Investment Law & Policy
IISD works with governments, intergovernmental institutions, and civil society to develop innovative legal and policy tools that ensure international investments drive sustainable development.
Sustainable development is an investment issue. International investment is crucial to mitigate climate change, alleviate poverty, address global inequality, create fair jobs, and increase climate resilience. Investment holds the key to a more fair and sustainable world economy.
IISD's global team of investment experts collaborates with governments, international institutions, academics, and civil society to develop legal and policy tools that link investment to sustainable social, economic, and environmental outcomes.
We examine how to improve the institutions, rules, and practices that govern international investment flows and publish independent and thought-provoking research. IISD' flagship journal, Investment Treaty News, is a must-read for every investment policy-maker, bringing new analysis and ideas to a global readership.
Workshops and advisory services
On a practical level, we work with decision-makers on every continent across multilateral, regional, national, and local levels, proposing alternatives to some of the most burning issues facing decision-makers in the investment space.
We provide workshops, training, and advisory services to government officials and civil society actors from developing countries from Africa and Asia to Latin America and the Caribbean.
Investment Policy Forum: Driving bottom-up reform
Every year, IISD hosts the Investment Policy Forum—a unique event that brings together investment officials from developing countries across the world and has created a genuine global network for change.
Tackling investor-state dispute settlements
IISD's team of experts is leading the way in reforming how disputes are settled under investment treaties—a process known as investor–state dispute settlement (ISDS)—toward a global investment governance where local and indigenous communities, climate laws and policies, and the environment nature all receive robust protection.
We partner up with media to inform the global conversation on investment governance reform, including leading news outlets, such as Financial Times, the Guardian, Forbes, and Reuters, leading media in the legal and investment space, such as Law360 and FDI Intelligence, and regional agenda-setters, such as Afrik21.
Engaging in international reform processes
To this end, we are a member of the Task Force for the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Investment Protocol and the United Nations Conference on International Trade Law process for ISDS reform (the so-called UNCITRAL Working Group III). We also play an instrumental role in removing one of the key remaining obstacles to Europe's green energy transition reform, the Energy Charter Treaty, and advancing sustainable energy investment solutions in its place.
In addition, IISD's Investment team engages in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s work program on the Future of Investment Treaties and is a member of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Multi-Stakeholder Platform on International Investment Agreement Reform as well as the World Investment for Development Alliance, a global platform dedicated to promoting investment for sustainable development.
Flagship initiatives
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Investment Policy Forum
IISD's Investment Policy Forum is the world's only annual platform for investment negotiators from developing countries and a driving force for global sustainable investment reform.
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Investment Treaty News
Investment Treaty News is IISD's long-running flagship journal, offering our global readership the latest news, analysis, and ideas on how international investment impacts sustainable development.
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Webinars on Investment Law and Policy
IISD's webinars provide key information, cutting analysis, and lively discussions on the latest developments in international law and policy.
What we do
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Creating Sustainable Reform
IISD works with governments, international institutions, academics, and civil society to propose and support reform in international investment treaties, laws and policies. We are leading the way on global investor-state dispute settlement reform.
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Advisory Services, Technical Support, and Workshops
IISD's international lawyers and policy experts provide training courses, workshops, and a range of advisory services for developing economy officials—covering investment treaties, laws and contracts, negotiations, and dispute prevention and management.
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Best Practices Policy Bulletins
IISD's Best Practices Series analyzes the evolving scope and nature of investment treaty negotiations, drawing on public treaty texts and model agreements from governments.
In the News
National legal frameworks, not investment treaties, will best stimulate a sustainable economy
Countries should rely on domestic laws and wider regional policy frameworks to attract foreign investment for sustainable economic activities, concludes a report by Canadian think-tank the International Institute for Sustainable Development.
EU votes to leave energy treaty as green rules pushed through
Final plenary session of parliament sees climate legislation passed despite political and industry opposition.
MEPs vote to leave treaty used by investors to sue over climate policies
European lawmakers have voted to escape a treaty that lets investors sue governments in private courts for pursuing policies that stop the planet from heating.
Could CSDDD Signal A Tipping Point For Corporate Accountability?
This week has seen the EU agree new rules on supply chain due diligence, one of a set of laws passed including action on toxic air, packaging and packaging waste. What the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive establishes is legal liability for corporates on environmental and human rights issues in the European courts—and that could change the framework of corporate accountability.
Experts
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Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder
Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe
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Suzy H. Nikièma
Director, Investment
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Josef Ostřanský
Policy Advisor
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Nyaguthii Maina
Associate
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Lukas Schaugg
Policy Advisor
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Florencia Sarmiento
Policy Advisor
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Abas Kinda
Associate
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Elka Parveva-Kern
Senior Project Manager, Economic Law and Policy/Project Management Office
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Isaak Bowers
Communications Officer
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Yelena Bugakova
Project Manager
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Aanuoluwa Ogundipe
Communications Assistant
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