The North-South Institute provides research and analysis on foreign policy and international development issues for policy-makers, educators, business, the media and the general public. For more than 30 years NSI has built a reputation for sound, credible analysis of pressing issues related to global development >>

NSI Ranked World's Best Small Think Tank

The North-South Institute (NSI) has been ranked the world's top small think tank, according to the 2011 Global Go-To Think Tanks Index – in the under $5 million annual budget category.

The index was released at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Later in the day, in New York, the United Nations University held an in-depth session on the index and its rankings.

"I'm delighted," said NSI President Joseph Ingram about the high ranking. "NSI is Canada's oldest independent policy research institution specializing in international development and this recognition is important. I heartily congratulate the NSI staff for their efforts that made it possible."

Read more...

Canada-China Economic Relations: Beyond Petroleum

In response to recent federal announcements and maneuvering that indicate Canada’s intention to diversify trade with Asia, primarily through energy products, The North-South Institute published Canada-China Economic Relations: Beyond Petroleum.

Written by NSI Researcher Daniel Poon, the policy brief argues that Canada should recognize that the opportunities emanating from China’s rise are much broader than greater potential for exporting more Canadian energy and raw materials. While fostering and strengthening direct trade and investment linkages with China and other emerging markets would signal a profound shift in Canada’s decades-old strategy of pursuing greater integration with the US economy, such action is crucial to Canada’s long-term prosperity in this next phase of globalization that is likely to be more multi-polar.

This policy brief summarizes research from an NSI occasional paper of the same name.

Seeking peace and stability in two Sudans

NSI's latest Occasional Paper from former Principal Researcher David Gillies explores the numerous issues facing the Republic of Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan as they negotiate their new relationship. Entitled, Uneasy Neighbours: The Elusive Quest for Peace and Stability in the Sudans, the paper addresses a host of development challenges including the continuing turmoil in Darfur, unresolved border demarcation issues and continuing low-level violence. The two Sudans will need the support of the international community and aid donors if they are to overcome these challenges and consolidate their tenuous peace.

NSI in Busan for Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness

NSI President Joseph Ingram and Researcher Shannon Kindornay are among the government delegates and civil society representatives from around the world descending on Busan, South Korea this week for the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4), which seeks to establish a new global partnership for development cooperation that is more inclusive of emerging and re-emerging donors. Mr. Ingram is attending as part of the Canadian delegation of experts while Ms. Kindornay is participating in meetings to inform her upcoming work on HLF4 outcomes. Both are contributing to the Canadian Council for International Cooperation's blog as the event unrolls.

To further mark this event, NSI is offering a preview of the 2011 Canadian Development Report (CDR), Global Challenges: Multilateral Solutions.

The preview includes the early release of three chapters, each offering analysis and recommendations on the challenges to forming an inclusive and effective aid system:

Multilateral Development Cooperation: Current Trends and Future Prospects
by NSI Researchers Shannon Kindornay and Hany Besada

Multilateral Development Cooperation and the Paris Process: The Road to Busan
by Robert Picciotto, Professor at King's College in London

Toward a New Development Cooperation Dynamic
by Penny Davies, Independent Consultant and Senior Policy Advisor at Diakonia Sweden

The CDR is NSI's annual flagship publication. This year's edition builds on NSI's successful international conference on multilateral development cooperation convened in June 2011. The complete report is due for official launch early in the new year.

South Asia focuses on regional economy and security

Following the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation's (SAARC) 17th annual summit in Maldives, NSI Researcher Shishir Shahnawaz was invited to discuss the association's successes and failures on "Hello Washington", Voice of America's weekly call-in show. Listener questions focused on South Asia's economy given China and India's economic emergence, as well as on Afghani, Pakistani and Indian relations. Shishir emphasized the need for country level bilateral talks on peace and security and for these to inform policies and promote successful economic integration in the region.

The show is conducted in Bengali. A recording can be accessed here.

Ottawa economist plays key role in proposed global financial transaction tax

The North-South Institute highlights the work of Rodney Schmidt, its research director, in his work designing the Financial Transaction Tax for the recent G20 meetings, a tax meant to raise tens of billions of dollars to fund pressing international development needs. more

From The Globe and Mail

Rodney Schmidt on CBC's The Lang & O'Leary Exchange (37:40)

NSI tables action-oriented report on Multilateral Development Cooperation conference

The NSI report addresses the over-arching messages that emerged from its June 20–21 Ottawa conference on Multilateral Development Cooperation in a Changing Global Order, attended by 220 participants including 40 experts from Canada and around the world – a report that says multilateral organizations must modernize; that effective multilaterals are nonetheless sorely needed, and that advanced countries must make their development assistance more relevant to the needs of developing nations.

The 19-page report succinctly describes the current state of multilateral development cooperation and notes that the major multilateral institutions (such as the UN system, the IMF and the World Bank) need to modernize to demonstrate their continued relevance; while policymakers need to recognize the critical role for the multilateral development system to deal with new risks to the global community, which is confronted with violent crises in fragile states and the need to mitigate the negative longer term impact of climate change.

The report notes that emerging donors such as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are offering a new brand of development assistance to developing countries that includes trade and investment, infrastructure development, knowledge sharing, and personnel exchanges. A key implication is that if traditional bilateral donors are to remain relevant to the needs of developing nations, they will need to give more thought to the issue of policy coherence for development.

>> See report

NSI launches book on elections in dangerous places

About 50 invitees from US government, multilateral organizations, democracy support institutions, embassies, and universities attended a panel discussion on October 25 in Washington, D.C. marking the launch of the book, Elections in Dangerous Places, published by The North-South Institute (NSI).

The panel, on the role of elections in conflict situations, was co-hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and NSI. It was moderated by Tom Carothers, a Carnegie Vice-President and democracy expert.

Panelists included Francesc Vendrell, a former UN and EU Special Representative to Afghanistan; Ben Reilly, an election expert from the Australian National University; Susanne Mueller, a Kenya expert; and David Gillies, the editor of the work, and a former NSI principal researcher.

The elections book, which is a product of NSI's work on fragile and conflict-afflicted states, shows how flawed elections can act as democracy in reverse and diminish political legitimacy and stable governance.

Authors of the various chapters challenge the centrality and timing of elections as a key pillar of reconstruction at a war's end. They underline the dangers in rushing elections, compromising principles, and lowering the bar for what constitutes free and fair elections in situations of conflict.

The book was put out by McGill-Queens University Press (MQUP) in August. It can be purchased through MQUP, or at many leading bookstores.

Joseph Ingram, the president of NSI, explained that the book has come out at just the right time, noting that "the title (of the book), the timing, and the content of this book couldn't be more appropriate given current events in North Africa and the Middle East."

"Having personally lived through elections in a couple of post-conflict/fragile states I find the analyses presented in this book and the perspective it presents to be a sobering wake-up call to those who continue to subscribe to the view that elections are the panacea to post-conflict and fragile state development. Not so fast!"

NSI Research Associate urges G20 to revive itself in time for November 3–4 meetings in Cannes

The G20 was born following a flawed Western response to the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Initially a dull technical forum for finance ministers created by adding some newly emerging economies to the old G8, it was upgraded to a Leaders G20 to respond to the 2008 global financial crisis.

As we now know, no quick resolution has been found for that crisis triggered by largely domestic, US financial follies. There is also an equally painful EU debt-crisis, with Italy and even France added to the original PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain). With the focus now on when the most vulnerable state, Greece, defaults we are witnessing an ‘unthinkable’ stumble into a double-dip recession before our very eyes.

As we now know, no quick resolution has been found for that crisis triggered by largely domestic, US financial follies. There is also an equally painful EU debt-crisis, with Italy and even France added to the original PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece, and Spain). With the focus now on when the most vulnerable state, Greece, defaults we are witnessing an ‘unthinkable’ stumble into a double-dip recession before our very eyes.  more

North-South Institute celebrates Nobel Laureates' peace prize - highlights links between police reform and public security

Like many others, I was delighted to learn that this year's Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia; Leymah Gbowee, also of Liberia; and Tawakkul Karman, of Yemen; three women who have worked tirelessly in the service of peace in their countries. The naming of the Liberian women as Nobel laureates brought me particular joy as I have seen first-hand the work that their compatriots - and women in many other parts of the world - are contributing to helping their countries break out of vicious cycles of violence and begin to put their countries on a path toward peaceful and sustainable human development.

One of the many keys to creating an environment in which peace can flourish and individuals can go about their daily business without fear is public security. In many countries, the institutions of the state that are responsible for creating security - the police, the military and others - have become weak and dysfunctional and in some cases even predatory toward the people they are meant to protect. NSI's research with partners in Liberia and South Sudan has explored the role women are playing in helping to make their police services more accountable to the public and more respectful of human rights as they do their police work. The results of that work are collected in our recent book, African Women on the Thin Blue Line: Gender-Sensitive Police Reform in Liberia and Southern Sudan. more

NSI President Joseph Ingram makes presentation to UN Human Rights Council on Right to Development

Joseph Ingram, President of The North-South Institute (NSI), recently addressed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The topic of the panel was: "The way forward in the realization of the right to development: between policy and practice."

Mr. Ingram's remarks included a discussion of NSI's decade of research in natural resource decision-making in the Americas (on the mining industry), and NSI's work on Free, Prior, Informed Consent (FPIC) relating to the rights of Indigenous Peoples when dealing with the proposed tapping of natural resources on their lands.

He also described how NSI, through research, hopes to transform economic and social rights into instruments of development policy deployable by government policy makers, international donors and local communities.

The September 14th UN event, attended by about 800 member country delegates and NGO representatives, was one of a series of activities in 2011 to mark the 25th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development.

>> Read Mr. Ingram's speaking notes
>> View the recorded webcast of the presentation

The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Canada (left), Joseph K. Ingram, President of The North-South Institute, and Dr. Justin Lin, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President, Development Economics, The World Bank Group

Multilateral development cooperation could usher in a new era of diplomacy

The North-South Institute's Ottawa conference on Multilateral Development Cooperation brought together more than 220 participants last month, including 40 experts from Canada and around the world.

The conference sought to determine how key multilateral development actors - such as the United Nations and the World Bank - could better serve the poor in the context of an evolving global order.

"There are new players on the scene who aren't necessarily operating within the existing principles of the multilateral system," explained NSI President, Joseph Ingram, who pointed to increasing levels of aid from such emerging economies as Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) as well as from private sector foundations and large non-governmental organizations.

"This poses a challenge for development cooperation, but it also presents an opportunity for donors both new and old to learn from each other and to find better ways to work together to respond to the needs of those living in the developing world" said Mr. Ingram.

>> Read more about the outcome of the conference and access presentations and publications

Canada's Role in Helping Rebuild Afghanistan:
Presentation by Heather Cruden, Former Head of Aid to the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan

On July 20, 2011, the North-South Institute (NSI) hosted a presentation on Canada's Engagement in Afghanistan with a focus on Governance and Security. Heather Cruden, the Head of Aid to the Canadian Embassy in Kabul from 2009 until recently, delivered a presentation.

Ms. Cruden spoke about Canada's role in helping Afghanistan rebuild its country. Canada's $1.9 billion aid budget, from 2001 to 2011, put it among Afghanistan's top international donors. >> Read more...

05.25.11

NSI holds two-day conference on multilateral development cooperation

How do aid dollars reach developing countries to help those who need it most? To achieve this, financial resources must be managed effectively and countries must coordinate their efforts. How are these current processes working?

The North-South Institute (NSI)'s forum on Multilateral Development Cooperation in a Changing Global Order will cast light on this issue and more at its June 20-21 conference in Ottawa, Canada.

The environment has changed considerably since about 65 years ago when multilateral institutions like the United Nations, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were founded.

Development is in a state of flux as countries like Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) - long-time aid recipients, are becoming aid donors and working outside the multilateral framework. NSI will be welcoming international and Canadian experts to critically examine the effectiveness of international development assistance channelled to and through multilateral organizations, emphasising what works and what needs to change in the context of an evolving global order.

For more information including the agenda and list of speakers, or to register, visit the conference website. Please note that space is limited.

Debating development effectiveness

In the lead up to the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, which will be held this November in Busan, Korea - a growing debate is emerging on whether "development effectiveness" ought to be the target of donors' foreign assistance programs rather than "aid effectiveness." Shedding light on the issue is NSI's latest policy brief A New Agenda for Development Assistance? From Aid to Development Effectiveness. The brief draws on NSI researcher Shannon Kindornay's work and examines the potential implications of a development effectiveness approach to aid policy and practice.

• NSI Policy Brief: A New Agenda for Development Assistance? From Aid to Development Effectiveness

04.08.11

NSI-CIDA Speaker Series: Improving the Health of Mothers and Children Across Africa

On April 8th, NSI, in collaboration with CIDA, welcomed Dr. Teguest Guerma, Director General of the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), to Ottawa for the second installment of the NSI-CIDA Speaker Series. Dr. Guerma's talk, entitled Improving the Health of Mothers and Children Across Africa: Effective Strategies for Lasting Change, focused on how Canadian social investment decisions and policies can be shaped to significantly improve the health of women and children in Africa.

20.03.11

African Women on the Thin Blue Line

How do you build lasting peace once war is over? NSI's new publication, African Women on the Thin Blue Line: Gender Sensitive Police Reform in Liberia and Southern Sudan, seeks to address this question by exploring how women in civil society and their female counterparts in the police are experiencing police reform processes in two conflict-affected African contexts: Liberia and Southern Sudan. The book, available electronically, highlights the challenges of fully integrating a gender perspective into police reform as well as the many opportunities and strengths of such an approach.

The book, edited by senior researcher Jennifer Salahub, includes two case-study chapters which focus on the perspectives of Liberian and Southern Sudanese women themselves as captured by interviews and focus group discussions. Policy recommendations are featured at the end of the book and draw on the perspectives of women as well as analysis conducted by The North-South Institute and our research partners in these developing countries.

• Download a copy of the e-book
• Access NSI's research on gender and police reform

03.03.11

NSI brief summarizes findings from DRM research

Domestic resource mobilisation (DRM) is key to sustaining growth in developing countries. Greater reliance on internal resources increases a country's ownership of public policy, ties accountability to citizens, and reduces the volatility associated with outside funding. Drawing on case-studies of five Sub-Saharan countries: Burundi, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda; NSI's policy brief, Domestic Resource Mobilisation in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview, identifies challenges to increasing DRM, but nonetheless finds strong potential.

• NSI Policy brief - Domestic Resource Mobilisation in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Overview
• Access the individual country case studies through the DRM research page