03-10T10:14:00.006+01:00

Mr. Offah Obale and Ms. Wase Musonge today briefed around 12 senior officials from trade and commerce ministries from several developing countries to acquaint them with complex multilateral trade workings. These senior officials were visiting the South Centre as a part of AITIC’s capacity-building programmes, namely the Official Fellowship and Professional Training Programme.Mr. Offah provided

EPA General Exceptions undermine WTO negotiations on commodities

2009-03-05T22:13:00.003+01:00

Peter Lunenborg, Trade for Development Programme, South Centre, has his piece "EPA General Exceptions undermine WTO negotiations on commodities" published in the Trade Negotiations Insights. Volume 8, Number 2, March 2009.The article is available from: http://ictsd.net/i/news/tni/42025/

South Centre organises workshop on EPAs in Angola

2009-03-04T16:29:00.005+01:00

The Trade for Development Programme, South Centre is organising a workshop on EPAs on 4 -5 March 2009 in collaboration with Ministry of Trade, Angola. The resource person include Ms. Aileen Kwa, Coordinator, and Mr. Offah Obale, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme. The keynote address is to be delivered by Minister of Trade, Angola.More information at: http://www.southcentre.org/

Working Lunch Meeting with WTO Delegates

2009-03-04T12:12:00.001+01:00

The Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) , South Centre organised a working lunch meeting for the WTO delegates on 27 February 2009The objective of this meeting was for developing country delegates to discuss and prepare for the upcoming meetings of the TRIPS Council on 3-4 March (regular session) and 5 March (special session).

Dr. Devaki Jain, Member of erstwhile South Commission visits South Centre

2009-03-02T21:14:00.003+01:00

Dr. Devaki Jain, Member of the erstwhile South Commission today visited the South Centre to get briefed on the activities being taken up the South Centre and to share her experiences and insights from the South Commission period.Apart from meeting some of the staff Members, she also met with Mr. Martin Khor, the Executive Director of the South Centre to exchange views on a range of issues,

2nd March: Mr. Martin Khor joins as the new Executive Director of the South Centre

2009-03-02T21:05:00.004+01:00

2 March: Today, Mr. Martin Khor spent his first day in the office as the Executive Director of the South Centre. He was given a warm welcome by all the staff members who introduced themselves and wished him well in his new role. Mr. Khor also took this opportunity to brief all the staff members on his vision and the role he sees for the South Centre, and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

South Centre @ African Information Ethics Workshop, Pretoria

2009-03-02T21:00:00.003+01:00

Vikas Nath, Head - Media and Communications, South Centre delivered the plenary address at the workshop on African Information Ethics and E-Governance, organised by the Government of South Africa and UNESCO in Pretoria, South Africa from 23 -27 February 2009.The presentation delivered briefed the audience on case-studies picked out from several developing countries.

South Centre @ UNCTAD-ICTSD workshop on WTO US -China Panel Report - Geneva, 23 February 2009

2009-03-02T20:56:00.001+01:00

Dr. Xuan Li, Coordinator, Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme of the South Centre, made a presentation on "US-China case: Implications for the protection and enforcement of IPRs in China" at UNCTAD-ICTSD workshop on WTO US -China Panel Report, Geneva, 23 February 2009.Her presentation can be downloaded from here.

South Centre Cautions African Countries when Approaching Economic Partnership Agreements

2009-02-18T17:47:00.000+01:00

The way EPA has been conceived, based on the requirement for reciprocal market opening with the European Union (EU), is likely to bring more losses than gains for Africa. The gains are not much, as the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), which make up 34 out of 47 African countries negotiating the EPAs, can avail of the Everything But Arms (EBA) preferential scheme of the EU. And the value of the

South Centre @ CONNEXION: The Career Forum

2009-02-18T17:41:00.003+01:00

Ms. Xuan Zhang and Mr. Ranson Lekunze from South Centre represented the organisation at the "Connexion" in Geneva on 12 February 2009.Connexion is a career forum organised by the Graduate Institute largely for its students and alumni. South Centre used this opportunity to give a presentation about the South Centre and to brief several students who were interested in internship and other work

Newly elected Chair of the G77 and China in New York visits South Centre

2009-02-07T19:35:00.005+01:00

H.E. Mr. Lumumba Stanislaus-Kaw Di-Aping, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Sudan to the UN in New York visited South Centre to meet the Chairperson, Executive Director and the Staff members.Sudan has been newly elected as the Chair of G77 and China in New York for 2009 and Ambassador Stanislaus-Kaw Di-Aping will have the responsibility of coordinating the G77 and China positions

Fifth South Intellectual Platform Meeting

2009-02-07T10:45:00.012+01:00

The fifth South Intellectual Platform (SIP) meeting was held on 7th February 2009 at Chateau de Bossey. Almost 40 colleagues participated in the meeting.The full-day SIP meeting was chaired by H.E Mr. Benjamin W. Mkapa, President of Tanzania (1995-2005) who is also the Chairman of the South Centre. President Mkapa provided an overview of the global situation and prospects, and what it means for

Working Lunch on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)

2009-02-05T23:29:00.003+01:00

The Trade for Development Programme organised an information exchange and brainstorming meeting on the ongoing EU - ACP EPA negotiations today (5 February) at the South Centre.The meeting provided an update on where African countries and their sub regions are in the EPA/FTA negotiations; how the processes will unfold in the coming months and how the Centre can better support them.The meeting was

South Centre and BaKaForum 2009

2009-02-03T19:55:00.006+01:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre was one of the keynote speakers at the Basel-Karlsruhe Forum (BakaForum) 2009 on 30th January 2009 at the Basel University. Other keynote speakers included, Vandana Shiva, Klaus Leisinger and Thomas Stocker.

South Centre participates in European Patent Office organised worskhop

2009-02-02T18:21:00.002+01:00

Nirmalya Syam, Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP), South Centre participated in a Workshop organized by the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich, Germany from 29-30 January 2009.The workshop discussed various strategies through which the European Patent Office can interact meaningfully with stakeholders in the civil society with the objective of ensuring a balance between

South Centre in BBC Documentary "Beyond A Dollar A Day"

2009-01-28T17:16:00.003+01:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre attended the preview of the BBC documentary "Beyond A Dollar A Day" which includes his short interview on the issue of aid and development.The preview took place in Zurich and was attended by almost 500 people and was followed by a panel dicussion which included Martin Dahinden, Director-General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation;

South Centre participates in Science and Commons World Forum

2009-01-28T16:55:00.003+01:00

Ms. Viviana Munoz Tellez, Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP), South Centre participated this week at the first World Forum on Science and Democracy, held in Belém, Brazil from 26-27 of January 2009. The Forum is created as a space aimed to extend democratic principles to the fields of science and technology, and to support new initiatives and new forms of partnerships between

EPA scenario building workshop for West African countries

2009-01-28T16:34:00.002+01:00

Ms. Wase Musonge, Trade for Development Programme, South Centre participated in the EPA scenario building workshop for West African countries organised by theFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Benin from 19 -23 January 2009. Almost 30 participants attended the training programme.

Training on EPAs/ FTAs for Developing Country Negotiators in Brussels

2009-01-19T16:25:00.003+01:00

On 4 -5 December 2008, the Trade for Development Programme of the South Centre organised a training programme on EPAs/ FTAs for Developing Country Negotiators in Brussels.Over 30 colleagues from different regions participated in this programme. The purpose of this meeting was to bring a small group of like minded countries together to discuss key issues that these countries are likely to agree on

South Centre @ Poznan Climate Conference

2009-01-16T12:37:00.002+01:00

South Centre participated as an Observor at the UN Climate Conference held in Poznan, Poland from 1 -14 December 2009.During the Conference, South Centre provided negotiations assistance and research support to the G77 and China and also participated as an Observor in the various meetings. Vice Yu, Coordinator, Global Governance for Development Programme and Vikas Nath, Head (Media and

Is there any Development Agenda left in the Doha Development Round?

2009-01-16T11:21:00.004+01:00

On 5 December, the South Centre organised an invitation-only brainstorming discussion on the Development content of the Doha Round at the World Trade Organisation.Leading the discussions were H.E. Mme Maria Nzomo, Ambassador, Permanent Mission of Kenya to the WTO and Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre.Some of questions of interest to developing countries were taken up during the

South Centre Networks at Financing for Development Conference, Doha

2009-01-15T20:09:00.008+01:00

Some snapshots of South Centre Networks at the Financing for Development Conference in Doha (28 October - 2 November 2008).Yash Tandon, Executive Director with H.E Mr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania.With H.E Mr.E. Ahamad Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, IndiaWith H.E Pedro Páez Pérez, Minister of Economic Policy Coordination, Republic of Ecuador.With Mr. Jean Ping,

South Centre @ FFD Doha 2008 - Climate Change and Development – How to Mobilize, Transfer and Use Innovative Funding

2009-01-15T20:03:00.004+01:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre was a Panelist for the side event "Climate Change and Development – How to Mobilize, Transfer and Use Innovative Funding", organised by European Commission, Governments of Germany and Sweden on 1 Dec. 2008, 1:15 - 2:45 pm. Other panel members included, Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany (

Financing for Development, Doha: Time for Change: Building a New Global Economic Architecture

2009-01-15T19:50:00.003+01:00

South Centre was represented by Yash Tandon, the Executive Director and Vikas Nath, Head - Media and Communications at the Financing for Development Conference held in Doha, Qatar from 29 November - 2 December 2008.Time for Change: Building a New Global Economic Architecture This South Centre organised side event was held on 30 November and was attended by over 60 participants. The panelists

Cuba: The Debt is Unpayable

2009-01-15T10:01:00.004+01:00

On 3 December 2008, Professor Norman Girvan (Board Member of the South Centre), a former economic adviser to the late Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley, one of the founders of the Association of Caribbean Economists and later a former secretary-general of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), was the recipient of an honorary degree of Doctor of Economic Sciences from the University of

Building of A Common Platform Between Developing Countries

2008-12-14T12:33:00.003+01:00

On 4-5 December 2008, the South Centre organized a training workshop on EPAs/FTAs for developing country negotiators in Brussels.The workshop was organized by the Trade for Development Programme of the South Centre.Workshop agenda can be downloaded from here.

Working Lunch on WIPO Programme and Budget Committee and WIPO Assemblies

2008-12-14T12:27:00.004+01:00

On 3 December 2008, the Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) of the South Centre organized a working lunch meeting to discuss and coordinate developing country participation at the WIPO Programme and Budget Committee (10-11 December) and the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO (12 December).These two meetings took decisions with respect to two key issues: defining new goals for

Principles and Modalities of EU-Indian Cooperation on African Development

2008-12-14T11:47:00.003+01:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre delineated the "Principles and Modalities of EU-Indian Cooperation on African Development" at an international conference on “Engaging with a resurgent Africa” organised in New Delhi on 20th and 21st of November.The conference was organised jointly by Observer Research Foundation and Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung of Germany. According to Dr.

Capacity Building of Parliamentarians from Eastern and Southern Africa on EPAs

2008-12-13T22:13:00.003+01:00

Ms. Luisa Rodriguez, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme gave a presentation on "Food Security and EPAs" at a workshop organized by Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) in Kenya to build the capacity of parliamentarians on EPA-related issues.The workshop was held on 14 -15 November 2008 in Nairobi.

Working Lunch Meeting on SECURE and IP Enforcement Issues

2008-11-26T00:23:00.003+01:00

South Centre organized Working Lunch on Tuesday, 25 November to discuss the recent Fourth SECURE Working Group Meeting and Other IP Enforcement Issues. Almost 20 delegates were present for this lunch meeting chaired by Dr. Xuan LI, Coordinator- Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme, South Centre.During the meeting, there was a:(i) Brief on the recent discussions at 4th SECURE Working Group

South Centre hosts Meeting of Delegates for possible upcoming WTO mini-Ministerial

2008-11-24T18:00:00.001+01:00

South Centre hosted a meeting of delegates from developing countries to have a dialogue and discuss common strategies regarding the possible upcoming WTO mini-Ministerial in Geneva next month. Over 20 delegates from various Developing Countries Missions to the UN participated in the meeting.

Ending Aid Dependence (Second Edition) launched at Chatham House

2008-11-11T12:45:00.008+01:00

On 4 November 2008, South Centre launched the second edition of the book "Ending Aid Dependence" authored by Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, at an event organized by the Chatham House.Over 40 colleagues participated in the book launch which was chaired by Mr. Firoze Manji, Director, Fahamu.The book launch was attended by over 40 colleagues. Dr. Tandon briefed the audience on some of the key

Yash Tandon on Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) at the Norwegian Social Forum

2008-11-11T10:53:00.005+01:00

On 8 November 2008, Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre participated at a seminar about bilateral investment treaties (BITs) at the Norwegian Social Forum (Globaliseringskonferansen). Other panelists included Knut Solli from NHO (the largest Norwegian business/employer organization) and Audun Lysbakken – co-chairman of the Norwegian Socialist Left party.The Norwegian government is

2nd Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators - Marrakech

2008-11-10T16:54:00.003+01:00

The 2nd Annual Forum of Developing Country Investment Negotiators jointly organised by South Centre and IISD was successfully held in Marrakech, Morocco, 3-4 Nov. 2008. Over 50 participants attended the Forum.The key objective of this Forum was to update participants on key issues in the International Investment Law regime today. These include the changes in this field at the multilateral,

Crossroads debate: how will the financial crisis affect Africa?

2008-11-10T15:35:00.002+01:00

World markets are collapsing. Can Africa withstand the impact? What can Africa learn from the failed policies of the world's wealthiest economies? Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre participated in the panel discussion on this issue along with other panelists, namely Colm Foy, editor of African Economic Outlook at the OECD's Development Centre and Aly-Kahn Satchu, commodity

African template for EPAs is endorsed – with recommendations

2008-11-04T11:33:00.001+01:00

A continental workshop on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between European and African countries held at the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, ended with the endorsement of proposals towards an African template for EPA negotiations. The discussion of the proposals, which were drafted by the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC), was one of the key

Financial Crisis: Collapse of an ideology

2008-10-29T11:10:00.001+01:00

According to the South Centre, the global economic system is at a turning point, and the need to rethink the Financing for Development (FfD) concepts proposed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) is becoming increasingly apparent. It is unlikely that leaders from the North and South will rise to this challenge when they meet for the UN conference on development finance in Doha

South Centre calls for Revamping the Global Financial Architecture

2008-10-29T11:07:00.000+01:00

Statement by Board Members of the South CentreThe financial crisis has shown how dysfunctional the current international financial architecture is to manage the global economy of today, with its myriad of interconnections through which financial turmoil spreads across the world and with its revealed and significant regulatory deficit. In the 1980s, the debt crisis in Latin America, Africa and

LIVE @ Al Jazeera TV (with Riz Khan) : Dr. Yash Tandon, South Centre

2008-10-24T00:43:00.005+02:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre appeared as a panelist on Riz Khan's Live show at Al Jazeera on 23 rd October 2008 on financial crisis.Dr. Tandon provided a commentary on Africa's growth strategy and the need to end aid dependence. He also fielded several question from the viewers on the development path to be followed by Africa and the steps Africa must take to get out of aid

Briefing on Global Financial Crisis and Possible Multilateral Responses to Systemic Issues

2008-10-23T15:01:00.001+02:00

South Centre in partnership with G77 and UNCTAD will hold a briefing on the Global Financial Crisis and especially how it relates to the Doha FFD Review Conference and Beyond. The briefing will be held on 31 October 2008, 10:00-13:00, Room XXV, Palais des Nations, Geneva.The meeting will be chaired by Ambassador Chipasaka Chipaziwa, G77 Chair -Geneva.For more information and the agenda, go to:

South Centre @ International Forum on Climate Change Policy, Korean Environment Ministry, Seoul

2008-10-16T19:09:00.001+02:00

Mr. Vice Yu, Coordinator, Global Governance for Development Programme, made a presentation on "MRV for developing countries and its linkages to mitigation actions, technology, financing and capacity-building" on at the International Forum on Climate Change Policy organized by the Korean Environment Ministry, from 29 Sep to 3 Oct. 2008 Read related paper "Measurable, Reportable, and Verifiable:

South Centre @ Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Meeting on an African EPA Template - Addis Ababa

2008-10-16T18:44:00.000+02:00

The South Centre was invited to an Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) meeting on EPAs entitled ‘African Workshop on Economic Partnership Agreements – the benefits of the EPAs: Taking Stock of the Interim Agreements to ensure African Countries Reap the Benefits of the EPAs’ The meeting took place on 8 – 10 October 2008 in Addis Ababa. Those attending the meeting included many government

Seminar on "New thoughts on Aid"

2008-10-09T23:52:00.004+02:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre participated made a presenation at the seminar on "New thoughts on Aid" organized by the Freedom of Expression Foundation, Oslo on 3 October 2008.The Seminar addressed important issues associated with the aid industry, mainly why aid is not more effective, how aid is viewed by recipient countries, and what the future of aid might look

Global Financial Meltdown: the West and the Rest

2008-10-09T20:39:00.004+02:00

The debt-financed US-led global economy is crumbling. What lessons can the leaders of the South learn from the present meltdown of the Western capitalist system?The first lesson, surely, is that contrary to mainstream thinking, the market does not have a self-corrective mechanism. In the present crisis the "market makers" are watching nervously from the sideline as the Congress and the

South Centre organises Training Workshop for new Developing Country Delegates on Intellectual Property

2008-10-09T18:07:00.007+02:00

(Click here to read the South FACE produced of the "Second South Centre International Symposium: Examining Intellectual Property Enforcement from a Development Perspective" held on 16th September 2008).On 9 October 2008, South Centre organized a Training Workshop for new Developing Country Delegates on Intellectual Property.The training session was aimed at providing developing country delegates,

Yasuni-ITT Initiative of Ecuador

2008-09-25T21:36:00.003+02:00

Ambassador Francisco Carrion, as Personal Representative of the President of Ecuador to the Yasuni-ITT Initiative visited the South Centre on 10 September 2008 along with Ambassador Mauricio MontalvoPermanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations and other International Organizations – Geneva.Yasuni-ITT Initiative is aimed at strengthening the Ecuadorian efforts to contribute for the

US Farm Bill: Agriculture-related policy making in the US

2008-09-25T21:13:00.005+02:00

On 23 September, South Centre through its trade for development programme organized jointly with ForumDemocracy, an NGO-Think tank based in Washington DC, a meeting with some agriculture and dispute settlement delegations on agriculture-related policy making in the US.The 2 experts Robert Stumberg and Peter Riggs made a presentation on two aspects of the Farm Bill: New provisions in the 2008 U.S.

Legal aspects of climate change-related border measures

2008-09-25T20:54:00.004+02:00

On 10 September, South Centre hosted an expert meeting on the legal aspects of climate change-related border measures. A small group of almost 15 experts were present for this meeting organized by "Climate Strategies" group.

Integrating human rights in financing for development

2008-09-24T16:37:00.003+02:00

Mr. Vice Yu, Coordinator - Global Governance for Development, South Centre presented his views on "Enhancing The Coherence And Consistency Of The International Monetary, Financial And Trading Systems In Support Of Development" at the workshop on Integrating human rights in financing for development.The workshop was organized by th eOffice of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in

Working Lunch meeting on WIPO Assemblies

2008-09-24T15:26:00.003+02:00

South Centre, through its Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) organized a working lunch for the Geneva delegates of developing countries in advance of the WIPO General Assembly from 22 to 30 September 2008.Among other agenda items, areas which South Centre will be tracking as an intergovernmental observor at WIPO include:Report on the sessions of the Committee on Development and

Ending Aid Dependence Book Launched at Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness

2008-09-08T23:38:00.004+02:00

South Centre launched its publication "Ending Aid Dependence" at a side event to the Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, Ghana on 1st September 2008.The book is authored by Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre and the foreword is written by H.E Benjamin W. Mkapa, President of Tanzania (1995-2005).About The BookDeveloping countries reliant on aid want to escape from

EPAs and Competition Policy

2008-09-08T23:20:00.002+02:00

Fostering Trade through Public-Private DialogueMr. Darlan F. Marti, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme, South Centre made a presentation on EPAs and Competition Policy in the Public Private Dialogue for the East and Southern African countries, focusing on the business implications of negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union and issues relating

South Centre on Air @ "Radio Cité", Geneva

2008-09-08T23:14:00.008+02:00

Celina Inones, Head of the Translation Unit appeared on air on the Radio Cité FM Station, Geneva. She spoke about South Centre and its various activities in French in their morning programme on current affairs on 29 August 2008.

Pan-African Parliament Session and SADC EPA Services Workshop

2008-09-08T22:25:00.004+02:00

Mr. Offah Obale and Mr. Darlan F. Marti, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme, South Centre participated in the the SADC EPA services workshop and the Pan-African Parliament session from August 25-28.The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) requested the South Centre to prepare and present two papers on "The Impact of Free Trade Agreements in National Policy Space and Development Prorities

International Workshop on India’s Development Cooperation – Opportunities and Challenges

2008-09-08T22:15:00.003+02:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre was a Commentator for the session on "India’s development cooperation with African countries and its contribution for the futureinternational development agenda" in the International Workshop on India’s Development Cooperation – Opportunities and Challenges in Bonn, Germany.The workshop was organized by the German Development Institute on

Formulation of West Africa's EPA market access offer to the EU

2008-08-28T22:24:00.002+02:00

Mr. Darlan Marti, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme participated in workshop organized by the commission and secretariat of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and West Africa's Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) on 4 and 5 August 2008 in Dakar, Senegal for the validation of a regional list of sensitive products with a view to preparing the West Africa's EPA

South Centre participates in Assilah Foundation Forum on UN Reform and South-South Cooperation

2008-08-28T22:21:00.001+02:00

Mr. Vice Yu, Coordinator, Global Governance for Development Programme, participated in the Assilah Foundation Forum on UN Reform and South-South Cooperation from 8-11 August 2008 in Assilah, Morocco.The Forum was a part of the 23rd session of the Moatamid Ibn Al-Abbad Summer University, organized by the Assilah Forum Foundation within the framework of the 30th International Cultural Festival of

New York: Review Meeting of Doha Outcome Document

2008-08-28T22:04:00.003+02:00

Irfan ul Haque, Special Advisor Finance and Development, South Centre participated in the Meeting on Preliminary Review of the Doha Outcome Document organized by the G77 and South Centre in New York on 4 August 2008.

Benjamin W. Mkapa Launches the INSouth

2008-08-08T11:02:00.002+02:00

8 August 2008: Mr. Benjamin W. Mkapa, the former President of Tanzania and the Chairperson of the South Centre today launched the Intellectual Network for the South (INSouth) www.INSouth.org at the opening session of the Fourth South Intellectual Platform at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey, on the outskirts of Geneva.INSouth embodies an understanding, from a South perspective, of the new and

21st Meeting of the Board of the South Centre held in Geneva

2008-08-08T10:57:00.003+02:00

6-7 August 2008: The Board Members of the South Centre convened in Geneva under the Chairmanship of the former President of Tanzania, Mr. Benjamin W. Mkapa to review the work of the South Centre.

H.E Zeine Ould Zeidane, former Prime Minister of Mauritania Visits South Centre

2008-08-03T18:39:00.005+02:00

The immediate former Prime Minister of H.E Mauritania Zeine Ould Zeidane, and now special envoy of the President visited South Centre along with Her Excellency Mrs. Mounina Mint Abdellah, Ambassador of Mauritania to the UN Mission in Geneva on 30 July.The meeting last over one hour and covered wide ranging issues including trade and investment, WTO Mini-Ministerial, food and energy security,

Business Daily/South Centre: Paris Declaration on aid a form of collective colonialism by donors

2008-08-03T18:22:00.003+02:00

South Centre article authored by Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre appears in Business Daily (Nairobi):August 1, 2008: At first glance, the Paris Declaration (PD) looks benign. It recognises faults of the present system, and sets out sensible principles. Why, then, are the developing countries not all that excited? Many have signed on to the PD, but apparently without fully analysing

South Centre organizes e-Forum on Aid Effectiveness: Donor Harmonisation or Southern Discomfort?

2008-08-03T17:38:00.001+02:00

The Third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness will be held in Accra from 2-4 September 2008 where the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) to strengthen the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness is expected to be endorsed by the participants. While the governments of rich nations want to streamline their aid efforts within the OECD-DAC context, those of many developing countries are less

WTO Mini-Ministerial: Doha Collapse because of Failure to Deliver Development

2008-08-03T17:35:00.001+02:00

Mini-ministerial meet of 30 countries in Geneva attempting to reach an accord on liberalising markets in agriculture and industrial goods to salvage the Doha trade round collapses on day nine.The collapse of the Doha talks illustrated a clear lack of political will on the part of the developed countries to deliver on development. From the start, the developed countries were hearing but not

South Centre in Media: IP Rights In Standards Impede Competition, Disadvantage Developing Countries

2008-08-03T17:12:00.001+02:00

South Centre gets reported in the IP-Watch News Service:"The inclusion of intellectual property rights in standards also is creating an anti-competitive effect, said panellists at the 30 June seminar in Geneva, hosted by the South Centre.While standards are established to ensure compatibility in technology to the advantage of all users at national, regional or international levels, intellectual

South Centre in Media: Africa: U.S. Farm Subsidies May Survive WTO Doha Round

2008-08-03T17:10:00.002+02:00

South Centre gets mentioned in the Inter Press Service:"According to an analysis by the non-governmental research and advocacy organisation South Centre, the NAMA 11 developing countries will have to reduce their tariffs by between 54 and 60 percent while the developed countries reduce their tariffs by only 30 percent. "Read the complete press clipping at: http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?

Preparotory meeting for the WTO mini-ministerial

2008-07-16T16:49:00.001+02:00

Prior to the beginning of the WTO mini-ministerial meeting on the modalities for the finalization of the Doha Round of negotiations, the South Centre organized a working lunch meeting on Tuesday 15 July 2008.The objective of the meeting was to provide the South Centre's analysis of the revised agriculture text (including the proposals on the SSM) and the NAMA negotiations or text and also to look

Implications of high food and energy prices for economic management

2008-07-15T14:57:00.004+02:00

Ms. Luisa Rodriguez, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme, South Centre participated in the "Pan-Commonwealth Civil Society Consultation on the Special of the 2008 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting" held in Castries, St. Lucia from 8 to 10 July in preparation for the 2008 Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting to be held in October.The meeting was organized by the Commonwealth

Working Lunch on IP Enforcement Issues and WCO

2008-07-14T13:36:00.003+02:00

On 8 July 2008, South Centre's Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) organized a Working Lunch for delegations of developing countries.The purpose of the meeting was to discuss three ongoing IP enforcement issues: (i) Update on the recent Decision concerning SECURE made at World Customs Organization (WCO) Policy Commission and Council; (ii) Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)

South Centre participates in Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized seminar on International Seminar on Trade and Climate Change

2008-07-03T15:05:00.003+02:00

Darlan Marti, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme, participated in the International Seminar on Trade and Climate Change organised by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with IISD and ICTSD in Copenhagen from 18-20 June 2008.

South Centre participates in SIPID III in Brazil

2008-07-03T14:53:00.003+02:00

South Centre participated in the 3rd SIPID Conference held in Rio de Janeiro on 19-20 June 2008 on patents, innovation and development. The theme this year was on "AS DIMENSÕES ECONÔMICA, JURÍDICA E SOCIAL DA PROPRIEDADE INDUSTRIAL."Ms. Viviana Munoz Tellez, Programme Officer with Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP), made a presenation on "the Changing Structure and Governance of

Working Lunch on WIPO Standing Committee on Patents (SCP)

2008-06-18T13:50:00.002+02:00

On 18 June 2008, South Centre's Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) organized a Working Lunch for delegations of developing countries. The purpose of the working lunch was to coordinate and prepare for the upcoming meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standing Committee on Patents (SCP). The key issues that the SCP will be discussing in the session to

South-North Dialogue of Food and Energy Security opens in Geneva, 17 June 2008

2008-06-17T10:48:00.011+02:00

South Centre and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Indonesia in Geneva organized this joint event to assess the underlying causes and policy dilemmas related to energy security, food security and livelihood security and multilateral responses required to correct the systemic issues.H.E I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Charge d'Affairs, Permanent Mission of Indonesia to Geneva and Dr. Yash Tandon

Working lunch on IP Enforcement (WCO, ACTA and UPU)

2008-06-17T10:47:00.013+02:00

The Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) of the South Centre organized a working lunch on IP Enforcement (WCO, ACTA and UPU) for the delegates of developing countries in Geneva.A background paper prepared by South Centre was circulated during the lunch meeting. In addition, a presentation on World Customs Organization (WCO) relevant updates and issues was given by Mr. Henrique C

Working Lunch on WTO Agriculture and NAMA Negotiations

2008-06-17T10:47:00.009+02:00

Following the release in May 2008 of revised versions of the draft modalities texts for agricultural and NAMA WTO negotiations, the South Centre's Trade for Development Programme (TDP) drafted comments to both the texts.On 16th June 2008, it organized a working lunch on WTO Agriculture and NAMA Negotiations to facilitate developing country delegations to analyse and respond to both the texts. Mr.

Working Lunch on WCO/SECURE with respect to standards for enforcement of IP rights

2008-06-17T10:46:00.005+02:00

A working lunch was organized by the South Centre on 11 June 2008 to discuss strategies for the upcoming meeting of the World Customs Organization (WCO) with respect to standards for enforcement of IP rights.A presentation on possible scenarios was given by Dr. Xuan LI, Coordinator - Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) and also chaired the meeting.

IP Enforcement and WCO Provisional Standards Employed by Customs for Uniform Rights Enforcement (SECURE)

2008-06-11T14:21:00.002+02:00

Dr. Xuan Li, Coordinator of the Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP), delivered a presentation on "WCO Provisional Standards Employed by Customs for Uniform Rights Enforcement (SECURE)" at the strategy workshop on Intellectual Property and Enforcement hosted by the Open Society Foundation (OSI) in London on June 2-3, 2008.The workshop was held in the context of a number of domestic

Confronting the Challenge of Technology for Development: Experiences from the BRICS

2008-06-11T14:12:00.003+02:00

Dr. Xuan Li, Coordinator of Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) along with her program colleagues Yogesh Pai and Jinmin Wang participated in the Oxford Conference on "Confronting the Challenge of Technology for Development: Experiences from the BRICS" in Oxford on 29 - 30 May 2008.Two presentations were delivered by South Centre, on "Patent Application as Indicator of the

South Centre in Media (Business Daily): Regional trade helps fight hunger

2008-06-11T12:14:00.002+02:00

May 28, 2008: Regional trade agreements could not only serve to protect farmers in developing countries but could also be used for the swift distribution of food aid from neighbouring countries in times of famine.Luisa Bernal, coordinator of the trade development programme at the South Centre in Geneva, made these remarks last week in an interview with IPS about the links between commodity

South Centre in Media: Africa: The Committed Intellectual - Reviving And Restoring the National Project

2008-06-11T11:42:00.001+02:00

South Centre appears at AllAfrica.com:A man or woman with no passion has no heart; one with no power of reasoning has no mind, writes Yash Tandon.It is the combination of heart and mind that produces the balanced person who uses their mind to pursue their passion. Let us speak truth to power, but let us also speak the existential truth of our people's world to the negotiated truth of the

South Centre Participates in UNFCCC Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies in Bonn

2008-06-09T18:44:00.001+02:00

Mr. Vice YU, Coordinator, Global Governance for Development Programme, South Centre is in Bonn to participate in the twenty-eighth sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change taking place from 4-13 June 2008.

Working Lunch on Trade Facilitation (in advance of Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation)

2008-06-04T08:29:00.003+02:00

South Centre organized a working lunch on trade facilitation on Thursday, 22 May 2008, from 13h00-15h00. Over 25 colleagues from the Geneva Missions participated in this meeting to discuss and brainstorm on specific proposals (with respect to GATT Articles V, VIII, and X and with respect to TACB and S&D) in advance of the meeting of the Negotiating Group on Trade Facilitation that took place in

South Centre provides support to São Tomé and Príncipe the context of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations

2008-06-04T08:07:00.002+02:00

Mr. Darlan F. Marti, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme provided support to São Tomé and Príncipe for the preparation of their market access offers on goods and services for submission to the European Union in the context of the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations from 15 May to 22 May.

South Centre participates in the African Group Retreat on WTO Doha Negotiations

2008-05-26T22:57:00.003+02:00

Ms. Luisa Rodriguez and Mr. Darlan F. Marti participated in the WTO African Group Seminar on Agriculture and NAMA modalities from 23-25 May 2008. The two programme officers with the Trade for Development Programme of the South Centre participated as speakers at several of the sessions of this seminar.

South Centre on Radio: Statement on "Digital Divide" and "Access to Knowledge"

2008-05-20T23:42:00.003+02:00

On the occasion of the World Telecommunication Day, a statement was made by Dr. Xuan Li, Coordinator- Innovation and Access to Knowledge Progrmme, on "Digital Divide" and "Access to Knowledge".The statement was dubbed in German and broadcasted on 16th May for the World Communications Day by the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation for one of their Radio programmes from 6:05pm to 6:30pm.The digital

Policy Space and Conditionality: South Centre participates in 2nd OECD Annual Plenary on Global Forum on Development

2008-05-20T15:01:00.005+02:00

Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director, South Centre addressed the Session on "Policy Space and Conditionality" at the 2nd OECD Annual Plenary on Global Forum on Development held today (2o May) in Paris. This year’s Annual Plenary of the OECD Global Forum on Development focuses on "Strengthening Country Ownership".More information at: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/10/32/40609197.pdf

South Centre in Media (AllAfrica/Africa Focus)- Africa: UN Conference on Trade and Development

2008-05-20T08:19:00.003+02:00

The South Centre piece on UNCTAD XII appears at (AllAfrica/Africa Focus)....AfricaFocus (Washington, DC). "Attempts to take matters outside of the United Nations (UN), such as at G7/8 meetings or at the World Economic Forum, have not been inclusive or democratic. The UN, with all its weaknesses, is still the only multilateral intergovernmental democratic institution the world has, and UNCTAD [

South Centre in Media: Equitable Development- The Risks of Inaction

2008-05-20T08:16:00.002+02:00

Here is the recent column piece from the South Centre appearing at the Inter Press Service.MAY 2008 (IPS/South Centre) - There is much to celebrate in the growth and development of the South in recent years, from the ability of certain Latin American countries to avoid dependence on the North to the growth of the economies of certain Asian countries whose increasing sovereign wealth is now being

FAO: Implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources

2008-05-20T08:14:00.001+02:00

Dr. Xuan Li, Head - Innovation and Access to Knowledge, attended the first meeting of the Capacity Building Coordination Mechanism for the implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held on 16 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany.The meeting was aimed at establishing a platform of providers of capacity building on Treaty implementation. The platform will

South Centre the only IGO Observer at the WCO/ SECURE Meeting

2008-05-20T08:09:00.003+02:00

The World Customs Organization (WCO) held its Third Meeting of the Working Group on the Provisional Standards Employed by Customs for Uniform Rights Enforcement (SECURE) at its Headquarters in Brussels 24-25 April 2008. The meeting, largely driven by selected developed countries and private members, is an attempt to promote their TRIPS-Plus-Plus agenda on international border enforcement, i.e.

South Centre hosts International Trade Policy Students from University of West Indies

2008-05-15T11:10:00.004+02:00

South Centre hosted the International Trade Policy Students, Cohort 4, Academic Year 2007-8 from the University of West Indies on 13 May 2008 at its office.The Coordinators of the South Centre programme areas briefed the students on the various activities of the Centre, its constituency and the impact they have had.

South Centre organizes Meeting on SECURE / World Customs Organization

2008-05-15T10:47:00.003+02:00

The South Centre organises a working lunch for its member countries in view of certain developments on issues concerning intellectual property (IP) enforcement at the World Customs Organisation (WCO). The WCO is increasingly focussing on the formation of enhanced border measures, primarily supported by G8 countries. In this connection, the third meeting of the Working Group on the provisional

South African ‘Oliver Tambo: Gold' Honour for South Centre Board Member Chief Emeka Anyaoku

2008-05-07T10:44:00.004+02:00

Chief Emeka Anyaoku, the distinguished Board Member of the South Centre has been conferred with South Africa's highest national honour for non-South Africans, the Order of Supreme Companions of O.R. Tambo: Gold.The honour was conferred on Chief Anyaoku by South African President Thabo Mbeki in on 22nd April 2008 in a special ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa.South Centre and its staff members

South Centre in Media: UNCTAD To Address Challenges Of Change In Africa

2008-05-07T10:37:00.001+02:00

Quoted from ISD News-Ghana and Government of Ghana Portal:UNCTADXII/Accra. The Executive Director of the South Centre, an Intergovernmental Organization of the Developing Countries based in Geneva, Dr Yash Tandon, has urged the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to direct its energies and future efforts towards addressing the obstacles to change in Africa.He said “at the

South Centre in Media: Aid and charity is wrong for Africa

2008-05-07T10:27:00.002+02:00

Quoted from Ghana News, Joy Online.UNCTADXII/Accra. An International Economist has said “aid and charity are the wrong way towards addressing the systemic challenges and development issues in Africa.”Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the Geneva based South Centre, an intergovernmental organisation of developing countries made the statement during the general debate at the conference.He,

ECOWAS Workshop on Sensitive Products in the EPA negotiations

2008-05-07T10:08:00.002+02:00

Ms. Luisa Rodriguez, Programme Officer, South Centre participated in the workshop to assess the process of identification, by the West African Region, of Sensitive Products in the EPA negotiations organized by the ECOWAS Commission in Bamako, Mali from 28 to 30 April 2008.The South Centre was invited to participate in this event because of its research experience on EPAs and because of its

South North Dialogue Series: Building Capacities on Climate Change

2008-04-28T17:55:00.003+02:00

South Centre brought together delegates from the developed and the developing world on Aril 16, 2008 as part of its South - North Dialogue Series (SNDS) initiative. Participants from the North included those from Norway, Switzerland, Germany and France while from the South it included delegates from Maldives, Mexico, China, Indonesia and Philippines; and some NGO's like Third World Network, ICTSD

Working Lunch in preparation for the Third Session of the World Health Organization (WHO) IGWG

2008-04-28T15:39:00.005+02:00

On 24 April 2008, the South Centre's Innovation and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP) organized a working lunch for the delegates of developing countries working on the IP Issues. The purpose of the meeting was to assist developing country delegations to share information, prepare and coordinate their participation in the upcoming third session of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Comparative analysis of liberalisation schedules and other commitments of the African interim EPAs

2008-04-28T15:26:00.002+02:00

Mr. Darlan F. Marti, Programme Officer, Trade for Development Programme at the South Centre served as a discussant in the session on "Comparative analysis of liberalisation schedules and other commitments of the African interim EPAs" at Brussels on 17 April 2008.The session was organized by APRODEV, ODI and ECDPM as a part of their meeting on the EPA negotiations state of play and assessment of

Video - South Centre Statement at General Debate of the Twelfth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD-XII)

2008-04-24T15:32:00.003+02:00

Watch the video of Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre delivering his statement "Towards National and Collective Self Reliance of the South" at the General Debate of the Twelfth Session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD-XII) on 23rd April at Accra, Ghana.Digital Video is available from here(Real Player is required to view it and can be