International Institute for Environment and Development - IIED pubs ...

International Institute for Environment and Development
Trustees’ Report (continued)
Ihe International Institute tor knvironmcnt and l)cvcloprnent (lIED) is a pohcv research organisation based ni london
and working on tive continents. \‘‘e support research and action on natural resources, climate change, human
settlements, sustainable markets, and governance. Our mission is to build a airer, more sustainable world, using
evidence, action and influence in partnership with others.
Established in 1973, lIED has made important contributions to many major milestones of sustainable development.
from rhc Brundtland Commission of 1987 and rIte 20(12 World Summit on Sustainable Devclopnient in Johannesburg,
tO the annual meetings of the [N l’ramcwork ( OiWCntiOfl on Climate Change (l’\FCCC) and prepararoms for Rio+20,
June 2012.
Our longstanding body of research and communications work has consolidated lll-D’s reputation at the cutting edge of
environment and development. ‘l’ogether with our broad-based network of partners, we aim to shape a future where
people and planet can thrive.
In setting our programme each s-ear, we take account of the Charit’ Commission’s general guidance on public benefit.
Our trustees aim to ensure that the programmes we undertake are in line with our charitable oh
promoting sit stainable and equitable h’’m’lt mprnco t for the ni hi i e hi 111 fit
1cctivcs and aims,
Every five years, lIED’s framework donors commission an independent External Review cit the institute’s programmatic
and organisational performance. ‘ihis was carried our in 2011-12 and reported to the multi-donor group in Max’ 2012. Irs
pnncipal recommendations include a more ambitious global positioning of the organisation, given the scale of current
global challenges and Ill D’s credibility in linking local to global agendas; further enhancing of research 1ualitv; greater
investment in communications and influencing activities; and more demanding and vigorous leadership across the
organisatmon. Ihese recommendations have been accepted and will ix’ built into the institute’s work over the nexr period.
How we make a difference — delivering ‘public benefit’
)ur work takes three f irma: research, advice and advocacy. We publish in loiirnals and maintain high research
standards, like an academic Institute; we advise government, business and development agencies, like a consultancv; and
we argue for change in public policy, like an advocacy organisation. We focus on evidence—based, bottom_up sulurions,
stay open to flexible, adaptable solutions and are marked by a tradition of challenging conventional wisdom through
nginal thinking. . tidier picture of all )ur activities is available in 11 ED’s .\ nnual Report.
We base our thinking and advocacy on the needs’ and priorities of vulnerable communities —-— people who find it difficLilt
to get their voices heard, lot example, we’ve boosted cluuate resilience in \.orthern Kenya and sepal, by helping local
communities, Ministries, partners and donors design better planning processes for development. (Inc of our
fundamental beliefs is that rnarginalised c immunities know their own priorities best. \X’e aim ro ensure that policvmakers
hear their perspectives.
Mant of our partner orgarusations either represent such poor and vulnerable groups or work closely with them. Working
to re-balance power relations with partners Shack/Slum LXvcllcrs International and the ,\sian Coalition for I lousing
Rights, we j, tinny have developed new models of decc’ntraliscd urban governance to help upgrade informal settlements
in more than 30 countries.
We continue to inspire thinking and praunce by listening to local people. disseminating their views, informing them of
their rights, and helping to bring them into the mainstream of national, regional and international negotiations. lot
example, the Growing l?orest Partnerships initiative of which IIE[) is one of four facilitating partners —
has
helped
create an alliance of family, communiti and indigenous peoples called the ‘three Rights lolders Group (( 3). lvet the
I (
past year, the 03 has advocated the localh controlled forestry agenda at key I_N torcstrv and climate change events.
\\e help develop shared agendas onong People from different backgrounds, for example wiih the borcat Governance
learning Group, the DELiVER network and the Green Economy Coalition. Our public hcncht comes from well—
grounded arguments and evidence for wa s to achieve a fairer world, with environmental susrainabi[itv as the core
concern, lot example, we support the design if Rcdoccd Emissions from I )cforesrancoi and I orest I )egradalion
IREI)D) strategies through rite II El)run lirest ( rovernance I earning Group. i )ne member of staff is an active
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