NL-KVK-41201806-FGG
Transnational Institute
Fair, Green and Global Alliance
Overall partnership activity FGG for TNI. This activity is used to allocate the total FGG budget that comes to TNI from Both Ends as funder. This activity is meant to split up the different parts of the budget required for the different TOC-activities.
Both Ends
TNI
TNI
TNI
tni@tni.org
https://www.tni.org/en
11011894
2117304
Both Ends
TNI
2510710
2117304
Both Ends
TNI
3975290
This flow represents the flow from overall activity to ToC specific activity
TNI
TNI
1421536
3975300
This flow represents the flow from overall activity to ToC specific activity
TNI
TNI
1421536
Both Ends
TNI
10586519
Both Ends
TNI
Results are not reported here, but under the activities NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC1,NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC2,NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC3.
Results are not reported here, but under the activities NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC1,NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC2,NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC3.
NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC1
Transnational Institute
FGG TNI ToC 1: Improved Corporate Conduct
TNI will work with affected communities and strategic partners in Africa, Asia and Latin America and strategic solidarity partners in Europe and US towards policy changes that lay the ground for binding legislation and UN Treaty on TNCs and other business enterprises. TNI will work on capacity building of affected communities impacted by corporate violations of human rights and environmental standards, dispossession and loss of livelihoods, and forced internal and outmigration. Activities include popular effective documentation systems, case building, networking towards solidarity and alliances with media, academe and other opinion makers. TNI will develop joint strategies with affected communities towards the development and implementation of advocacy with governments, giving visibility and voice to self-representation of communities at country level, in their relevant regional bodies and at the UN in Geneva on the need for a Binding UN Treaty on TNCs and other business enterprises. TNI will also reach out to Parliamentarians in reclaiming parliamentary accountability towards citizens in terms of raising the issues and addressing the erosion of human rights protection legislation impacting affected communities and advocating in the Parliamentary arenas for the UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and other business enterprises. TNI will facilitate public awareness raising with Popular Tribunals, Public Forums, Community Assemblies, Fact Finding Missions debating the issues and engaging governments and experts, and effective use of social media and community radio, projecting both the impacts of corporate violations and the proposals and practices towards alternatives in the juridical/legal, economic and political fields. Last, TNI will work on generating new knowledge through targeted publications and videos and mobilisations that converge various sectors (indigenous peoples, farmers, workers including migrant workers, women, experts in human rights and international and corporate law and multi-disciplinary practioners/ skill sharing) and demonstrate the protagonism of affected communities and social movements and cross-fertilises experiences and practices of alternatives (e.g food sovereignty, citizen-led natural resource basic services; citizen strategies reclaiming participatory democracy).
TNI
TNI
TNI
TNI
https://www.tni.org/en
tni@tni.org
2510710
154540
231004
108962
94320
115675
175167
219920
125006
130191
508630
182167
2510710
TNI
TNI
639317
133284
123194
Outcome F: Practice Changed
Improved corporate policies and government regulations have been put into practice and enforced.
1.F.a
# concrete steps taken by governments to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of corporate activities and those in corporations' value chains.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results yet
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results yet
No results expected for 2018.
No results in 2018.
We stop government support to internationalisation of companies without conditions regarding the respect of Human Rights.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results expected in this timeframe.
No results in 2019.
No outcomes expected in 2020.
No results in 2020
1.F.b
# concrete steps taken by companies to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their activities and those in their value chains.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn’t work on this
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn’t work on this
TNI doesn’t work on this
TNI does not work on this.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this.
TNI doesn't work on this.
TNI doesn't work on this.
TNI doesn't work on this.
Outcome D: Agendas Set
Private and public sector decision makers have prioritised improvement measures due to support from influential civil society actors, critical media attention, increased public awareness and effective scrutiny of corporate conduct.
1.D
# proposals for improvement of corporate conduct discussed by private and public sector decision makers and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
(1) After long promotion and advocacy by TNI and partners, the UN Binding regulation got recognition among European Parliament, Catalan Parliament and among academics and CSOs. (2) Due to events and advocacy organised by TNI and partners, flex crops are now discussed among CSOs and academics, financalisation of nature recognised by CSOs, FMO, and European Parliament. (3) Due to events and advocacy organised by TNI and partners, alternative perspectives to the participation of financial capital in development projects is now on the agenda of CSOs, FMO and MEPs
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. Network of parliamentarians who support the process of the UN Binding Treaty was created as a result of TNI and partners' lobbying and expertise on the Treaty. 250 MPs and MEPs joined in support. 2. The OEIGWG process is still alive: partly due to TNI and other partners' lobbying, the process for a UN Binding Treaty will continue after its 3rd session last October. We will now enter the negotiation phase. The presence of Southern partners in Geneva helped amplify the voice of Southern groups and make a strong case for the need for binding regulation. 3. The People's Perminant Tribunal was held in Southern Africa, adding new cases and raising large interest among movements in the region. TNI's participation at conceptual, communication and logistical level has been fundamental. This process has put the issue of the need for binding regulation more clearly on the agenda of different social movements. 4. After workshops and other sessions organised by TNI and other (FGG) partners, the binding treaty work has been put on the agenda of social movements and alliances working on trade and investment such as the Europe-wide seattle to Brussels network. 5. In Spain, the Catalan Centre on TNCs has been approved by the Catalan Parliament. The Catalan groups of NGOs on TNCs - supported by TNI - have been advocating for this grievance/remedy mechanism for a long time already. 6. In Brazil, a working group on business and human rights was created within the Ministry of Public Prosecution, after long-term advocacy by local groups. TNI supported the preparation of the agenda, the logistical organisation, and expert input for local groups. 7. Through TNI's co-organisation of large international academic-social movement colloquia such as Initiatives in Critical Agrarian Studies (ICAS) colloqium on the future of food and agriculture in the 21st Century in Basque Country, as well as the BICAS (BRICS in Critial Agrarian Studies) in Moscow, TNI has been able to introduce critical issues such as flex crops, food sovereignty and agroecology to the agenda of both academe and social movements. TNI continues to be sought out in various academic-activist partnership activities, showing our analysis is being picked up in different circles. 8. TNI has been actively involved in discussions at national level in the Netherlands around the creation of a new land platform examining land politics in Dutch policy. The discussions around rights of peasants and land grabbing have come on the agenda here in the Netherlands. 9. MEPs from 5 countries expressed concern on agrifood mergers, investment on land and extractive industries after publication from TNI on land grabbing in the EU which was presented to the European Parliament. 10. At Nyeleni meetings in Europe, TNI's analysis and alternatives for access to land and food sovereignty were discussed. TNI was involved in the development of these as part of the coordination committee.
1. The UNHRC keeps interest in the UN Binding Treaty and supports continuation of the OEIGWG as a result of TNI’s and partners’ advocacy efforts at the national, regional and international level. 2+3. The proposals of the Global Campaign on the UN Binding Treaty are put on the agenda of other CSOs (2) and policy makers (3) as a result of dissemination of these proposals.
1 The Global Inter-Parliamentarian Network (GIN) in support of the UN Binding Treaty on TNCs, grew to over 350 members from different countries. Parliamentarians, including those new to the network, urged governments to actively engage in the process of developing the Zero Draft. Parliamentarians discussed the binding treaty at events with four parliaments in Asia and Latin America. GIN members in the European Parliament initiated two Resolutions in the European Parliament in support of the Binding Treaty. TNI co-organised meetings with GIN and encouraged parliamentarians to join. 2 With assistance from TNI’s partner in Uruguay, the Uruguayan the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a national CSO consultation (in the framework of the government’s Foreign Affairs ministry-led national Dialogue and Consultations System) on the UN Binding Treaty process and the Zero Draft in advance of the 4th session of the OEIGWG in mid-October this year. This was a great step forward in itself and a positive sign of progress in moving the Uruguayan government’s position on the UN Binding Treaty. It also attracted participation from various governmental bodies. TNI provides financial support to the partner and support on strategy through the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity. 3-10 Eight Southern African countries (Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe) actively participated throughout the debate on the Zero Draft of the UN Binding Treaty. TNI’s partners through the Southern African Group on the Global Campaign, which TNI supports financially and with analysis and joint strategizing, have been actively advocating for their governments to support the binding treaty. 11 Representatives of the missions of 92 states and 2 non-members states with observer status participated in the OEIGWG Session on the Zero Draft. This included 35 LLMICs and was the highest number ever and shows the increasing support for the binding treaty. TNI coordinates the Global Campaign for the Binding Treaty and provides analytical and communications support to partners lobbying and advocating for the treaty with their government in the different global regions. Members of the global campaign have been advocating towards their national governments to participate in the OEIWG and support a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs. 12 Mexico spoke in support of specific obligations of corporations under the treaty showing a shift in its position in favour of the Binding Treaty. TNI, with Mexican partners, have advocated the Mexican government and Mission in Geneva. 13 The European Confederation of Trade Unions (ETUC) issued its Statement in support of the Binding Treaty in June 2018. TNI, with Asian and European unions and international union bodies, sustained advocacy within the trade union movement in the different regions. 14 Movements in South Korea convened a conference in support of the UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations in March 2018. TNI’s partners mobilised support from a broad spectrum of social movements and civil society organisations within Korea and contributed with analysis and strategy to set up a Korean Observatory supporting the Binding Treaty. 15 At the 11th General Assembly of the Euro-Med Rights Network in Brussels, CSOs from across the region discussed TNI’s narrative on “Shrinking Space” during a day of discussions on Shrinking Space. The Euro-Med Rights Network is a network of 80 human rights organisations based in the Euro-Med region, including LLMICs. 16 Scholar activists and peasants, food sovereignty, unions and shepherds movements, including from Myanmar, Indonesia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, came together at an international conference in March in The Hague and a regional gathering in Thailand in December under the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI). At the meetings, co-organised by TNI, academics and activists discussed current situation of authoritarianism and human rights violations for rural populations while assessing joint possible responses. Analyses from the meetings have since been used by academics, media and social movements in their publications. 17 Frente Amplio, the party in government in Uruguay, included support for the UN Binding Treaty in their programme (for 2020-2025) with which they will be running for a fourth consecutive mandate in the October 2019 elections (presidential, parliamentary and municipal). This will be potentially of critical importance as well for the forthcoming process in Geneva, given that Uruguay will be a voting member in the UN Human Rights Council from 2019 through 2022. TNI’s partner in Uruguay continuously engaged with Frente Amplio MPs on the issue and co-organized a meeting on the UN Binding Treaty with civil society, local authorities, grassroots groups resisting corporate power in the territory, civil servants from different ministries and government bodies. TNI provides financial support to this partner and supports on strategy through the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity.
Public agenda recognises need of a binding regulation (1) and social movements integrate exposing the role of corporate power (2); Flex crops (3) and financialisation of nature (4) are discussed by CSOs, academics, and policymakers.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. The UNHRC member states engage actively in the debate on the Zero Draft for a UN Binding Treaty and support continuing negotiations towards a robust Treaty as a result of TNI’s and partners’ advocacy efforts at the international level, and at the regional and national level in several LLMICs in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia. 2 and 3. The proposals of the Global Campaign on the UN Binding Treaty text are put on the agenda of other CSOs and policy-makers including Parliamentarians as a result of TNI and partner's dissemination and advocacy engagement on these proposals. The treaty text incorporates proposals that address the architecture of impunity of international financial institutions, free trade and investment agreements, and makes regulatory proposals for corporate operations. Proposals will specifically be discussed in relation to sectoral supply chains, indigenous peoples, women, and rights of affected communities. Partners include two key networks in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia who have members in multiple LLMICs. 4. The Global Inter-Parliamentary Network for the Binding Treaty is enlarged and legislative proposals supporting the Binding Treaty are made at national, regional and International level as a result of TNI’s and partners outreach work. Partners include two key networks in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia who have members in multiple LLMICs.
(1) The Global Inter-Parliamentarian Network (GIN) in support of the UN Binding Treaty on TNCs, grew to over 331 members from different countries and regions worldwide, notably new MEPs. Prior to the October 2019 OEIWG, Parliamentarians from Mercosur (which includes LLMIC Paraguay) released a statement in support of the binding treaty. TNI co-organised meetings with GIN and encouraged parliamentarians to join. TNI also co-organised a side event with GIN at the occasion of the 5th OEIGWG Session at Human Rights Council in Geneva (October 2019). The panel involved members of the European Parliament from different groups, as well as representatives of Asian and Latin American Parliaments. The Side Event was attended by at least 15 representatives of States. (2) The Spanish Government started discussions on a proposal for a new national law on TNCs and human rights. TNI and partners lobbied for the law. Many TNCs that operate in LLMICs are registered in Spain. (3) Luxembourg parliamentarians proposed a law for binding regulations on the financial sector. This is significant as Luxembourg is a hub for the financial sector, including corporations who operate in LLMICs. French partners, together with TNI, lobbied for this law. (4) Representatives of the missions of 91 states and 2 non-member states with observer status participated in the OEIGWG Session on the Zero Draft. This included 35 LLMICs and shows the increasing support for the binding treaty. TNI coordinates the Global Campaign for the Binding Treaty and provides analytical and communications support to partners lobbying and advocating for the treaty with their government in the different global regions. Members of the global campaign have been advocating towards their national governments to participate in the OEIWG and support a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs. (5-6) Mexican media (1) (major TV networks and other important press) covered a ‘tour’ in Mexico to expose the harmful actions of transnational corporations (TNCs). Following the media event, the Mexican Environment Minister (1), Victor Toledo, shared the claims with the Mexican President. TNI co-organised the tour with Mexican partners. (7) In 2019, the World Economic Forum signed a Partnership Agreement with the UN that committed the UN to work with WEF. The content of the agreement with such a major corporate actor was not made public. TNI co-organised a petition signed by 400 CSOs and social movements, including in LLMICs, denouncing the agreement and lack of transparency. The petition called for the UN to be transparent and cautioning against this type of agreements, which can de-legitimize the United Nations and provide transnational corporations preferential and deferential access to the UN System. (8) Le Courier, a major newspaper in Switzerland published a front-page story on the UN Binding treaty, including an interview with TNI staff. This was a first in the Swiss press.
1 The UNHRC member states engage actively in the debate on the first and second drafts for a Binding Treaty and support continuing negotiations towards a robust Treaty as a result of TNI’s and partners’ advocacy efforts at the national, regional and international level. Partners include three key networks in Southern Africa (with members in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar), Southeast Asia (with members in the Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia) and Latin America. 2+3 The proposals of the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity on the UN Binding Treaty text will be discussed by other (2) CSOs and (3) policy makers including parliamentarians as a result of TNI and partners’ advocacy and promotion of these proposals. The treaty text incorporates proposals that address the architecture of impunity of International Financial Institutions, Free Trade Agreements and Investor State Dispute Settlements, and makes regulatory proposals for corporate operations. Partners include three key networks in Southern Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America who have members in multiple LLMICs. 4 More parliamentarians will join the Global Inter-Parliamentary Network (GIN) for the UN Binding Treaty and make legislative proposals supporting the Binding Treaty at the national, regional and international level as a result of TNI’s and partners advocacy. Partners include three key networks in Southern Africa and Southeast Asia who have members in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia. 5 More academic experts in International and Human Rights Law will comment on the second draft of the UN Binding treaty, based on TNI and partners’ engagement with academics through workshops and discussions. 6 Land and environmental movements, climate defenders and international NGOs working on climate change will discuss the “shrinking space” for environmentalists and use this new discourse to strengthen their push back against corporate power. These discussions will be based on the publication of TNI’s framing paper on “shrinking space” for environmentalists that will go beyond simply naming the attacks or patterns but will delve in to the politics of why this is occurring in somewhat uniform way across the globe.
(1) The Global Inter-Parliamentarian Network (GIN) in support of the UN Binding Treaty on TNCs, grew to over 347 members from different countries and regions worldwide. In October 2020, European, ASEAN and LAC MPs had an important exchange in support of the Binding Treaty, and dialogue with the Ecuadorian Ambassador at the UN (and President of the OEIGWG) during a GIN Webinar co-organised by TNI. The webinar demonstrated to the OEIGWG the growing support and interest from MPs in different regions in the UN Binding Treaty. It also contributed to the discussion among MPs that will support the strategy to enlarge GIN in 2021. On 27 October 2020, the Financial Times also published an advertisement by the network in support to the UN Binding Treaty. MPs are key players at the regional and national level in the pressure on governments to positively engage in the Binding Treaty process.
(2) 54 Mayors and City Council members signed the “Call by Local Authorities worldwide to support the UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights” in support of the Binding Treaty which was launched via social media. TNI led the civil society working group that prepared the Local Authorities Call and collected the first endorsements.
(3) TNI and partners facilitated and participated in a high-level joint meeting with Mercosur Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioners Mato, Yaski and Salomão from Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil respectively. This represented a new level of interest and involvement in the Binding Treaty process and brought a further, more broad, political opportunity for follow-up.
(4) Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and the session being moved online, member states, including LLMICs, participated in the OEIGWG Session on the revised draft. This shows the ongoing support for the binding treaty. TNI coordinates the Global Campaign for the Binding Treaty and provides analytical and communications support to partners lobbying and advocating for the treaty with their government in the different global regions. Members of the global campaign have been advocating towards their national governments to participate in the OEIWG and support a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs.
(5) A documentary produced by TNI’s partner in Southern Africa, with financial support from TNI, on the Right to Say No and the role of TNCs in Southern Africa was so well received that it aired on a local tv channel (Cape Town TV) in April 2020.
(6) Academic experts in International and Human Rights Law commented on the second draft of the UN Binding treaty, responding to TNI and partners’ engagement with academics through workshops and discussions.
(7) TNI co-published a book on the recent wave of mass protest movements across North Africa and West Asia, including Sudan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon and Iran, which drew media attention in prominent Middle Eastern media outlets the Middle East Eye and Jadaliyaa, as well as Open Democracy and the Review of African Political Economy.
(8) A new 11-organisation multi-sectoral network came together to take up the issue of corporate capture of government decision making, including global multilateral governance. The network began researching and documenting evidence in their sectors (health, food/agriculture, environment, education, and internet) and connecting the dots to see the bigger pattern.
(9) In October 2020, with the support of the majority of political parties in the Catalan Parliament the proposal for a Law to create the Catalan Centre on TNCs and human rights was registered (second and penultimate step in the process for the law to be adopted). This was the result of the efforts of the Catalan working group on TNCs and human rights, where TNI participates. When the Centre is created, it will be the first step towards a public space that will support the regulation of the extraterritorial impacts of TNCs in the Global South and explore the path towards the access to justice for those affected.
Outcome E: Policies Changed
These include improved government and corporate policies on corporate accountability, including transparency and safeguards policies, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
1.E.a
# mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure companies promote more sustainable practices and are held accountable for respecting human rights and the environment and providing adequate remedy to victims of adverse impacts.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 planned policy by a national government in Latin America was changed, preventing a coal company from diverting a river - which would have affected the local population; 1 national government introduced external obligation in its policy - both as result of TNI's support to local partners and advocacy
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. In France, a bill on the duty of care of parent and subcontracting companies was passed in 2017. Members of the Global Campaign against Corporate Impunity - supported by TNI in technical expertise and communication outreach - played a huge role in advocating for corporate accountability. 2. Several measures were adopted by Dutch government as a result from work done by LobbyWatchNL (of which TNI is a key member). To combat revolving door situations, a two year "freeze" period has been installed for MP's leaving parliament. The government also is now obliged to give more insight on who they met with when drafting a new policy proposal. 3. 524 MEPs voted in favour of a resolution for research into "the state of play of farmland concentration in the UE: how to facilitate the access to land for farmers". TNI played a key role in drafting the proposal for this resolution and providing technical input, through publications and advocacy with MEPs. TNI brought in southern partners to share examples of impact of EU's policies abroad.
TNI will work with the Campaign member organisations in place to achieve and eventually implement new legislations. Expected outcomes for 2018 include: 1. A possible new law on binding regulations in Spain 2. An approved law on corporations due diligence in France 3. A proposal of initiative “responsible transnational corporations” in Switzerland. 4. A government level proposal on how binding regulations can apply to corporations in Catalonia. TNI will provide technical input to the proposals developed by partner organisations and provide logistical and financial support for advocacy efforts that seek to achieve these new legislations.
No results in 2018.
External obligation is introduced in policies of at least two national governments.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results expected in this timeframe.
(1) The Catalan Parliament unanimously approved a motion that reaffirms the support for the creation of the Center for Studies and Evaluation of Transnational Corporations and Human Rights. The Parliament's motion includes also the support to the UN Binding Treaty. The proposal was built by the Working Group on transnational corporations and human rights 2 years ago and was blocked in the context of intervention of the Catalan autonomy by the Spanish Government. The working group includes several member organizations of the Global Campaign in Catalonia. The Global Campaign for the Binding Treaty is coordinated by TNI.
No outcomes expected in 2020.
No results in 2020
1.E.b
# policies improved or introduced by companies on transparency and safeguards, conflict resolution mechanisms, and policies promoting social justice, decent work and sustainability.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results yet
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results yet
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
Companies respect law (HR International system), counting points of action to tackle corporate impunity.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this.
TNI doesn't work on this
Outcome A: Enabling Environment
Both the rights and the legal and political spaces needed to claim and defend those rights are protected for people, communities and civil society actors, enabling them to address misconduct and grievances successfully, and promote improved corporate conduct and related governmental regulation.
1.A.a
# mechanisms put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to corporate conduct, including the right to resist developments.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results were expected in this timeframe.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results were expected for 2017.
No results expected for 2018
No results were expected in 2018
No results are expected in this timeframe.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results were expected in this timeframe.
No results in 2019
No results expected for 2020
In October 2020, the Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIWG) Chair of the UNHRC agreed that texts being forwarded by governments and civil society will be circulated to all states and not only to the Chair. This is an important gain for transparency of the negotiations going forward. TNI and partners have been advocating directly towards the OEIWG Chair or staff (including member states) and in interventions at the UNHRC for this since 2018.
1.A.b
# effective legal and other grievance mechanisms adopted or improved by governments and corporations via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI does not work on this
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI does not work on this
TNI does not work on this
TNI does not work on this
TNI does not work on this.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI does not work on this.
TNI does not work on this.
No results expected for 2020.
TNI doesn't work on this
Outcome C: Alternatives Developed
A range of alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct have been developed, piloted and promoted by FGG and civil society actors, from best practices through to enforceable multi-stakeholder agreements.
1.C
# alternative, participatory initiatives and models related to corporate conduct meeting core criteria including sustainability, participation (m/f), transparency and equity (m/f), that have been developed, piloted and/or promoted.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 proposal on regional integration and democracy was published by regional networks within the Latin American alliance of social movements, highlighting the need of resisting the increasing financialisation of nature. TNI provided technical input and co-developed the framework for discussing these issues through its publications and panel participation
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
The Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity has developed a Treaty Text Proposal in October 2017 for a UN Binding Treaty ("Treaty on Transnational Corporations and their Supply Chains with regard to Human Rights: Treaty Text Proposal"), and shared this to UN governments as well as in bilateral meetings in the plenary of the OEIGWG in October. TNI and partners participated at the conceptual level, providing input to the proposal and supporting advocacy and communication in Geneva.
With TNI's technical and facilitating support, there is a proposed framework developed for the Binding Treaty, including specific sectoral proposals. Which proposals will be developed exactly in 2018 is not yet sure.
1 The Proposal for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights is an alternative UN instrument being advocated by TNI and the more than 200 members of the Global Campaign which TNI facilitates. The proposal includes specific articles on sustainable and equitable development as well as measures to ensure access to justice for communities affected by the impunity of corporations whose operations violate their human rights. In 2018, TNI jointly with the Global Campaign welcomed the Zero Draft (presented at the UNHRC by the Open Ended Inter Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG)) as a significant step towards the achievement of an alternative instrument on corporate accountability but made its critique, indicated where the Zero Draft needed stronger measures on the regulation of TNCs. The process will now continue towards the development and negotiation of a First Draft Treaty text to be presented in October 2019. 2 TNI has been jointly developing with partners the framework concept for the Peoples’ Centre on Corporate Impunity – involving discussion on how to develop the centre, criteria for building the support for participation in this by organisations and observatories from countries of the Global South and from the European Network of Corporate Observatories (ENCO) researching and analysing case studies on transnational corporations in LLMICs. 3 The Right to Say NO is an alternative to mining: the campaign asserts the right of affected communities to say no to mining based on the principle of Free Prior & Informed Consent (FPIC), which was submitted to and upheld in a South Africa High Court decision in November 2018. The Right to Say NO framework was developed and is led by TNI’s partners in Southern Africa. The principle is already being used by movements in South Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo to fight dam expansion. TNI supported the development of this alternative and the campaign promoting it through strategic and financial support for the campaign, and joint strategizing with its partners in southern Africa to develop their advocacy strategy for democratic participation, and decision making on development in their region.
International Peoples Treaty has developed a new chapter on the privatisation of democracy. Concrete proposals and initiatives will also be developed with partners concerning agri-food, coal mining, large-scale aquaculture, financialisation of nature, and corporatization of renewables. [target set at five to anticipate one may not be achieved due to unforeseen circumstances or limited capacity].
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. With TNI's technical and facilitating support, the framework proposed for the Binding Treaty in 2017 will be a basis for the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity to engage in the Open-ended intergovernmental working group of the UNHRC on the Zero Draft for a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. This framework incorporates proposals that address the architecture of impunity of International Financial Institutions, Free Trade and Investment Agreements, and makes regulatory proposals for corporate operations. The proposal will be promoted and articulated with specific application to sectoral supply chains, indigenous peoples, women, and rights of affected communities. 2&3. As an alternative to corporate capture of democratic institutions, new proposals on democracy procedures in Latin America and Southern Africa as well as alternative management of public assets will be discussed and elaborated by partners, in collaboration with TNI, based on concrete struggles at the local level in these countries. 3. The process towards a Peoples Centre on Corporate Impunity will be strengthened at the inter-regional level through research, training, field work undertaken by TNI in collaboration with partners in Southern Africa, Asia and Latin America.
(1) The UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights is an alternative UN instrument being advocated by TNI and the more than 238 members of the Global Campaign which TNI facilitates. The proposal includes specific articles on sustainable and equitable development as well as measures to ensure access to justice for communities affected by the impunity of corporations whose operations violate their human rights. In 2019, TNI, jointly with the Global Campaign, welcomed a first draft treaty text (presented at the UNHRC by the Open Ended Inter Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG)). While the text is not ideal, the first draft shows negotiations are moving forward. TNI and the global campaign reviewed the draft and indicated where it needed stronger measures on the regulation of TNCs. (2) TNI has been jointly developing with partners the framework concept for the Peoples’ Centre on Corporate Impunity – a virtual observatory with several chapters focusing on the impunity of TNCs. In October 2019, those involved, including affected communities and CSOs from Palestine, Philippines, El Salvador, India, Armenia, and Guatemala, met to further develop the proposal. (3) Strengthening People’s Sovereignty – TNI, together with partners in LLMICs (Guatemala, El Salvador, Indonesia, Philippines, Nigeria Gambia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Honduras, Cambodia, India, Nepal), has been developing initiatives and models that strengthen people’s sovereignty and democracy from below. This includes on issues such as the environment, gender, new models of culture for the public good. It has also included the protection of democracy from privatisation. In 2019, TNI launched a virtual ‘People’s Sovereignty Lab’ to enable the promotion and discussion of these initiatives. TNI also began work on preventing the privatisation of democratic institutions including in relation to the UN, at a workshop in 2019, from which a small group was established to further develop this work.
1 Proposed Framework for a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs: With TNI's technical and facilitating support, a global network of CSOs, NGOs and social movements will continue to engage the OEIWG on the draft of the UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and Human Rights, based on their framework for the binding treaty proposed in 2017. In responding to the first and second drafts of the treaty, the network will ensure the treaty text answers the aspirations originally intended for the binding treaty. The framework proposed in 2017 incorporates proposals that address the architecture of impunity of International Financial Institutions, Free Trade Agreements, and Investor State Dispute Settlement and makes regulatory proposals for corporate operations. The proposal will continue to be promoted and articulated with specific application to sectoral supply chains, indigenous peoples, women, and the rights of affected communities. 2 The Peoples Sovereignty Lab: In 2020, TNI will facilitate the launch of the Peoples’ Sovereignty Lab. The Lab will focus on democracy from below and will count on the participation of a broad range of grassroots organisations, including from LLMICs, and engaged academics. The Lab will provide a global space for developing civil society responses to the deepening role and influence of corporate interests in politics and institutions of democracy while at the same time generating new practices in people’s sovereignty. As part of the Lab, a Working Group will be active in proposing alternatives to multistakeholder international governance. 3 The Peoples’ Centre on Corporate Impunity: in 2020 the centre will become operationalized. This virtual Centre aims to document and publicise key cases of corporate impunity to hold corporations to account. TNI will co-facilitate the establishment of the centre, together with social movements, affected communities and other CSOs and global networks campaigning for a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and Human Rights, including from LLMICs. The Peoples Centre will provide an inter-active space and tools for social movements and affected communities to address corporate impunity. It will also mobilise a network of academics working on corporate power and link with other networks of organisations monitoring corporate behaviour.
(1) The UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights is an alternative UN instrument being advocated by TNI and the more than 240 members of the Global Campaign for the UN Binding Treaty which TNI facilitates. The proposal for the treaty includes specific articles on sustainable and equitable development as well as measures to ensure access to justice for communities affected by the impunity of corporations whose operations violate their human rights.
In 2020, TNI, jointly with the Global Campaign, provided comments on a revised draft of the treaty text that had been presented to the UNHRC by the OEIGWG. TNI, together with the global campaign, hosted online regional consultations on the text in Latin America, Africa and Asia. TNI’s partners in Southern Africa also hosted a session on how the treaty could be operationalised and how it could enhance communities access to justice after it is in effect.
(2) The Right to Say No: with financial support from TNI our partners in southern Africa held workshops on the right to say no with affected communities. Unfortunately other meetings had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions and difficulties with internet connections for online meetings. The Right to say NO is an enhancement in implementation of the right to Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). Where the affected community has a meaningful consultation with government, ahead of Corporations being issued operational licences, and whereby the community can accept or reject the proposed operation. This is a significant alternative to the current practice and has been upheld in the High Court in South Africa in the case of the Xolbeni community in the sand dunes on the East Coast and their opposition to Titanium mining.
(3) TNI has been jointly developing with partners the framework concept for the Peoples’ Centre on Corporate Impunity – a virtual observatory with several chapters focusing on the impunity of TNCs. In 2020, those involved, including affected communities and CSOs from Palestine, Philippines, El Salvador, India, Armenia, and Guatemala, furthered components of the people’s centre. These included on the law to create the Catalan Centre on TNCs and HR, monitoring the Permanent Peoples Tribunal on the human rights of migrant and refugee people, and on corporate impunity in Mexico.
Outcome B: Capacities Strengthened
Increased capacity of civil society actors to research, network and advocate in relation to the conduct of corporations.
1.B
# CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for responsible corporate conduct based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1-20 Twenty CSOs, networks and social movements from LLMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights in Geneva through oral interventions at Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Session at the UNHRC, meetings with their national missions, media work and/or public events (see list of organisations below). TNI organised meetings, spaces and debriefs before and during the week of action to jointly develop strategy and content, facilitated media engagement, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate. 21 A regional network in support of the Binding treaty was established by CSOs and movements including from Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines, with TNI’s financial, strategic and analysis support. The Task Force is coordinating advocacy for the campaign in the region and its members are lobbying national policy makers in support of the Binding Treaty. 22-26 Six CSOs and networks from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, advocated towards their policy makers, national governments in support of the Binding Treaty. TNI supported these organisations with analysis and strategy through their involvement in a Southern Africa network which TNI also supports financially. 27 With joint strategizing, analysis and content from TNI, a confederation of trade unions in Latin America who has members in LLMICs, is advocating for the UN binding treaty internationally, including within the international union movement. This resulted in the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Resolution supporting the Binding Treaty in June 2018. 28 With financial support, joint strategizing, analysis and networking facilitated by TNI, affected communities, CSOs and networks in Southern Africa strengthened their arguments and evidence for their advocacy through the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) on Transnational Corporations in Southern Africa and the Right to Say NO Campaign. At the same time, during the PPT the affected communities, CSOs and networks held demonstrations and engaged with the media and social media under Right to Say NO Campaign. 29-30 A women’s organisation from Egypt, with communications support from TNI, translated TNI’s framing paper on “Shrinking Space” into Arabic. The organisation, together with a second from Morocco, used the paper with their members to inform their advocacy on women’s rights in their local cities. 31-33 With analysis and networks developed through their involvement in the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI) that TNI co-organised, two CSOs in Indonesia and Zimbabwe advocated for peasants’ rights at the United Nations and one CSO has advocated on the right to land and natural resources in Nigeria. 34 In June 2018, Indian unions and CSOs came together to respond to Walmart’s takeover of India’s largest E-Commerce company, Flipkart. With communications support from TNI, they issued a statement on the takeover and held a press conference. At a later strategy meeting, to which TNI contributed content and analysis, the unions formed an action committee to organise joint work. The unions continue to challenge the emerging duopoly of Ecommerce in India between Walmart and Amazon, with complaints filed at the competition commission and advocacy towards political parties and the Indian Government.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. The Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity has been enlarged to new members in different sectors (such as health movements, trade unions in Latin America, and others). TNI has contributed to movement building and reaching out to new sectors. TNI has also strengthened the communications of the Global Campaign, which proved effective during the session at the UN in October (leading to much press coverage for example). A database on key journalists has been established for future work.
TNI’s financial and technical support allows partner in Southern Africa to continue and improve its work, supporting affected communities and other CSOs in LLMICs in their work on addressing corporate violations TNI's logistical and financial support to the Global Campaign against Corporate Impunity contributes to coordination, broadening, and effectiveness of the campaign's work.
1-20 Twenty CSOs, networks and social movements from LLMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights in Geneva through oral interventions at Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Session at the UNHRC, meetings with their national missions, media work and/or public events (see list of organisations below). TNI organised meetings, spaces and debriefs before and during the week of action to jointly develop strategy and content, facilitated media engagement, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate. 21 A regional network in support of the Binding treaty was established by CSOs and movements including from Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines, with TNI’s financial, strategic and analysis support. The Task Force is coordinating advocacy for the campaign in the region and its members are lobbying national policy makers in support of the Binding Treaty. 22-26 Six CSOs and networks from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, advocated towards their policy makers, national governments in support of the Binding Treaty. TNI supported these organisations with analysis and strategy through their involvement in a Southern Africa network which TNI also supports financially. 27 With joint strategizing, analysis and content from TNI, a confederation of trade unions in Latin America who has members in LLMICs, is advocating for the UN binding treaty internationally, including within the international union movement. This resulted in the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Resolution supporting the Binding Treaty in June 2018. 28 With financial support, joint strategizing, analysis and networking facilitated by TNI, affected communities, CSOs and networks in Southern Africa strengthened their arguments and evidence for their advocacy through the Permanent People’s Tribunal (PPT) on Transnational Corporations in Southern Africa and the Right to Say NO Campaign. At the same time, during the PPT the affected communities, CSOs and networks held demonstrations and engaged with the media and social media under Right to Say NO Campaign. 29-30 A women’s organisation from Egypt, with communications support from TNI, translated TNI’s framing paper on “Shrinking Space” into Arabic. The organisation, together with a second from Morocco, used the paper with their members to inform their advocacy on women’s rights in their local cities. 31-33 With analysis and networks developed through their involvement in the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI) that TNI co-organised, two CSOs in Indonesia and Zimbabwe advocated for peasants’ rights at the United Nations and one CSO has advocated on the right to land and natural resources in Nigeria. 34 In June 2018, Indian unions and CSOs came together to respond to Walmart’s takeover of India’s largest E-Commerce company, Flipkart. With communications support from TNI, they issued a statement on the takeover and held a press conference. At a later strategy meeting, to which TNI contributed content and analysis, the unions formed an action committee to organise joint work. The unions continue to challenge the emerging duopoly of Ecommerce in India between Walmart and Amazon, with complaints filed at the competition commission and advocacy towards political parties and the Indian Government.
Global Campaign on Corporate Power has increased its network contacts and skills [1 network]; and 50 organisations in Latin America and Asia have increased knowledge on financialisation of nature.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. TNI’s financial and technical support will enable a network in Southern Africa to reach a wider audience and improve their advocacy work towards governments for the UN binding treaty and binding regulation on corporate accountability . 2. With TNI’s technical and logistical support, a network in Southeast Asia with members in Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines, will advocate nationally and regionally for corporate accountability. 3. TNI's logistical and financial support to the Global Campaign on Corporate Impunity, which includes members from LLMICs, contributes to the coordination, broadening, and effectiveness of the campaign's advocacy work.
(1-14) CSOs, social movements and networks from LLMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights through oral interventions at Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Session at the UNHRC in Geneva, meetings with their national missions, media work and/or public events (see list of organisations below). TNI organised meetings and debriefs before and during the week of action to jointly develop strategy and content, communicated daily briefs on strategy, enabled CSOs access to the UN, facilitated interviews with media, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate. (15) The ASEAN Regional Taskforce on the Binding Treaty continued to lobby national governments and at the UNHRC in Geneva for a UN Binding Treaty, with TNI’s financial, strategic and analysis support. The taskforce includes CSOs and social movements from Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The Task Force continued to coordinate advocacy for the campaign in the region and its members are lobbying national policy makers in support of the Binding Treaty. (16-20) Five CSOs and networks from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, advocated towards their national governments in support of the Binding Treaty. TNI supported these organisations with analysis and strategy through their involvement in the South African Reference Group which TNI also supports financially. (21) With joint strategizing, analysis and content from TNI, a confederation of trade unions in Latin America, who has members in LLMICs, is advocating for the UN binding treaty internationally, including within the international union movement. (22) People affected by oil company Chevron, including peoples from LLMICs, and with TNI’s support on communications and strategy, exposed corporate impunity through an organised day of action and a call to action with a sign on 21st May 2019. The Chevron-Texaco case, promoted in Ecuador by UDAPT (Union of People Affected by Texaco's oil operations, including more than thirty thousand members) is an example of the structure of global impunity that benefits Transnational Corporations (TNC's) in the violation of Human Rights worldwide and in particular in the Global South. After 25 years of sustained efforts, and despite the fact that the reparation award against Chevron (formerly Texaco) has been ratified at every level of Ecuador's justice system, it has still not been enforced. Chevron (formerly Texaco) removed all its assets from Ecuador. The affected communities turned to foreign courts to homologate and enforce the Ecuadorian verdict. In Brazil, Argentina and Canada, their lawsuit was dismissed. As an attempt to stop impunity, the affected people have also filed without success a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC). The day of action included events in 17 cities and a mass mobilisation in the Amazon. 280 organisations signed a statement representing 280 million people. (23-26) Five global and regional networks working, who have members in LLMICs, with analysis provided by TNI, initiated the process for an alert mechanism to better respond to systematic criminalisation of their members including peasants, fisherfolks, women, (environmental) human rights defenders. The system will be implemented by these organisations.
1 With TNI’s financial and technical support, a network of CSOs will increase its capacity to reach a broader audience and sustain their advocacy towards governments for a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and Human Rights. The network includes CSOs from Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Madagascar. 2 With TNI’s technical, financial and logistical support, the network of CSOs in Southeast Asia will increase their skills and continue to advocate at a national and regional level for a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and Human Rights. The network has members in Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and Indonesia. 3 With TNI’s technical and logistical support, an informal network of CSOs and social movements in Latin America, which includes participants from LLLMICs, will increase their skills to advocate nationally and regionally for a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and Human Rights. 4 With logistical and financial support from TNI, a global network of CSOs, NGOs and social movements, which includes members from LLMICs, will continue to coordinate and increase their skills to advocate for a UN Binding Treaty on TNCs and Human Rights at the national, regional and global level.
(1-14) CSOs, social movements and networks from LLMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights through oral interventions in (online) Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Sessions of the UNHRC, (online) meetings with their national missions, media work and/or public (online) events (see list of organisations below). TNI co-organised regional meetings in Latin-America, Africa and Asia before the OEIWG to prepare feedback on the revised draft of the treaty, and jointly developed strategy, facilitated interviews with media, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate.
(15) A regional network in ASEAN continued to lobby national governments and at the UNHRC in Geneva for a UN Binding Treaty, with TNI’s financial, strategic and analysis support. The taskforce includes CSOs and social movements from LLMICs Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The taskforce continued to coordinate advocacy for the campaign in the region and its members are lobbying national policy makers in support of the Binding Treaty.
(16-20) Five CSOs and networks from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi, Tanzania, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, hosted regional and national (online) consultations, launched a publication on African perspectives on a UN treaty and advocated towards their national governments in support of the Binding Treaty. TNI supported these organisations with analysis and strategy through their involvement in the South African Reference Group which TNI also supports financially.
(21-23) With joint strategizing and analysis from TNI, three regional organisations in Latin America who all have members in LLMICs, came together and articulated their analysis and critiques of TNCs, and their responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocated for the UN binding treaty internationally, including within the international union movement.
(24-27) Four global networks with members in LLMICs, with analysis provided by TNI, established an alert mechanism to better respond to systematic criminalisation of their members including peasants, fisherfolks, women, (environmental) human rights defenders. In 2020, the enabling network to facilitate the mechanism was established and the network already responded to some urgent alerts from communities defending human and environmental rights with solidarity actions, including, for example, a solidarity working group focused on Honduras and a webinar with MEPs about the role of the European Union in the Human Rights context in Honduras.
NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC2
Transnational Institute
FGG TNI ToC 2: Improved Trade and Investment
TNI and partners will tackle the negative impacts of investment protection and investment arbitration and strive to enhance developing countries’ policy space for sustainable development, working on a shift towards a more democratic and sustainable trade policy, coherent with the sustainable development goals. TNI will foster knowledge development by monitoring government policies, carrying out research and publishing a series of briefings. TNI will actively support Southern partners in their research and lobby efforts, and will facilitate knowledge building and sharing among southern partners across all regions to ensure mutual learning and where needed joint strategizing. TNI will also develop common analysis and lobby the Dutch government in relation to its trade and investment policies and treaties as well as European institutions (European Commission and Parliament). Partners will co-host training workshops, research and analysis and will lobby their own governments and regional bodies governing investments. In order to develop strategies to respond to human and environmental rights violations caused by different types of natural resources grabbing, TNI will work with organizations and movements in the South, supporting communities’ work at local and national level, specifically providing tools and building arguments with them for debates with public authorities. TNI will also support the articulation and planning to strategize with different organizations and develop outreach strategies in order to make these organizations visible, raise awareness and reach out to influence public opinion. To work on international networking and advocacy, TNI will deepen the efforts to articulate interests at the international level, building common strategies, exchanging experiences, proposing concrete campaigns and advocating at Dutch, European and international level. TNI will also promote research on concrete/emblematic cases, documenting experiences of organization and advocacy. Next to these capacity building activities, TNI will also explore the use of existing international instruments and tools to advocate and develop positive experiences of use and control of natural resources, including FPIC, VGGT, VGSSF, UNDRIP, UN Guidelines on displacement, and eviction.
TNI
TNI
TNI
TNI
tni@tni.org
https://www.tni.org/en
3975290
252632
246181
300430
181390
181001
178036
331122
732431
832414
172211
164725
191449
170089
3975290
TNI
TNI
284369
Outcome C: Alternatives Developed
Alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime—which are people-driven, gender inclusive and sustainable policies and practices that improve policy coherence for development, such as the Alternative Trade Mandate—have been developed, piloted and promoted by FGG and civil society actors.
2.C
# alternative approaches to the current trade and investment regime developed with CSOs in LLMICs that have been developed, piloted and/or promoted.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
Two alternatives developed: one on democratizing access and control of natural resources - using a human rights framework using the CSF tenure guidelines as alternative to property rights framework -, and the other one on an alternative approach to trade and investment negotiations between China and Latin America. These have been developed and discussed with allies. TNI provided technical and conceptual input to these discussions. [a third model excluded here for safety reasons]
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. Proposals on aquaculture and food sovereignty based on FAO small-scale fisheries guidelines were developed and discussed with partners at workshops in Indonesia, Myanmar and Turkey by WFFP with TNI support. 2. Proposals for positive investment policies to support small scale food producers access to land in Europe were developed with organizations members of HoTL (Hands on the Land, European Network). These built on joint work and analysis undertaken by TNI and other partners. TNI presented and debated these proposals in various fora, including FAO.
An alternative approach has been developed in relation to the Multilateral Investment Court (MIC) - EU's new proposed alternative to ICS/ISDS. TNI will work on this together with partners and provide technical expertise on trade agreements in the development of the proposal.
1 Together with FOEE and other Asian partners, TNI developed a detailed set of recommendations to achieve trade and investment deals that put the public interest in the driving seat. This alternative vision in trade aims for a democratic, participatory and transparent policy-making process at both the national level and in international negotiations. Among the key recommendations we included: * Open and inclusive public consultation before trade mandates are formulated * National parliaments must approve the mandate * Independent environment, social and economic assessment * Transparency and meaningful public participation in negotiations, from start to finish * National Parliaments must be able to give directions during the negotiating process * Ensure balanced stakeholder input at all stages * Ensure public debate and national parliament approval of trade agreements before signing and ratification * Ensure cancellation clauses The recommendations were published in the report “RCEP: A secret deal - Trade talks fail the transparency and public participation test” and shared with government officials from countries involved in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam are participating in the RCEP negotiations. 2 After three years of consultation with communities and with financial and technical support from TNI, a network in Myanmar and their partners launched an innovative alternative for forest conservation and livelihood development. The project is a people-centered alternative to top-down, militarized development and conservation, and builds towards socially just and ecologically sustainable development for indigenous Karen communities. A Charter has been developed, a guiding document that enshrines the principles of self-determination and ecological sustainability into the governance and management of this indigenous conserved area. 3 TNI, with five regional and global networks began to deepen discussion and elaborate on a common understanding of ‘just transition’. This convergence was shared at mobilisation moments and convened common activities around COP24 and GCAS. 4 TNI, together with Myanmar partners, critiqued the current hegemonic narrative of Myanmar’s development trajectory, proposed by the major donors, and developed an alternative trajectory based on agriculture. The research was published in the Paradigm Trap: The development establishment's embrace of Myanmar and how to break loose. The paper proposes an agriculture- and countryside-led industrialization process promoted by local community enterprises, cooperatives, small and medium private enterprises, and state enterprises that focus on socially useful production such as making industrial inputs for organic agriculture, medicinal products for treating tropical diseases and relieving pain, and solar and renewable energy devices for a decentralized renewable energy path. The report highlights what an alternative trade strategy and a solar-based energy infrastructure would entail.
Alternatives around democratizing access and control of natural resources and an alternative approach relation to ongoing trade and investment negotiations in LA/Asia has been developed. [a third model excluded here for safety reasons].
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 Together with TNI, CSOs in the Philippines, Indonesia, and regional level networks in Southeast Asia and Latin America will develop investors’ obligations as an alternative to investment protection. 2-3 Based on joint research and technical and political support, TNI will jointly develop proposals using the voluntary guidelines for land and natural resources (VGGTs and VGSSFs) with organisations in Indonesia and Myanmar. 4 With TNI technical and political support, common proposals for just transition and energy democracy will be built by organizations in the Americas.
(1) Just Transition: TNI, with unions and environmental organisations from Africa, Latin America and Netherlands, and with five global and regional movements, agreed on a common position on ‘just transition’ and had a workshop in Chile and Madrid around the planned, but moved, COP. Environmental justice organisations from 15 countries in Latin America (including those from LLMICs), Togo, Indonesia and Europe, strengthened their capacity on Just Transition practices, with technical support and analysis from TNI through workshops and trainings and initiated a process to develop programmatic proposal. (2-3) Food sovereignty proposals: were identified as an approach to address extractivism in the Middle-East and North Africa region. With financial, methodological support and research from TNI, a network in North Africa positioned the debate in public events in Tunisia. The principles of Food Sovereignty have been incorporated into the fisher organisations’ proposals. Together with local organisations, TNI developed research and trainings in Indonesia, Spain (with Senegalese migrants) and Turkey. A global network of fisherfolks’ organisations, has decided to deepen its work on food sovereignty towards its next General Assembly. (4) CSOs, academics and movements, including from Indonesia, Myanmar and India, developed a tool for a permanent exchange and analysis on radical proposals for a human rights approach. Part of this debate was published by TNI and FIAN. (5) Connecting Smallholders to markets: TNI first published on this in 2016 and continued to discuss it as an alternative proposal for EU and national policies, including through International Planning Committee Working Group on land and territory. FAO World Committee on Food Security (CFS) discussed what policy processes need to be in place to connect small holders to local markets. TNI authored a paper on the topic for CSM in 2016, which was fed into FAO discussions. In 2019, TNI gave a further submission into the process together with CSOs from LLMICs including an association of farmers in West Africa. (6) Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): Policy makers in Indonesia discussed the impact of MSP with a fisherfolks organisation in Indonesia. The organisation is proposing a more community led approach, focused on the need and priorities of communities rather than big infrastructure and big business. TNI supported with research and analysis on MSP.
1 Land and Natural Resources Policies in Indonesia and Myanmar: Based on joint research and technical and political support, TNI will jointly develop proposals for inclusive and sustainable natural resource policies using the voluntary guidelines for land and natural resources (VGGTs and VGSSFs) with organisations in Indonesia and Myanmar. 2 Just Transition: Together with partners from LLMICs, TNI will develop common framings on Just Transition to fulfil the commitments within the Paris Agreement and as an alternative to the climate crisis. Member organization of these networks will promote a deeper understanding of the needs and tools for a just transition. 3 Food sovereignty for fisheries: With technical and methodological support from TNI, fisherfolks organisations at the global level will discuss and agree on the characteristics of food sovereignty for fisheries as a way to improve their livelihoods. Their proposals on food sovereignty for fisheries will serve as an alternative to the food system dominated by the industrial fisheries. 4 Sustainable livelihoods in the high Rif region, Morocco: small farmers in the high Rif region in Morocco are currently largely dependent on illicit cultivation, while previous alternative development initiatives based on crop substitution have dramatically failed due to the environmental characteristics of the area. As an alternative, the farmers are instead advocating for a legal framework that will allow them to grow their produce legally for the local and international medicinal and industrial cannabis markets. In 2020, with technical support and capacity strengthening from TNI, the farmers will develop a pilot project to demonstrate the sustainability of this approach. They will also begin advocating, in cooperation with some local academic experts, for the proposed legal framework towards the relevant local and national authorities in Morocco. 5. Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) alternatives: together with the national Indonesian fisherfolk organisation, TNI will promote alternatives to Marine Spatial Planning in Indonesia, as identified through TNI and this organisation’s joint research on MSP published in 2019. MSP has been presented as response to the environmental, political and social challenges around oceans. Indonesia is considered a fore runner in its implementation of MSP. Through joint research, the authors discovered evidence of the negative impacts of these policies for small-scale fisheries. The research also highlighted proposals developed by communities for a positive MSP. In 2020, these proposals will be promoted by the fisher folks organisation and TNI. 6. Agroecology: TNI together with FGG Alliance members and partners including a global peasants movement and smaller community organisations, will promote agroecology as an alternative to corporate food systems. In Uruguay and in Colombia agroecology advocacy will continue at the national level and agroecology practices will be piloted. In the Netherlands, TNI will continue discussions with the Dutch government on the Dutch approach to agroecology. TNI will contribute analysis to support agroecology as a solution to the climate and food crisis. TNI will work with a global peasant’s movement on agroecology in the framework of the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC) at the international level in relation to FAO together with other FGG Alliance members. At the request of partners in LLMICs TNI will provide analysis, technical support and will co-publish a report on the corporate capture of agroecology, which will be promoted in 2020.
(1) Just Transition: In February 2020 a coalition of trade unions and environmental organisations launched a powerful joint statement identifying core principles of a Just Transition, due to work that TNI, FOEI & Milieudefensie undertook together with ATALC, CSA-TUCA, FNV, the Nigerian Labour Congress, and ERA Nigeria.
Movements from Pakistan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Indonesia collectively developed their understanding of Just Transition, working to deepen and expand the notion to include engagement with questions of food sovereignty and resource justice. In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, this was elaborated in the form of proposals for a Just Recovery, driven by grassroots communities and small-scale food producers.
(2) Food sovereignty proposals were identified as an approach to address extractivism in the Middle-East and North Africa region. With financial, methodological support and research from TNI, NAFSAN positioned the debate in public events in Tunisia.
Small-scale fishers, including through the World Forum of Fisher Peoples continued to engage with food sovereignty as a framework for their work: with Solidaritas Perempuan in Indonesia TNI published a report on “Situating small-scale fisheries in the global struggle for agroecology and food sovereignty” contributing key research and analysis. Webinars brought together fishers and other small-scale food producers to strategise collectively around food sovereignty as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
(3) CSOs, academics and movements, including from Indonesia, Myanmar and India, developed a tool for a permanent exchange and analysis on radical proposals for a human rights approach. Part of this debate was published by TNI and FIAN.
(4) Feminist responses to COVID-19: TNI funded research in Indonesia on feminist responses to the COVID-19 crisis led by partner Solidaritas Perempuan (SP). This action research documented local women’s needs in the face of the Covid crisis as well as locally-based, women-led responses to the crisis. SP shared key findings about the gendered impacts of Covid-19, and stories of women’s advocacy and activism in multiple meetings and webinars.
(5) Salween Peace Park: Supported by TNI, Myanmar CSOs took a photo exhibition on tour to share the process to develop a local alternative for forest conservation and sustainable livelihoods with other ethnic nationalities in Myanmar. The initiative serves as an alternative to top-down, militarized development and conservation. The initiative won a prestigious international prize in 2020.
(6) Myanmar Federal Land Law: Myanmar’s current national land policies do not take into account customary land policies and practices in different ethnic areas, resulting in loss of land. Facilitated by TNI, people from multiple ethnic groups came together for the first time to discuss and identify key elements for a new federal land policy that recognises customary land policies. The meeting resulting in a draft land law, a significant first step in the process for a Federal land law.
Outcome B: Capacities Strengthened
Increased capacity of civil society actors to research, network and advocate on trade and investment.
2.B
# CSOs in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved policies related to trade and investment, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
Of the organisations that joined the training and workshops that TNI and partners organised during 2016 on IIAs and ISDS, 24 (particularly from Myanmar, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and India) joined advocacy efforts at national or regional level. [24] 1 network has increased their knowledge of VGGTs and VGSSF [1] 3 LLMIC organisations increased their capacity and knowledge on working in international fora, making them more able to think on common proposals and identify common lines when working at embassy and UN spaces [22]
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. Partner in Indonesia: joint publication with TNI and SOMO on the EU-Indonesia FTA increased awareness among CSOs in Indonesia and Europe. Workshops were held in Indonesia to provide technical input for local CSOs. As a result, TNI's partner released a video on ISDS, published a press release, and showed to be well able to answer media questions and built good contacts in parliament on FTA. 2+3. Myanmar groups: workshops in Myanmar co-organised by TNI led to deepening of knowledge of the ISDS. TNI's publication on EU-Myanmar IPA contributed to capacity of two local CSOs to be able to reply to in-depth questions from the media. 4. Local partner in Indonesia: after a webinar for Asian CSOs on the newly introduced Multilateral Investment Court (by EU), our partner was able to prepare a press release expressing concerns of Indonesian CSOs about this new investment protection mechanism. 5. India Trade campaign: with technical support and expertise input from TNI, local CSOs in the Indian Trade campaign organised events towards journalists in Delhi to inform them about WTO, FTAs and Bilteral Investment Treaties. Briefing papers on RCEP (co-published by TNI) were used to engage different stakeholders. TNI also co-organised a South India Regional Workshop on understanding the impact of RCEP. 6+7. TNI has worked on strengthening and building capacity of major movements of small scale food producers (La Via Campesina and World Forum of Fisher Peoples) to deepen their understanding of policies, proposals and international standards and best practices. Through TNI's technical contribution, cooperation and communication among both movements has improved, as they now develop common strategies for example on advocacy towards FAO. 8. The Hands on the Land alliance - of which TNI is a key member and which includes Southern partners - has been strengthened as a political alliance. The alliance will continue to be a space to strategise and propose common intiativies for advocacy and alternatives. TNI has been part of the secretariat of HoTL and has provided expert analysis around issues of land grabbing and food sovereignty. 9+10+11+12. The capacity of fisher folks and ethnic groups in Myanmar to discuss and advocate for better policies has been strengthened, which was demonstrated at different advocacy meetings at national level. TNI provided technical support and continues to be seen as a key ally to support their work. 13+14+15. Materials on how to use VGGTs and VGSSFs were developed with partners from different African countries. This contributed to a better understanding of the guidelines and the way they might be useful for organizations' demands. For example, several partners engaged in a long-term project to develop their understanding of the VGGTs and used these in local advocacy contexts with national governments. This strengthened local campaigns and allowed national organizations to engage in lobbying around proposed changes to land laws and regulations in Uganda and South Africa.
6 CSOs in Asia and Latin America have enlarged their awareness of the dangers of IIAs and ISDS and question free trade in Asia and are advocating for improved trade and investment policies. TNI provides financial and technical support to these partners through workshops and training. 3 CSOs in Asia and Latin America will be strengthened in their organisation and advocacy efforts through TNI’s analysis – developed with CSOs – of threats and opportunities in climate and environmental policies, resource grabbing at local level, and training on use of VGGT and VGSSF.
1 A regional Latin American CSO platform was launched in 2018 with members from across Latin America and the Caribbean including from Haiti and Bolivia. TNI supported network building efforts and contributed analysis. The platform is advocating on the impacts of FTAs and ISDS. 2-3 Through joint research with TNI on the publication The Paradigm Trap: The development establishment's embrace of Myanmar and how to break loose, Myanmar CSOs developed their research and analysis skills, made evident the hegemonic narrative on development in Myanmar and outlined viable alternatives. CSOs have since used the publication in their advocacy with Myanmar MPs and the Myanmar Government, who have discussed the report. 4-5 With technical support and analysis from TNI, two Myanmar networks organized a campaign challenging the Myanmar Government’s land policy through social media and in public statements. 6-7 With financial support, technical advice and relationships facilitated by TNI, the two Myanmar networks launched a video showing the experiences of internally displaced people (IDP) of land grabbing by large agricultural investors, including plantations by foreign companies. The networks have been using the video in their advocacy for IDP land rights and the right of return. 8 TNI held a workshop on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with CSOs in Myanmar. Participants discussed the local and broader implications of the BRI. The CSOs are challenging the key investments in Myanmar under the BRI framework with demonstrations and through the media. 9 Through joint research on RCEP, two CSOs strengthened their analysis and evidence of the impact of trade and investment agreements in their countries. They have used this analysis and the report in their advocacy towards their national governments on RCEP negotiations. 10 With financial support and workshops on indigenous peoples’ rights, human rights and gender rights from TNI, a CSO in Myanmar has campaigned with local community based organisations to stop land grabbing and the development of large scale dams and infrastructure projects, and challenging a massive conservation project in Tanintharyi Region. 11 Throughout the year, TNI’s partner in Indonesia engaged with the Indonesian Government negotiators to discuss different trade agreements and the impact of ISDS. For example, in September, they met to discuss the ongoing negotiations of RCEP and EU-Indonesia FTA. TNI supported the partner financially and through joint research and analysis. 12 A wide coalition of Indonesian CSOs and networks denounced the Indonesian government for signing a new BIT with Singapore. They call for non-ratification. This process was coordinated by TNI’s partner and was grounded in analysis that TNI had produced and shared with the Coalition. 13-17 In 2018, TNI worked with Indian trade unions to strengthen the unions’ understanding of the impact of trade and investment agreements on labour issues in India. TNI worked closely with five unions, in particular, providing joint analysis. In April, TNI co-organised a national level workshop with 25 Indian unions (including the 5 unions) on ‘Trade and Investment Liberalisation: impacts on workers in India’ TNI made a presentation on investor rights, corporate impunity and peoples alternatives to free trade. The workshop helped unions to make the link between international trade agreements and labour rights struggles on the ground and challenging labour relations. The trade unions then advocated towards the national government and their affiliated political parties on issues relating to RCEP and other FTAs. 18 In May 2018 in Singapore, trade unions from across Asia, including LLMICs, came together to develop their understanding of trade agreements at a meeting convened by international unions. TNI contributed through a workshop on the rise of corporate Asia and how corporations are using FTAs and BITs as one of the key tools to access markets and potentially limit policy space through ISDS. Following the meeting, participants launched an Asia Pacific Network. The network is advocating to stop RCEP through online campaigns and supporting members’ national level activities. 19-20 With analysis on land grabbing from TNI, two Ukrainian networks lobbied the Ukrainian Government to support the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas through meetings with high level officials. 21 With financial support and analysis from TNI, and relationships with other Ukrainian CSOs facilitated by TNI, a Ukrainian progressive popular journal published a special issue on development and theories of agrarian change in Ukraine, challenging agri-business and tax avoidance in the country. The journal advocates for progressive policy change towards the general public in Ukraine. 22 With financial support and analysis from TNI, a fisherfolks network in Indonesia, organised a counter event to a major international conference on Blue Growth which was held in Indonesia in 2018. 23-25 With strategic and technical advice and analysis on ‘Blue Growth’ from TNI, international fisherfolks bodies made interventions on the floor of the FAO Committee on Fisheries Initiative (COFI) in July 2018. 26 With training from TNI on the Small Scale Fisheries (SSF) Guidelines, fisher folk from Latin America, (including from Honduras), advocated using the SSF guidelines at the FAO. 27-28 TNI conducted workshops on gender and fisheries in Myanmar with two CSOs. These groups then sensitized gender issues in their advocacy on coastal and marine issues at the community level. 29-31 With analysis and discussion with TNI, and financial support for the meetings, three regional networks who all have members from LLMICs, incorporated gender justice perspectives in their statement at a conference in Costa Rica. 32 With training on climate justice from TNI and partners, food sovereignty movements from Nicaragua, El Salvador, Zimbabwe, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia strengthened their understanding of climate problems and the definition of their proposals for climate policies, which were presented at COP24. 33 With technical support from TNI at their regional assembly in El Salvador, a regional environmental network used environmental justice concepts in their advocacy towards the El Salvadorian Government on the trade and investment regime. 34 With financial and technical support from TNI, a farmer’s collective held their annual forum which resulted in a final statement outlining the farmers’ concerns and positions. The farmers also met Myanmar Government officials and international officials to discuss policies that affected them and presented a video outlining their concerns at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna. 35 With financial and technical advice from TNI, a Myanmar network developed the framework for an alternative for forest conservation and livelihood development, consulted with communities and local authorities on the proposal, and following their support, developed and launched the community managed park.
25 CSOs have enlarged their knowledge of IIAs and ISDS and are engaging their own governments on the investment protection agenda; 20 CSOs have increased knowledge of VGGTs and VGSSF and use it in their advocacy and lobby work; 30 CSOs supported to participate in international and national fora.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1+2 With financial, research and knowledge building support from TNI, 2 CSOs in Indonesia and Philippines will engage their governments on the investment protection agenda and advocate for improved trade and investment policies. 3-6 With research and knowledge building support from TNI, 4 CSOs and networks in the Philippines, ASEAN and Latin America will engage their governments on the investment protection agenda and advocate for improved trade and investment policies. 7-11 TNI’s joint research and capacity development workshops with 5 regional organisations, which all have CSO members based in LLMICs, will deepen their understanding of the links between the trade and investment regime and the land, fishers and environmental policies that impact their livelihoods, which they will in turn use in their advocacy work towards local authorities for improved policies in these areas. 12-16 TNI’s joint research and capacity development workshops with 5 CSOs in Myanmar, Indonesia and Nicaragua will deepen their understanding of the links between the trade and investment regime and the land, fishers and environmental policies that impact their livelihoods, which will support their local advocacy work for improved policies in these areas.
(1) A regional Latin American CSO platform, which TNI helped establish, and has members from across Latin America and the Caribbean including from Haiti and Bolivia. TNI supported network building efforts and contributed analysis. The platform is advocating on the impacts of FTAs and ISDS. In 2019 the network expanded its members. (2) An Indonesian research and advocacy institute continued to advocate towards Indonesian Government negotiators to discuss different trade agreements and the impact of ISDS. TNI supported the institute financially and through joint research and analysis. (3-24) Following a workshop on ISDS in Africa, co-organised by TNI, SEATINI, Friends of the Earth International and Client Earth, 22 trade unions and CSOs in Africa began lobby and advocacy work towards their national governments and organising regional advocacy efforts including joint letters. Organisations include: (25-26) With technical support and research from TNI on the Blue Economy (policies that relate to the governance of ocean spaces), two global networks of fisherfolks lobbied and advocated at the FAO on Global Strategic Framework (GSF) monitoring and implementation of the Small Scale Fisheries Guidelines, through the IPC working group on Fisheries and at international venues, such as World Fish. (27) With financial support and analysis from TNI, a fisher folk’s network in Indonesia advocated towards the national Indonesian Government on Marine Spatial Planning and Blue Economy policies. (28) An Indonesian feminist association working with fisherfolks, with TNI technical support, advocated towards the national government on gender roles and women’s work in fisheries. (29-30) With technical support from TNI, two international food sovereignty movements advocated at the FAO Central-Eastern European regional meeting on the SDGs, surrounding the launch of the UN Decade on Family Farming, through the IPC, and at the FAO CFS (Committee of Food Security) through the Civil Society Mechanism (CSM) . (31-34) With analysis and discussion with TNI, and financial support for the meetings, four Latin American continental networks who all have members in LLMICs, prepared inputs for the 26th COP of the UNFCCC (in Madrid) and organised alternative events on Just Transition proposals from CSOs, both in Madrid and Chile at the Peoples’ Summit. (35) A Latin American regional network, with members in LLMICs, which TNI has supported with analysis, networking and financial support, since its creation in 2015, organized its regional gathering in Cuba, with participation of more than 1300 representatives from CSOs, movements and governments. These Latin American organizations advocated for better policies on environment, trade, peace and democratic solutions for the region. (36-61) 26 Myanmar CSOs and networks, mostly from ethnic minorities, participated in two courses on political economy, organized by TNI, to strengthen the analytical skills and understanding of political economy. The participants then used this knowledge and skills in their lobby and advocacy work on issues such as land, investment, conflict, gender and other political economy related issues. (62-88) 27 Myanmar CSOs and networks in four cities strengthened their advocacy on investment in Myanmar and their cooperation with each other on this issue, with research and analysis on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) from TNI outlined in a briefing paper and discussed in workshops. (89) With financial, methodological support and research from TNI, a food sovereignty network in North Africa developed their proposals for food sovereignty and advocated for food sovereignty through public events in Tunisia. (90) With technical support and the facilitating of meetings from TNI, a Moroccan farmers organisation continued to develop their proposals for a sustainable livelihoods through legal trade in medical cannabis.
1-7 With research and knowledge building support from TNI, 3 CSOs in Indonesia and the Philippines and 2 networks in Latin America with members in LLMICs and a global trade union federation, in particular with their regional federations in Africa and Latin America, will increase their lobby and advocacy skills to engage their governments on the investment protection agenda and advocate for improved trade and investment policies. 8 Based on research and analysis from TNI, CSOs and networks from Latin America, Asia and Europe, working on trade, investment and corporate power will increase their knowledge of and incorporate the issue of the role of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), including Chinese FDI, in their analysis and plans for the coming years and develop closer working links with those that have been working on the role of China in the region. Furthermore, CSO networks from Latin America, Asia and Europe, will have an initial understanding of China’s strategy towards Investor State Dispute Settlement in context of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). These CSOs and networks will then use this analysis to inform their advocacy relating to specific Chinese investments under the BRI. 9-14 Based on research and analysis from TNI about the risks from the trade and investment regime for policies to tackle climate change, in particular relating to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and networking facilitated by TNI, organizations from Philippines, Uganda, Cambodia, Morocco, El Salvador, Honduras, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia will advocate for their governments to leave investment treaties or refrain from joining them, including the ECT. 15 A global fisherfolk organisations, and CSOs working on fisheries in Indonesia and Myanmar will sharpen their strategies, strengthen their critiques and develop policy proposals for food sovereignty based on a broader understanding of influences around ocean spaces through technical and research support from TNI. 16-19 With TNI’s technical support including analysis and network facilitation, peasant organisations, unions, environmentalists and women’s organisations will deepen their understanding and formulate proposals on policies that contribute towards a just transition. 20 With technical support from TNI, a regional network in Nicaragua will increase its skills to advocate regionally for policies that acknowledge climate debt towards southern countries. 21-31 With joint research and capacity development workshops from TNI, 10 CSOs in Myanmar will advocate for improved national land policies and improved land policies of ethnic political parties in the lead up to the 2020 National Election in Myanmar. 32 With capacity development workshops from TNI, joint research with TNI, and technical advice from TNI, small farmers in Morocco will advocate for sustainable livelihoods in the high Rif region through participation in the licit medical cannabis market. They will advocate for a legal framework that will allow them to grow their produce legally for the local and international medicinal and industrial cannabis markets. 33 With financial and technical support from TNI, a food sovereignty network which has members in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Palestine and Egypt, will increase their capacities to advocate for improved food and environment policies at the national and regional level.
(1) A regional Latin American platform, which TNI helped establish, and has members from across Latin America and the Caribbean including from Haiti and Bolivia, advocated towards Latin American governments on the impacts of FTAs and ISDS and helped put the issue in the agenda of journalists and social movements. TNI supported network building efforts and contributed analysis.
(2) A CSO in Indonesia continued to advocate towards Indonesian Government negotiators to discuss different trade agreements and the impact of ISDS. TNI supported the organisation financially and through joint research and analysis.
(3-12) With financial and technical support from TNI, 10 African civil society groups developed and submitted a statement to the Ugandan Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, the Office of the President and to the Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development on the dangers of Ugandan ascending to the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). The Civil Society groups included civil society and trade unions that work within the energy, mining and extractives, investment, environment and human rights sector.
(13) With financial support from TNI, local environmental organisations in the Mercosur region worked together to strengthen arguments against the EU-Mercosur FTA in order to better lobby and advocate towards the Parliaments, and in the case of Argentina also the government. The organisations built joint positions from an environmental justice perspective to denounce the social environmental implications of the free trade agreement and how it will contribute to exacerbate the systemic crises we face.
They developed joint analysis and positioning against the greenwashing behind the potential environmental protocol as an annex to the Agreement. They also shared and discussed the contents and outcomes of the Sustainability Impact Assessment conducted by LSE, especially the foreseen impacts for the dairy, automotive and pharmaceutical sectors, and how chapters like the one on public procurement will further contribute to position TNCs in the Mercosur countries.
(14-22) In 2020, with technical support and analysis from TNI, 9 organisations engaged in the international process around the Global Strategic Framework for the Small-Scale Fisheries Guidelines, advocating for policies that recognise their livelihoods and rights. TNI supported this work through its publications and regular engagement through fishers movements and working groups.
(23) With financial support from TNI, a small-scale fishery support organisation in Indonesia, developed a comprehensive research report on the Omnibus Law and used this to advocate.
(24) An Indonesian feminist association working with fisherfolk, with TNI’s financial support, advocated towards local and national government on gender-inclusive policy-making, women’s work in fisheries, and the Omnibus law and completed research on feminist responses to COVID-19.
(25-26) With technical support from TNI, a global network with members in LLMICs, developed collective strategies to respond to the Covid-19 crisis and threats to global food security. They produced statements and letters denouncing the FAO’s new strategic partnership with CropLife and the process of the UNFSS and provided input into the (online) 32nd FAO Regional Conference for Europe and Central Asia, among other issues.
(27-30) In February 2020 a coalition of trade unions and environmental organisations launched a powerful joint statement identifying core principles of a Just Transition, due to work that ATALC, CSA-TUCA, the Nigerian Labour Congress, and ERA Nigeria undertook together with TNI, FOEI & Milieudefensie.
(31) With financial, methodological support and research from TNI, a North African network developed their proposals for food sovereignty, including through research on the impacts of the pandemic on small-scale food producers, and on the state of food sovereignty in Mauritania. They also advocated for food sovereignty through webinars, publications, videos media work.
(32-45) With technical and logistical support and analysis from TNI, 14 Pakistani, Nepalese, Myanmar, Philippine, and Indonesian CSOs and social movements came together for a conference in Lahore, Pakistan in February 2020 on the BRI and four webinars throughout 2020. The organisations are all advocating in their national settings for food sovereignty, land and resource rights, and a just transition, and these sessions provided the opportunity to build collective visions of alternatives, exchange strategies and best practices. Policy proposals from the Lahore meeting were presented to MPs in Pakistan, who presented them in the country’s General Assembly, and fed into the broader AEPF process of developing recommendations to ASEM CSOs engaging in the conference and webinar.
(46) Together with a platform in Tunisia, TNI co-published a report and short video on the potential impact of the EU-Tunisia FTA on the economy. The document was used in advocacy by CSOs in Tunisia. Through the process to develop and publish the report, our joint analysis was sharpened and contextualized in the history of EU trade agreements.
(47-60) 14 Small-scale fishers organisations, with support from TNI, launched a peoples’ online multi-country “Tribunal on the Impact of the Blue Economy on Indian Ocean countries,” exploring the impacts of blue economy policies on small-scale fishers in India (West & East), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia. TNI’s Blue Fix report and framing of the blue economy were used and TNI provided logistical and technical support and presented at one tribunal.
(61) A Moroccan farmers organisation participated in public discussions on cannabis policy reforms in Moroccan academic and policy circles facilitated by TNI. TNI also supported with technical advice on paths towards inclusion in the medical cannabis value chain.
(62-65) With technical support, including joint research with TNI, four ethnic based CSOs in Myanmar advocated for better land and natural resources policies and practices through developing research and proposals for new laws.
Outcome A: Enabling Environment
The rights and (legal) space of people, communities and civil society actors in Low- and Lower-Middle Income Countries (LLMICs) active on trade and investment are protected.
2.A.a
# mechanisms put in place or improved by governments that guarantee access for civil society to democratic decision making processes related to trade and investment, including the right to resist developments.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
2 EU FTAs increase level of transparency; 2 Southern governments will start dialogue with CSOs on EU-FTAs; Dutch government started dialogue with CSOs on trade agenda. These changes are a result of an increasing critique on IIAs/ISDS and the lack of transparency in negotiations. TNI has been a key voice in the strong and concerted civil society effort working on this, not just in the Netherlands but also at EU level and in Southern countries, with networks and allies. TNI's exposure of the abuse of different treaties and lack of transparency has contributed to the critique
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. The Dutch government established a Breed Handelsberaad (BHB) in response to TNI and other's critique that trade policy making is not transparent, unaccountable, and non-inclusive.
2 open dialogue mechanisms with CSOs on ongoing trade negotiations with the EU are put in place by Southern governments (focus: EU-PH, EU-Mexico, and EU-Indonesia). TNI actively lobbies with partners for more transparency at EU level and at national level through public campaigns, facilitating lobby meetings for partners and exposing the lack of transparency.
1 In November, the Indonesian Constitutional Court ruled that all international trade and investment agreements will need to be reviewed by the Indonesian Parliament before ratification. This will increase transparency and deepen democratic decision making on trade policy. TNI’s Indonesian partner, with technical support from TNI, challenged the previous practice of the President approving international trade and investment agreements in the constitutional court. 2 The Dutch Government announced the new model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will be reviewed by the Dutch Parliament. This will allow for deepening of democratic decision making in trade policy. The new model BIT will be the basis for any new investment treaties the Dutch Government will negotiate with other countries including with LLMICs. TNI, with other FGG alliance members and partners, published 2 reports on the model BIT.
2 EU FTAs will increase level of transparency; 3 Southern governments will start dialogue with CSOs on EU-FTAs.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 The European Commission agrees to publish negotiating mandates for key FTAs and some negotiating documents, for which TNI, together with partner organisations from several LLMICs, has advocated for as part of a more transparent and inclusive process.
(1) The Argentinian Government introduced and implemented a policy of consultations on the EU-Mercosur FTA with the sectors involved, including CSOs, which provided an opening for advocacy on the FTA which affects LLMIC Paraguay. This has demonstrated a policy shift for the Argentinian Government on consultation with CSOs in relation to FTAs. TNI staff based in Argentina and local TNI partners lobbied key Argentinian government officials on the consultations.
No outcomes expected in 2020.
No results in 2020
2.A.b
# effective legal and other grievance mechanisms adopted or improved by governments via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments and companies related to trade and investment and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this.
TNI doesn't work on this.
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
Outcome D: Agendas Set
Decision makers prioritise improvement measures due to support from influential civil society actors, critical media attention, increased public awareness and effective scrutiny of trade and investment policies.
2.D
# proposals for improvement to policies related to trade and investment discussed by national, regional and international government bodies and/or by private policy makers, in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
Critique on IIAs/ISDS has grown heavily - this was the result of a strong and concerted civil society effort, of which TNI was a key voice. TNI's exposure of the abuse of different treaties has contributed to the critique. The critique has found support among different actors, visible through: (1) referendum on CETA and TTIP; (2) Critique on ISDS (on agenda of policy makers, mainstream media, international bodies/international legal associations); (3) Critique intra-EU BITs; (4) India criticised RCEP investment chapter
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. MEP mission to Myanmar cancelled: European Parliament mission to Myanmar was cancelled, stalling the EU-Myanmar IPA negotiations. TNI co-organised advocacy towards EP in June with local partners from Myanmar. TNI also wrote a briefing with input from Myanmar CSOs which was distributed widely in the EP. As a result, MEPs that had been engaged decided to cancel the trip to Myanmar. The Rohingya crisis might have been another factor that added to the cancellation of this trip. However, we did get clear responses from MEPs that they took the information we provided into serious consideration. 2. CETA delayed: Continuous critiques on ISDS/ICS by TNI and other partners ensured that the final ratification of CETA did not include ISDS part. TNI put pressure on Dutch MEPs and the Council not to ratify CETA. 3. Critique on MIC: TNI played a key role in the S2B network's response to the MIC proposal by the EU (framing it as global ISDS). MEPs and trade unions turned their opinion re MIC. At a policy debate in Brussels (organised by TNI and others) ambassadors from various countries and the chair of the German judges federation publicly dismissed the MIC. 4. Trade minister Indonesia: Indonesian trade network - supported by TNI - put out a statement calling for a moratorium of the negotiations around the EU-Indonesia FTA. The Trade Minister of Indonesia responded and requested to have a meeting with TNI's partner IGJ and the coalition. 5. ISDS Latin America: TNI hosted several seminars and workshops in 2017 in Latin America (Colombia, Argentina, Uruguay) to put the ISDS issue back on the agenda of social movements and CSOs in the region. The activities opened up new constituencies interested in the issue among CSOs and trade unions and statements on for example the EU-Mexico agreement got wide CSOs sign-ons. The issue is clearly getting more attention again among CSOs in the region. 6. Binding Treaty/MIC: TNI co-organised a cross-fertilisation between NGOs and social movements working on trade/MIC and those on the Binding Tready for TNCs in Brussels in September. This put the MIC issue on the agenda of the Binding Treaty campaign and led to a more coherent narrative and strategy for both movements. 7. Bolivia renaming BITs: TNI was invited to a meeting with the Bolivian government about the new Bolivian BIT model. Meetings took place with the State General Attorney and the vice-minister of Development. As a result, Bolivia decided to change the BIT model's name to "investment treaty for development". 8. TNI's analysis on fishery policies and food sovereignty was picked up by WFFP. As a result, WFFP incorporated workshops on food sovereignty, ocean grabbing, and climate justice into its General Assembly.
1. As a result of TNI's advocacy efforts with partners and technical input to campaigns, alternative approach in relation to MIC finds support among MEPs, policy makers in EU and the South. 2. As a result of TNI's advocacy efforts with partners and technical input to campaigns, criticism on ISDS/ICS finds support among mainstream media. 3. Scholar Activists together with social movements take on the issue of understanding and developing responses to rural dimensions of authoritarianism, as a result of TNI's developed analysis that includes input from partners' experiences.
1 Over 1600 Dutch citizens participated in an online public consultation on the proposed new model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). TNI hosts the Dutch trade campaign Handel Anders, which encouraged people to participate. This led to the Dutch Government announcing the model BIT would be reviewed by the Dutch Parliament. 2 The ISDS and corporate accountability movements in Europe joined together for the first time in a joint campaign, influencing the agenda of groups from both movements. TNI works in both the ISDS and corporate accountability movements and, with partners, facilitated the coming together of the two groups. A stronger, pan European voice on ISDS can increase pressure on European governments to renegotiate their trade and investment agreements, including with LLMICs. 3 Biodiversity Latin America discussed ISDS for the first time in their webinar, showing the link between seed issues and ISDS. TNI provided information for the webinar. 4 Several groups campaigning on energy and climate in Latin America, Europe and Africa discussed the impact of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) on energy transition at social movement conferences in Costa Rica and Nigeria for the first time. The ECT will restrict the energy transition policy options for governments, including in LLMICs. TNI published and brought the issue to international meetings with energy and climate campaigners. 5 A journalist from a major newspaper in Pakistan published an article criticising the ECT. Pakistan is close to joining the ECT and criticism from the Pakistan media put pressure on the Government to reconsider their involvement. TNI published a report on the ECT with a Press Release on the impacts for Pakistan, which it communicated to the journalist and had follow up discussions with the journalist regarding the ECT. 6 The European Commission began discussing with other countries replacing the current ISDS system with a Multilateral Investment Court (MIC), which would have significant impacts on LLMICs. Although for TNI the MIC still has flaws, it shows already improvement and the recognition that the current ISDS system is no longer viable, and that a new system is needed. TNI, together with partners, has researched ISDS and advocated for an end to the ISDS system since 2010. 7 The issue of the China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was discussed by social movements in a workshop at the Asia Europe Peoples’ Forum (AEPF) in September. The AEPF is a collective of social movements from Europe and Asia, including from multiple LLMICs. This was the first time the BRI was discussed by movements from Asia and Europe together. 8 Myanmar parliamentarians from multiple parties discussed ISDS and the proposed EU-Myanmar Investment Protection Agreement during a seminar. TNI co-authored a report on the EU-Myanmar Investment Protection Agreement, including a translation into Myanmar language, and organised a presentation for parliamentarians in Myanmar. 9 The Thematic Circle on Just Trade and Corporate Accountability of the Asia Europe Peoples’ Forum, which brings together movements and CSOs from Asia and Europe, met in Jakarta in February where they decided to prioritise ISDS and IPR chapters in their campaigns on EU-Asia FTAs (Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam). They also decided to work together under the Global Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power to promote and support the UN Binding Treaty on transnational corporations. TNI facilitated the thematic circle and brought the issues to the discussion. 10 A Member of Parliament from the Dutch Socialist Party asked 23 questions to the Dutch minister of Trade and Development about the harm of ISDS, the Investment Court System (ICS) and the Multilateral Investment Court (MIC), mega trade deals such as TTIP and CETA, and the role of the Netherlands. TNI co-published a report on 50 Years of ISDS, highlighting the role of the Netherlands. TNI communicated the report to members of Parliament and media, including the member who asked the questions. 11 The concept of ‘territorial markets’, developed by TNI and partners through the Committee on World Food Security, was used by a farmers union in West Africa in their advocacy work. 12 The Flex Crops framework was discussed by academics and social movements, including those from LLMICs, at the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative and BICAS Conferences. TNI, in cooperation with other scholars, has developed the concept of Flex Crops and TNI’s key publication on the topic was cited in academic journals 40 times in 2018. TNI published a popular version of the papers, which was used by movements from different regions. 13 In October 2018 in Costa Rica, a regional confederation of trade unions, and their allies made a statement on energy, labour and the environment. In the past, the issue of energy has been contentious for unions; the statement shows a step in the process of developing proposals for social and environmental justice together with other movements. TNI supported the conference where the statement was made through helping to develop the methodology, content and preparatory documents. 14 In meetings in the UK in June and September, UK unions and the British Labour Party discussed the consequence of the British energy policies internationally, including LLMICs. TNI presented analysis at these meetings on this topic which was then discussed. 15 The TNI report Paradigm Trap: The development establishment's embrace of Myanmar and how to break loose was received and shared among high level Myanmar Government Officials. Following this, one high level official requested 50 more copies to share with his team. The sharing of the report among ministers and requests for more copies shows the Myanmar Government is discussing the report internally. 16 Over 4000 copies of the report ‘Paradigm trap: The development establishment's embrace of Myanmar and how to break loose’, published by TNI and partners, were distributed in Burmese and a shorter, more accessible version in Burmese was shared widely on social media. Facebook is a key medium for discussion regarding public policy in Myanmar. 17 In June, Ronald Roosdorp, Director for International Trade Policy & Economic Governance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dutch Government indicated during questions in Parliament, its intention to re-negotiate the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) to bring ISDS in line with the Dutch Government’s new model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT). LLMICs are signatories to the ECT and changes to the ECT will therefore impact LLMICs. TNI, together with partners, published and promoted a report on the ECT. The report was communicated to the Dutch Government and the Dutch media report on it, soon after these announcements were made. 18 Foreign Minister Kaag publicly stated that ISDS is no longer needed between OECD countries. The statement was made in response to the launch of the 50 Years of ISDS, co-authored by TNI, SOMO, Both ENDS and Milieudefensie and shared with Minister Kraag and other Dutch government officials. 19 In February 2018, the Coordinadora de Centrales Sindicales del Cono Sur (CCSCS), the labour counterpart for Mercosur in the EU-Mercosur FTA negotiations, who are therefore often invited as important players in the negotiations, took a much stronger public stance in opposition to the FTA, which also prompted a stronger than usual joint ETUC-CCSCS statement ahead of the February 2018 round of negotiations in Brussels. Mercosur includes LLMIC Paraguay and will therefore the ratification of an FTA will impact Paraguay. TNI’s partner has been in dialogue with CCSCS in relations to FTA.
Critique on ISDS and context specific proposals related to ongoing negotiations find support among different actors; human rights assessment of sector specific trade and investment issues are acknowledged by CSOs and networks.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1-10. Proposals presented by TNI and partners on the different flaws of the Investor State Dispute Settlement/Investment Court System/Multilateral Investment Court system will be discussed by 10 parliamentarians and policy makers in the Philippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, India and the EU. 11-15. Five mainstream media outlets publish critical reporting on ISDS referencing TNI and partners’ proposals on Investor State Dispute Settlement/Investment Court System/Multilateral Investment Court developed and promoted by TNI together with partners from multiple LLMICs. 16-25. Ten CSOs from multiple LLMICs will discuss proposals developed by TNI and partners for investment protection and international arbitration to decide whether to adopt or progress the issue in their advocacy work. 26 The inclusion of ISDS in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will remain deadlocked, which TNI will advocate for with partners. 27-30. Proposals for food and resource sovereignty promoted by TNI's partners will be discussed by three international bodies working on food sovereignty. TNI supports this work by contributing analysis and facilitating strategy development in preparation for advocacy meetings.
(1) The ECT was discussed by trade and climate movements. TNI first raised awareness of the ECT in a 2018 report. In particular, the environmental movement in Chile picked up the issue in 2019. Chile is an observer of the ECT, so this was an important step in halting the expansion of the ECT. Dutch environmental movements including 350.org, and their members are now working on the ECT. TNI introduced the issue to these movements and framed the issue in a way it could be useful for environmental movements in the Netherlands. (2) During a debate with the European Commission on the ECT organised by TNI and partners in Brussels, the Luxembourg Minister of Environment Claude Turmes spoke in support of modernising the ECT to make it compatible with the Paris Agreement or withdrawal from the treaty if modernisation didn’t happen fast enough. On 24 September, during an EU Energy Ministers’ meeting, he presented on the problems of the ECT and encouraged other Ministers to engage in the debate. (3) Media in Latin America, Chile and Spain reported on the ECT for the first time. TNI sent publications to the journalists involved and did interviews with them on the ECT. TNI and partners are advocating to stop the expansion of the ECT and for current member states to withdraw as the ECT is not compatible with countries’ commitments under the Paris Climate Accord. (4) TNI co-hosted and presented at a meeting in Argentina of IILA, a network of academics in Latin America and the UK working on investment. The meeting focused on the interlinkages between ISDS and ecological sustainability. A critique of ISDS was included in the final declaration of their meeting in June 2019. (5) The EU called the ECT as outdated and needing modernisation. The EU’s proposal is to bring ECT in line with its current investment protection model (as embedded in CETA). A TNI report on the ECT brought the issue to the public arena and have since advocated, together with partners in Europe and the Global South, including LLMICs, for a halt to the expansion of the ECT. (6) Negotiations were launched by the ECT Conference of Parties on the modernisation of the ECT at their meeting in December. These negotiations showed commitment to the modernisation process and accelerated the process. A TNI report on the ECT brought the issue to the public arena and have since advocated, together with partners in Europe and the Global South, including LLMICs, for a halt to the expansion of the ECT. (7) The Uganda Government discussed accession to the ECT with a Ugandan CSO working on trade and investment, TNI helped prepare with the CSO and contributed video input. The Government officials in the meeting listened and discussed the CSO’s proposals. (8) The Dutch Social Democrats, during a FGG debate, made a commitment to oppose ISDS in the Dutch parliamentary debates. (9) 100 MEPs pledged their support for the Stop ISDS: Rights for peoples, rules for corporations’ campaign, which asks for an end to ISDS and the implementation of a binding treaty on transnational corporations and human rights. TNI and partners lobbied MEPs and held events in Brussels to secure their support. (10) 850,000 people signed a petition in support of the ‘Stop ISDS: right for people, rules for corporations’ campaign. This demonstrated to policy makers the importance of the issue to European citizens. TNI hosted the campaign coordinator and promoted the campaign. (11) Farmers groups in the Netherlands opposed FTAs in their public statement, surrounding their protest which received national coverage. The Dutch trade campaign, which includes TNI, met with the farmers groups and shared analysis with them. (12) Together with FGG members BE and AA, and in collaboration with Voedsel Anders network, TNI organised a lunch at MinBuZa on the importance and advantages of agroecology for international and national policies related to food and environment. There is ongoing dialogue with the ministry on this topic. (13) National Myanmar media outlets the Irrawaddy, Myanmar Times, Radio Free Asia and Mizzima quoted TNI’s briefing on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Myanmar in their stories on the BRI in Myanmar. TNI’s briefing analyses the BRI through a political economy lens as an initiative driven by corporations. (14-18) Five Myanmar political parties discussed TNI’s analysis of the BRI in workshops with TNI as part of developing their investment policies in the lead up to the next national election.
1-7 Proposals presented by TNI and partners on the different flaws of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS), Investment Court System, and the Multilateral Investment Court system will be discussed by parliamentarians and policy makers in (1) the Philippines, (2) Indonesia, (3) Malaysia, (4)the Netherlands, (5) Mexico, (6) Argentina and (7) the EU. 8 Ten mainstream media outlets publish critical reporting on ISDS, referencing proposals on the ECT, ISDS, Investment Court System and the Multilateral Investment Court system developed and promoted by TNI together with partners from multiple LLMICs. 9-11 At least 3 governments, in Europe and the Global South, raise serious concerns regarding the ECT, including in the context for modernisation of the ECT. No new countries join the ECT. TNI will contribute analysis, advocacy and capacity building in key target countries. 12 Climate justice movements in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Asia campaign against ISDS in general and ECT in particular, proposing countries withdraw from the ECT or refrain from joining it, based on an understanding of how ISDS/ECT undermines the fight for climate justice and energy transition. TNI will contribute analysis and capacity development, in particular trainings and dedicated material that will explain the impact of ISDS/ECT on energy transition. 13 The three working groups of the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC) and at the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) discuss proposals for food and resource sovereignty promoted by TNI’s partners, including a global peasant’s movement and fisherfolk movement at these meetings. TNI supports this work by contributing analysis and facilitating strategy development in preparation for advocacy meetings.
(1-10) Through a petition, 300 parliamentarians (from the European Parliament and national parliaments in Germany, Finland, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal, Austria and Slovenia) called on the EC and EU member states to “explore pathways to jointly withdraw” from the ECT. TNI and partners coordinated the petition and helped to gather signatures.
(11) In a joint open letter in December 2020 that TNI helped to develop and promote, over 450 climate scientists (including renowned figures like Thomas Piketty, Yamina Saheb and Olivier De Schutter) called the ECT “a major obstacle” to the clean energy transition. Work by TNI and our partners, including a co-published mythbusting guide on the ECT for activists, policy makers and journalists, led to increased mainstream media coverage and more CSOs and social movements campaigning on the ECT, which we believe contributed to this result.
(12-14) EU member states France, Spain, and Luxembourg, have raised withdrawal as an option if the ECT cannot conform to the Paris Climate Agreement. This represents a radical departure from their position in 2019 when they strongly reaffirmed the need to remain part of the Treaty. Work by TNI and our partners, including a co-published mythbusting guide on the ECT for activists, policy makers and journalists, led to increased mainstream media coverage and more CSOs and social movements campaigning on the ECT, which we believe contributed to this result.
(15) Six political parties (out of 15) supported a motion in the Dutch parliament to terminate the ECT, including the Greens and a conservative party. Work by TNI and partners, including a co-published mythbusting guide on the ECT for activists, policy makers and journalists, led to increased mainstream media coverage and more CSOs and social movements campaigning on the ECT.
(16) In May 2020, the EU called the ECT outdated and presented a proposal for modernization they consider it will address these problems. As above, work by TNI and partners contributed to the pressure on the EU.
(17) the European Commission (EC) in December started talking of withdrawing from the ECT as one option if the current negotiations to 'modernise‘ it fail. As above, work by TNI and partners contributed to the pressure on the EC.
(18) The European Renewables Energy Federation joined the ask for the EU to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty. Work by TNI and our partners, including a co-published mythbusting guide on the ECT for activists, policy makers and journalists, led to increased mainstream media coverage and more CSOs and social movements campaigning on the ECT, which we believe contributed to this result.
(19) Investors across 16 countries and representing over 35 trillion euros in assets called on members of the EU Council to support the end of fossil investment protection as stated by the European Parliament in the EU Climate Law. Work by TNI and our partners, including a co-published mythbusting guide on the ECT for activists, policy makers and journalists, led to increased mainstream media coverage and more CSOs and social movements campaigning on the ECT.
(20-22) Parliamentarians in Germany, Netherlands and Spain raised questions in parliament about the ISDS system and concerns that investors can sue governments due to COVID-19 measures. TNI joined civil society across the world mobilising and renewing calls for the termination of ISDS in light of COVID-19. TNI joined forces with other international organisations and experts calling for a permanent restriction on ISDS challenges to government measures targeting the health, economic and social effects of the pandemic.
(23-24) Academics also wrote about ISDS and COVID, quoting TNI reports (e.g. articles by Gallagher and Kozul-Wright and by M. Bas).
(25) Mainstream media reported critically on the potential of ISDS claims as a result of pandemic measures including Suddeutsche Zeitung, Der Spiegel, Politico, El Pais, The Guardian and de Volkskrant. The articles used TNI’s narratives and evidence from the TNI long read cashing in on the pandemic and some quoted TNI directly.
(26) A report co-published by the Tunisian Platform of Alternatives and TNI on the potential impact of the EU-Tunisia FTA on the economy was reported by Agence France-Presse and Morocco News.
(27) Partners, with support from TNI, criticized the proposed UN Food Summit, led by a corporate alliance, in place of hard-won UN spaces where civil society have a voice. By the end of the year, criticisms of the Summit were widespread with key actors like the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food speaking out against it and more than 500 organisations expressing serious reservations to the UN Secretary General.
(28-29) Academics in two journals wrote about the importance of centring food sovereignty in responses to the Covid-19 Crisis, citing TNI’s work in journals Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability and Sustainability.
(30) UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri in his 2020 report “Vision report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to food” cited TNI’s work on Connecting Smallholders to Markets (Sylvia Kay and others, “Connecting smallholders to markets: an analytical guide” (Civil Society Mechanism, 2016).
(31) A temporary section of The Journal of Peasant Studies, the highest rated journal on anthropology and development, included reflections on grassroots experiences of and responses to the Covid-19 crisis, published as open-access pieces. Two TNI staff were invited to act as editors for the section.
(32) The report "Voices from the ground: From Covid-19 to radical transformation of our food systems" which was compiled by the Civil Society Mechanism of the FAO Committee on Food Security and was presented and discussed at the CFS High Level Special Event, cited TNI’s report “Growing Back Stronger: Choosing Resilient Food Systems in the Face of Covid-19”.
Outcome F: Practice Changed
Improved trade and investment policies and processes are implemented and enforced.
2.F
# mechanisms, policies and regulations implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI does not work on this
No results expected for 2018
1 In October, The International Court of Justice restricted members for serving as arbitrators in ISDS arbitration. This will prevent potential conflicts of interest in ISDS, including those in LLMICs. TNI, together with partners, published a report exposing the conflicts of interest among international arbitrators within the ISDS system, which was then picked up by media and in academia.
TNI does not work on this.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 LLMIC withdraws its support for the signing of the Energy Charter Treaty. Together with partners, TNI will discuss and advocate for the withdrawal of support for the ECT based on research undertaken by TNI with partners.
(1) the Colombian Constitutional Court rejected a Payment of Ecosystem Services project in the rural frontier of Bogota. The project would have displaced the communities living there and built a major road through a natural reserve damaging natural ecosystems. Community organisations, with analysis and financial support from TNI, advocated for the government to revoke the project, which could have displaced an entire community and impacted the endemic ecosystem.
No outcomes expected in 2020
(1) In November 2020, nearly a year after announcing the UN Food summit, the organizers formally sought input from the FAO based Committee on Food Sovereignty and its Civil Society Mechanism on the Summit, recognising the legitimacy of these existing structures. TNI’s partners, and TNI had criticised the UN food Summit because it was led by a corporate alliance, in place of hard-won UN spaces where civil society have a voice.
Outcome E: Policies Changed
Policies related to trade and investment are improved, so that they advance policy coherence for development.
2.E
# mechanisms, policies and regulations improved or introduced by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure policies related to trade and investment advance policy coherence for development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI's exposure of ISDS has contributed to the critique of several treaties, leading to the following policy changes: (1) Poland decided to terminate all its intra-EU BITs (Polish partners are part of the S2B network that TNI actively participates in); (2) Additionally, the government of Philippines is conducting an impact assessment at the request of PH CSOs. TNI has supported these CSOs (see other outcome areas), raising awareness on ISDS and RCEP. (3) The government of India decided to terminate BIT with Netherlands. TNI has supported CSOs in India and the wider Asia network, providing technical support as well as knowledge on ISDS.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
Ecuador established an independent commission to audit its BITs. TNI staff Cecilia Olivet headed this commission. As a result, president Correa announced that Ecuador would terminate its 16 remaining BITs. The decision was reiterated by Minister of Foreign Affairs. 2. Uganda cancalled its BIT with the Netherlands: TNI cooperated with local partner over the years, sharing analysis and publications we developed, to support their local lobby for a termination of Uganda's BIT with the Netherlands.
1. One government in the South carries out an impact assessment of ISDS 2. One country withdraws its support to the signing of Energy Charter Treaty 3. The inclusion of ISDS in RCEP remains in deadlock 4. CETA ratification in NL has been delayed 5. Ratification of EU-Myanmar IPA is delayed TNI will continue to provide critical analysis of these policies, together with partners and provide logistical and financial support for advocacy efforts that seek to achieve these policy changes.
1 The Dutch Government unveiled a vastly-revised model BIT, which removes double-hatting, party-appointed arbitrators and protection for mailbox companies. The new investment treaty will be a basis for negotiating investment treaties with LLMICs. TNI, with FGG Alliance members SOMO, Both ENDS and Milieudefensie and the Dutch trade campaign Handel Anders, has been lobbying for changes to the model BIT proposed. 2 In April in Rome, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) launched the Upscale Agroecology Initiative. The initiative is the framework for international policy on agroecology and relevant areas relating to agroecology. The initiative acknowledges the importance of agroecology and incorporated the food sovereignty movements’ concerns and vision on agroecology. TNI co-facilitated preparation meetings with the movements before the FAO meetings, and contributed analysis. 3 The National Agroecology plan was introduced by the national government in Uruguay. The new law provides a political context and recognition of rights and needs of people in rural areas but also can be used as a tool to claim support for the agricultural practices. TNI supported the CSOs advocating for the law through content and analysis, joint advocacy through the FAO agroecology symposium and a national agroecology school finically supported by TNI. 4 In December, a local authority in Myanmar, in partnership with local CSOs and networks, launched an innovative alternative for forest conservation and livelihood development. The initiative places land rights and indigenous management systems at the heart of its approach. Introduced in 2016 as a people-centered alternative to top-down, militarized development and conservation, it builds towards socially just and ecologically sustainable development for indigenous communities in the area. TNI’s partner facilitated the consultations to develop the project and its Charter, a guiding document that enshrines the principles of self-determination and ecological sustainability into the governance and management of this indigenous conserved area. A referendum to gauge community consent for adopting the Charter was carried out in early 2018 and collected signatures, with 75.1% of the population living within the proposed area agreeing to adopt the charter. TNI supported the development of the initiative financially and provided technical advice on the consultation process and development of the Charter. 5 Previously the Indonesian President signed international trade and investment agreements. In November, the Indonesian Constitutional Court ruled that all international trade and investment agreements will now need to be reviewed by the Indonesian Parliament before ratification. This will change the process by which agreements are signed in Indonesia, allowing for a more transparent and democratic process. This will allow Indonesian civil society time and information to scrutinize the agreements. TNI’s partner, with technical support from TNI, challenged the previous practice of the President approving international trade and investment agreements in the constitutional court.
Governments carry out impact assessments of ISDS; trade negotiations remain in deadlock or are delayed.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No outcomes expected in this timeframe.
(1) ISDS was removed from RCEP in September 2019. This followed years of lobby and advocacy by TNI’s staff in Asia and partners in Asia, including from Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, and India. Removing the ISDS from RCEP means an investor-state dispute clause will not be included in the agreement between 15 countries. If ISDS was included in RCEP, then it could be used by corporations to sue for lost revenue if public policy changes. (2) In September 2019 at an event organised by TNI and partners on the ECT, the ECT Secretariat announced no new members would be admitted to the ECT until a modernisation process was completed. TNI co-published a report on the ECT in 2018, organised a debate with the European Commission in 2019 and did media work on it together with partners. The treaty is being promoted for expansion in LLMICs. (3) In July 2019, the Prime Minister of South Korea announced he planned to abolish ISDS. This created spaces for other high-level officials to come out against ISDS. TNI’s partners in Asia, with research, networking and financial support from TNI, had advocated against ISDS for many years.
No outcomes expected in 2020
(1-5) The ECT was not expanded to countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia and has suffered a significant blow. These included LLMICs Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Morocco, and the Philippines. Formal invitations to accede to the ECT have now been put on hold – a major campaign success. TNI co-published a report on attempts to expand the ECT with Ugandan partner SEATINI.
NL-KVK-41201806-FGGTOC3
Transnational Institute
FGG TNI ToC 3: Improved Financial and Tax Systems
TNI and partners from Indonesia, Colombia, Ghana and Nigeria aim to advocate their local and national authorities for democratization of public spending to improve public services provision. Internationally, TNI will advocate for sustainable and democratic sources of public finance based on empirical research. TNI will be mainly focusing on capacity building towards development alternatives to provide a basis for advocacy capacity building in the years after. TNI will be focusing on the water and sanitation sectors, and will support partners in Nigeria and Ghana on action-research on public spending in context of water provision in order to develop concrete policy proposals. Based on partnerships and achievements from previous years, TNI’s partners in Indonesia and in Colombia will continue advocating on (re)building democratic public water system and community engagement in water resource and provision. TNI will initiate research and mapping of positive experiences of public finance generation and spending on public services and research into democratically organized public banking and public enterprise as viable ways to finance public infrastructure. TNI will also start mapping ‘’progressive cities’’ worldwide, looking at finance, housing, water, energy, transport, food sovereignty, etc. Media outreach will be a key strategy in this work. This should lead to linking progressive utilities and cities, based on above mapping and building on remunicipalisation network and linking experiences. TNI will conduct research on the impact of TISA, CETA and TTIP on provision of public services. The global Reclaiming Public Water Network which TNI has coordinated for the last several years provides an enabling environment for TNI and partners to facilitate the linking of experiences at local and national level with developments and strategies globally.
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tni@tni.org
https://www.tni.org/en
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Outcome C: Alternatives Developed
A range of alternative, people-driven, inclusive and sustainable approaches to the current financial and tax regime have been developed and advanced by civil society actors.
3.C
# alternative proposals to financial and tax and spending policies developed, piloted, and promoted with CSOs in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
(1) principles developed on energy democracy as alternative to energy privatisation, (2) proposal developed by local partner in LA with technical support from TNI on public water provision in the form of a citizens' bill, (3) comprehensive proposal to reform Lagos state water company developed by local partner with financial and technical support from TNI;, (4) policy proposal to the UN new urban agenda developed with partners, demonstrating alternatives to privatisation
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. Our partner in Colombia (trade union) met with Colombian delegates from the municipal services to discuss a public-public partnership for a state telecom company as alternative to privatisation of the company, in defense of public ownership and management of the telecom company. 2. TNI provided technical and financial support to partner in Colombia for the process of formulating a law for community water aquaducts. The bill on community water management was completed in 2017 and challenges the privatisation of public services. 3. TNI partner (financially supported by TNI) helped the Water Forum of El Salvador to develop a model for public water services, together with the state water company of El Salvador. The model is called 'Community water board and the state water company partnership'.
1. Research findings on remunicipalisation by TNI and partners - showing alternatives to privatisation - will be shared and promoted during debates on financing water services both in the 8th World Water Forum and in citizen alternative forum (FAME) in Brazil. 2. Transformative Cities initiative (an online community launched by TNI in 2017, aiming to popularize progressive alternatives and facilitates sharing of these experiences) will promote stories of transformative policies and practices, showing how to address social, economic and environmental problems in an imaginative, replicable, inspiring and transformative way. 3. Partner in Indonesia produces a proposal on policies for universal access to drinking water and wastewater treatment under public provision aiming at groundwater exploitation and stop land sinking to the government based on the research (2017) findings on excessive groundwater extraction in Jakarta. TNI provides financial support and technical research input. 4. Develop an alternative financial model, a progressive tax system and a way to finance public services and remunicipalisation through a report on the democratisation of finance, reclaiming the power to create public money. This will be done by TNI with an academic to explore the democratisation of finance as a credible alternative to debt driven finance.
1 Energy Democracy: With partners including the transnational union movements, TNI further developed the Energy Democracy framework by researching strategies and lessons learned for democratic energy models at national and local levels, and at meetings to map energy democracy. Energy democracy provides a new framework in which communities, local governments and workers have ownership over the energy transition and developing a new energy model. 2 Remunicipalisation: in 2018, TNI, with partners, promoted the research on remunicipalisation TNI published in the book Reclaiming Public Services the previous year. TNI prompted the research at the FAMA (Alternative World Water Forum) in Brasilia in March. Work also began with partners on the second global survey on remunicipalisation in public services, with more unions and universities joining the research project, which will collect new cases by utilising their own networks and contribute to deepening analysis. 3 Public-Public Partnerships: TNI’s partner, a local union, and their local allies committed to establishing a social movement regional research centre on Public-Public Partnerships (PuPs) in Latin America. With research support and guidance from TNI, the centre will research public policy with an emphasis on PuPs. 4 Finance for the 99%: through researching and promoting examples including from India, TNI, with partners, is contributing to the international discussion on changing finance. Finance for the 99% gives more ownership and benefits to local populations including a new social contract between cooperatives and local/regional governments to provide state financial support through low interest loans and subsidies. 5 Alternatives for the electricity sector: TNI, with local partners including unions, began a multi-sector research project with academics, social movement leaders, environmental activists, and unionists from Africa and other southern countries, to develop the restructure of a major public utility that operates across Southern Africa, including in LLMICs. The proposal can serve as a blue print for publicly owned utilities in LLMICs. 6 Location based transformative policies and practices: The Transformative Cities initiative promoted stories of location based transformative policies and practices that show how to address access to basic rights (housing, water, energy and food) to an international audience through the transnational cities website, media coverage and an award’s night. 7 Ground water usage in Indonesia: an Indonesian Research institute, with research and financial support from TNI, has been developing alternatives for Jakarta’s groundwater usage including efficient water usage, control over groundwater use, new technology to reduce dependency on groundwater, and an increase in groundwater tax rates. In 2018, the institute promoted their proposals in mainstream media, through meetings with the vice governor of Jakarta and their participation in the newly established The Drinking Water Governance Evaluation Team’.
Proposals will be developed on energy democracy, democratisation in public services, and returning and creating public ownership. Proposals will be promoted on water supply in Lagos and Colombia.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 Through the Transformative Cities initiative TNI, together with yet to be determined CSOs, will collate and communicate cases where alternative policy proposals on water, energy, housing and food production have been successfully implemented, this evidence will further develop and strengthen alternative policy proposals in these areas. 2 TNI, together with a centre in India, will collate and communicate successful energy democracy cases, this evidence will further develop and strengthen energy democracy policy proposals. 3 With financial and advocacy support from TNI, a regional platform based in Bolivia will develop proposals for legislation in relation to the recognition of community water systems in El Salvador. 4-7 TNI will facilitate the global coordination for energy democracy coalition, which includes politicians. The coalition will develop and discuss proposals with partners relating to (1) public financing for energy transition, (2) energy as a commons and (3) ecofeminsim. Partners include global union network with members based in multiple LLMICs and a CSO in Palestine.
(1) Energy Democracy: With partners including the transnational union movements, TNI further developed the Energy Democracy framework by researching strategies and lessons learned for democratic energy models at national and local levels, and at meetings to map energy democracy. Energy democracy provides a new framework in which communities, local governments and workers have ownership over the energy transition and developing a new energy model. During 2019, the focus was on developing the eco-feminism dimension of energy democracy through workshops with key partners. (2) Democratic public ownership: in December 2019, TNI co-hosted a major international conference ‘Future is Public: democratic ownership of the economy’ with the City of Amsterdam. Participants came from 35 countries, including LLMICs (Guatemala, El Salvador, Bolivia, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Myanmar, Kenya) and shared experiences and strategies for de-privatising public services and building democratic accountability. (3) Public-Public Partnerships: TNI’s partner, a union in Colombia, and their local allies committed to establishing a social movement regional research centre on Public-Public Partnerships (PuPs) in Latin America. The unions are now officially supporting a training programme on management which will focus on PuPs. TNI provided networking with the unions and guidance about how to develop such a programme. (4) Public finance for the 99%: through researching and promoting examples, TNI, with partners, including an organisation based in India, is contributing to the international discussion on changing finance. Finance for the 99% gives more ownership and benefits to local populations including a new social contract between cooperatives and local/regional governments to provide state financial support through low interest loans and subsidies. In 2019, TNI published the book ‘Public finance for the future we want’. (5) Alternatives for the electricity sector: TNI, with a network of unions and a South African advocacy organisation, began a research project with academics, social movement leaders, environmental activists and unionists from South Africa, to develop the restructure of a major public utility that operates across Southern Africa, including in LLMICs. The proposal can serve as a blueprint for publicly owned utilities in or servicing LLMICs. In 2019, the proposal was developed further through workshops and the organisations involved was broadened. (6) Location based transformative policies and practices: The Transformative Cities initiative promoted stories of location based transformative policies and practices, including in Kenya, Nigeria and Palestine, that show how to address access to basic rights (housing, water, energy and food) to an international audience through the Transformative Cities website, media coverage and an award’s night in December. (7) Ground water usage in Indonesia: the research institute in Indonesia, with research and financial support from TNI, has been developing alternatives for Jakarta’s groundwater usage including efficient water usage, control over groundwater use, new technology to reduce dependency on groundwater, and an increase in groundwater tax rates. They continued to engage with the Governor of Jakarta and the media on the campaign in 2019.
1 Democratisation of public services – TNI will promote its previous research, together with partners in LLMICs, which shows how public services can and have been democratized. The democratization of public services serves an alternative to corruption and inefficiency in public services, and to privatization of the public services. This includes public finance for universal public services, for which there is currently a lack of. Partners in LLMICs, with TNI’s research support, are advocating to protect human right to water and sanitation, social protection and access to energy, housing and citizens participation with the aim of expanding public finance to deliver universal public services. 2 TNI is working with partners, including in LLMICs, to develop the concept of just transition and promote principles of energy democracy, especially at the municipal level. Under this TOC we focus on public spending for a just transition, including job creation, local economies, local sustainable energy production, including the six principles of energy democracy, the conditions for a just transition and workers’ rights. TNI is also working with unions and social movements in South Africa to help reform the national electricity provider Eskom, which provides electricity to several LLMICs in southern Africa. 3 Through the Transformative Cities initiative TNI, together with CSOs in LLMICs, will collate and communicate cases where alternative policy proposals on water, energy, housing, finance and food production have been successfully implemented, this evidence will further develop and strengthen alternative policy proposals in these areas. 4 With financial and advocacy support from TNI, a regional Latin American wide platform will develop proposals for legislation in relation to the recognition of community water systems in El Salvador. 5 Together with partners, we will work on data as commons at the municipal level on the idea of cities as a data safe harbour rather than waiting for global regulation. The idea is to reduce dependency on big tech and the large burden on the public budget of tech spending, while protecting citizens’ data as a city, while using data as commons to enable citizens to participate using digital tools designed by the cities to improve public services in the long term rather than companies who extract and marketise citizens’ data. TNI will work with pioneering cities in the Netherlands to develop lessons learned that can be shared with cities in LLMICs.
(1) Democratic public ownership: TNI co-published with 16 partners the book, The Future is Public: democratic ownership of public services, prepared around the international conference of the same name TNI and partners co-organised in Amsterdam in December 2019. The work and book continued to support national advocacy work throughout 2020. The entire book was translated into Portuguese, the summary report was translated to Dutch and launched. The global database includes 1442 examples of water, energy, healthcare and education services that have been de-privatised. The Covid-19 crisis provided an opportunity to link public services and public investment with democratic economy, human rights, development, tax, debt, healthcare, women rights and green transition. #FutureisPublic was used as hashtag by all 10 co-organisers of the UN Special Rapporteur event for common messaging, and in itself this was a recognition of the impact of the 2019 international conference titled ‘The Future is Public’ and where the hashtag was first used. The conference paved the way for growing unity around the question of reclaiming public services.
In terms of energy, with partners including transnational union movements, TNI further developed the Energy Democracy framework by researching strategies and lessons learned for democratic energy models at national and local levels, and at meetings to map energy democracy. Energy democracy provides a new framework in which communities, local governments and workers have ownership over the energy transition and developing a new energy model. In 2020, they focused on the crucial significance of public ownership to enable the just transition and ensure universal provision of energy as an essential service.
With a special focus on alternatives for the electricity sector in South Africa: TNI, with academics, social movement leaders, environmental activists and unionists from South Africa, continued research to develop the restructure of a major public utility that operates across Southern Africa, including in LLMICs. The proposal can serve as a blueprint for publicly owned utilities in or servicing LLMICs. In 2020, TNI and these partners co-published a report on the proposal and op-eds on the proposal were published in the Mail, the Guardian and Daily Maverick.
(2) Public-Public Partnerships: Building on the work completed in the previous year, a telecommunications union in Colombia has created a semi-autonomous research unit on public-public partnerships within the union supported by TNI. Public-Public partnerships for public services serve as an alternative to private-public partnerships. This unit will also contribute to the implementation of the regional (Latin American level) training programme to be jointly launched in June 2021 by TNI, CLACSO and the union.
(3) Public finance for the 99%: through researching and promoting examples, TNI, with partners, including an India-based NGO, is contributing to the international discussion on changing finance. Finance for the 99% gives more ownership and benefits to local populations including a new social contract between cooperatives and local/regional governments to provide state financial support through low interest loans and subsidies. In 2019, TNI published the book ‘Public finance for the future we want’.
(4) Location based transformative policies and practices: The Transformative Cities initiative, which TNI facilitates, promoted stories of location based transformative policies and practices, including in Palestine, that show how to address access to basic rights (housing, water, energy and food) to an international audience through the Transformative Cities website, media coverage and an online award’s night.
(5) Ground water usage in Indonesia: an Indonesian research institute, with research and financial support from TNI, have continued to develop alternatives for Jakarta’s groundwater usage including efficient water usage, control over groundwater use, new technology to reduce dependency on groundwater, and an increase in groundwater tax rates. The focus is now on what should happen after the private water contractors’ contract expires in 2023.
(6) Paying for the pandemic and a just transition: The TNI report ‘Paying for the Pandemic and a Just Transition’ brought together ten progressive proposals that could pay for the costs of the pandemic and finance a just transition to a better world. The report outlines radical proposals for over $9 trillion in taxes and subsidies cuts to raise revenue to pay for the pandemic and a just transition. Prior to the report, in October, a webinar on the topic brought together scholar-activists and was attended by 270 people.
Outcome D: Agendas Set
Decision makers prioritise improvement measures due to support from influential civil society actors, critical media attention, increased public awareness and effective scrutiny of financial and tax policies.
3.D
# proposals for improvement of financial, tax and spending policies discussed by private and public policy makers, and/or in academia, public agenda, media and social movements.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
(1) TNI's proposals on public ownership and publicness have been discussed by academia and social movements; (2) The governor of Lagos recognised the Lagos water crisis (put on the agenda by local partner with support from TNI) and the UN special rapporteur for Water and Sanitation picked up the issue to engage Nigeria on public budget reform and involvement of civil society
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. In India, TNI organiseda workshop on energy democracy with local partners. As a result, politicians committed to advance policy engagement to organise an India national symposium on energy democracy in the coming year. 2. The UK Trades Union Congress passed a resolution on climate change that supports the energy sector being turned to public ownership. The text formally recognises TNI's Reclaiming Public Services publication as providing inspiration input for this resolution. 3. The Indonesian Supreme Court ordered termination of water privatisation and restoration of public management to ensure human rights in water provision. Our partner has supported the citizen lawsuit filed by the coalition against water privatisation. TNI has supported this partner in the last 8 years through research, expertise, media engagement, and financial support. 4. After strong advocacy by local partner, state telecom company in Uruguay committed itself to sign an agreement with the local municipal services company to provide technical assistance to the trade union. TNI has financially supported the trade union in this process to call for public ownership and management of the telecom segment. 5. TNI's research on remunicipalisation to prove the failure of privatisation in public services has become a reference point for progressive municipalist, labour and trade movements to develop alternative economic strategies. For example, the head of the energy cities alliance started using the term Energy Democracy in their reports and strategies. Other organisations are Our water, our Right campaign in Lagos, the Coalition of Jakarta Residents Opposing Water Privatization (KMMSAJ), Indonesia 6. Member of European Parliament Miguel Urban mentioned TNI's report on the Bailout Business when asking ECB President about the supervisory mechanism on auditing companies oligpoly Bailout in MEP speech. 7. TNI's work on energy democracy incited the SP in the Netherlands to call for a democratic public energy company in Groningen and has contributed to changing discouse on energy democracy in the Netherlands. TNI organised a conference on the NAM in Groningen in January 2017. 8. FGG's report on NCICD in Jakarta and subsequent media outreach has made the NCICD plan and land reclamation project in Jakarta Bay a subject of public debate in Indonesia, between factions in local government and ministries and agencies on the national level.
As a result of TNI's continued support to partner in Colombia (connecting them with regional partners), the municipal government in Colombia will be willing to develop a public-public partnership (PuP) with a strong publicly-owned enterprise of the region as the best way to recover the telecom unit (as an alternative to PPP or full privatisations).
1 The United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston published a ground breaking report in September, addressing the negative impact of public-private partnerships on poverty and human rights and gender equity. The paper boldly argues privatisation undermines democracy by marginalising the role of Governments in deciding on the allocation of public goods and services, referring critics including TNI’s reclaiming Public Services. 2 The Guardian Newsletter on alternatives called ‘Upside’, El Salto and Diario de Cadiz in Spain, Oneworld.nl, and National Herland India Newsclick from India discussed the Transformative Cities in their publications as a relevant initiative to highlight transformative practices globally in the areas of water energy and housing. 3 Mainstream media outlets in Indonesia; Jakarta Post, Kompas, Tirto, MetroTV News, Medcom, The Guardian, Kumparan, Republika, Okezone, Media Jakarta, published articles on issues relating to Jakarta’s groundwater usage. The articles drew on an Indonesian research institute’s research findings on the issues with Jakarta’s groundwater usage and alternatives for Jakarta’s groundwater usage. TNI provides financial and research support to the research institute. 4 An influential newspaper in the UK started to write critically on Public Finance Initiatives (PFIs), the journalist discussed the issue with TNI staff and TNI shared our research on the failures of privatisation with the journalist. The newspaper’s articles on the need to stop PFIs in the UK formed an important part of the pressure on the UK Conservative Government who announced in 2018 that they would not sign any new PFIs. The UK was previously a major promoter of PFIs globally as a means to finance infrastructure and basic services. UK companies participate in PFIs in LLMICs. Their rejection of PFIs sets a powerful precedent for the halting of PFIs around the world. 5 The UK Labour party released its international policies which committed to stop PFI promotion in international cooperation and UK aid and to contribute to universal public services based on gender justice and public-public partnerships (PuPs) instead. TNI was asked to give further input on this policy document. TNI provided its experiences and expertise on PuPs in the water sector. 6 Public Services International (PSI), who has 20 million workers, represented by over 700 unions in 163 countries including LLMICS, decided to establish a working group to work on guidelines for workers to prepare and engage with remunicipalisation. TNI sits as an external advisor on the working group and the first meeting was held in December. 7 The Mayor of Cali in Colombia began negotiating a Public-Public Partnership (PuP) between EMCALI, Cali’s public telecommunications with the telecom company (Antelo) of Uruguay in Montevideo. The PuP between the two companies would be the first PuP in the telecommunications industry anywhere in the world and would set a precedent for PuPs in the region. TNI facilitated the partnership between the two public entities.
Proposals on public ownership, energy democracy and TiSA will be discussed by social movements, the public, and policy makers.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 Policy makers and the media will discuss the proposals of a research institute in Indonesia (which were developed with financial and research support from TNI), for a transparent and inclusive transition to public water in Jakarta.
(1) Philip Alston, the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights released an important report on PPPs that sharply pointed out the negative impacts of PPPs for society and critical impacts for people in poverty. TNI’s publication ‘reclaiming public services’ was quoted in the report to address privatisation are seriously contested by local populations. (2) Leo Heller, the UN Special Rapporteur on water and sanitation and human rights was supportive in making a case that the Nigerian Government has failed to carry its obligation on water for the Nigerian people. TNI coordinated with affected communities and their organisations (Mexico /Puebla, Indonesia/Jakarta, Nigeria/Lagos) to report negative impacts of water privatisation as input to his final report on private sector participation in the water sector in the view of human rights. TNI connected with the Rapporteur and the Lagos water struggle and supported ERA to provide evidence of violation of human rights. (3) Several environmental organisations in South Africa changed their attitudes about unbundling Eskom, a state-owned power utility which operates in LLMICs, and supported the campaign to democratise Eskom as the integrated public company. TNI co-organised workshops with a South African advocacy organisation and a network of unions, to discuss the unbundling of Eskom and provided analysis demonstrating that transition without unbundling is possible and necessary to overcome the crisis Eskom was facing. (4) The Transformative Cities winners’ announcement was reported in 5 media outlets in Nigeria and 2 outlets in Mexico. Finalists in Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico and Spain did their own advocacy surrounding the award. TNI organised the Transformative Cities award. (5) The City of Amsterdam collaborated with TNI on the Future is Public conference and took a prominent role in the democratic economy debate. The conference included participants from LLLMICs and discussed democratic public ownership as a basis for a democratic economy, and public finance such as the green new deal. (6) The Syllabus, a prominent academic and journalist website featured the TNI co-hosted conference ‘The Future is Public’ and quoted the report TNI authored for the conference. The conference included participants from LLLMICs and discussed democratic public ownership as a basis for a democratic economy, and public finance such as the green new deal. (7) Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan made a firm political commitment to terminate private water contracts in Jakarta. TNI’s partner, a research institute in Indonesia, has lobbied, with financial and research support by TNI, to stop the privatisation of Jakarta’s water for many years.
1-5 Municipal policy makers in (1) Lagos, (2) Jakarta, (3) Bolivia, (4) El Salvador and (5) South Africa will discuss democratization of public services, including in water and energy, based on advocacy from local partners, with the support of research and analysis from TNI . 6 Media in LLMICs will profile transformative cities award nominees (including CSOs in LLLMICS) and their alternatives for water, energy, housing, finance and food production, with communications support from TNI. In the 2019 edition media in Kenya, India, Nigeria, Indonesia and Palestine have profiled the environmental and social rights struggles highlighted through Transformative Cities in these countries.
(1) TNI’s report ‘Paying for the Pandemic and a Just Transition’ made over 46,000 impressions on twitter, thanks in part to a re-tweet from Thomas Piketty.
(2-10) In the context of the Covid crisis, a rare panel of eight current and former UN Special Rapporteurs (poverty, healthcare, water and sanitation, food, debt) came together in a TNI co-organised webinar in mid-October, attended by over 500 people. They spoke on how the privatisation of public services had left societies defenseless under Covid conditions and the need to rebuild public services. The webinar was accompanied by an op-ed in the Guardian. That eight UN Special Rapporteurs came together was, itself, a rare opportunity, and that they all voiced critiques of privatisation was unique. Some of them (eg. Olivier De Schutter (ex food, now poverty), Leilani Farha (housing) and Leo Heller (water)) addressed public and community alternatives based on conceptions of the ‘commons’.
(11) INGOs who have tended to remain neutral on the question of ownership of public services, for the first time joined the narrative about the importance of putting services back in public hands, and move beyond the human right to water, health, etc narrative. They did so through showing their support for the above webinar,
(12) The Special Rapporteur on the right to water, Léo Heller included contributions from TNI and partners in his final report where he assesses a range of risks to water services of private management, citing TNI’s research. Heller came under heavy attack from the private water industry. Solidarity was quickly mobilised, with over 100 CSOs coming out in support of him.
(13-14) 11,000 people cast their votes in the 3rd annual Transformative Cities award, co-facilitated by TNI, (83% increase from 2019). The award and organisations involved were mentioned in 41 media stories in 2020. Participants included LLMIC Palestine.
Outcome B: Capacities Strengthened
Increased capacity of civil society actors to research, network and advocate on financial and tax policies.
3.B
# CSOs and communities in LLMICs that lobby and advocate for improved financial, tax and spending policies, based on increased skills, knowledge or network contacts.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
2 CSOs lobbied and advocated for public water based on increased research and advocacy capacity
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1. TNI supported a partner in Indonesia in mobilising, developing alternatives, and media outreach. The coalition was able to hold a debate based on the report published by FGG partners, with a presence of the national state planning agency, the Dutch embassy, the Dutch business experts, and journalists.
1. Based on TNI's financial support and technical research input, partner in Indonesia will develop advocacy work on groundwater extraction to promote sustainable and inclusive water policies. 2. Based on TNI's financial and technical support, partner in Nigeria will increase their policy advocacy capacity towards the national and state governments on fair allocation of public budget and democratisation of public water.
1 With analysis and research from TNI, a Latin American congress of unions including unions in LLMICS, advocated for energy transition in relation to energy utilities and governance, including public spending at the international level. 2+3 With training in policy orientated research, network facilitation and financial support from TNI, a social economy network from Ukraine and a union from Georgia authored research which they used in their advocacy on public spending priorities related to the environment and labour. 4-6 With training in policy orientated research, network facilitation and financial support from TNI, two local environmental movements in Nicaragua and a housing cooperative in Bolivia authored research they have used in their advocacy for improved public spending in relations to environmental and housing issues. 7+8 With communications support from TNI and increased profile and networks through the Transformative Cities Award, an Indian union continued to advocate for public support for housing for poor workers in India through the media and advocacy towards the regional and national government. While a CSO in Tanzania, continued to advocate towards the local government for affordable and just housing for displaced communities. 9 With financial and research support from TNI, a research institute in Indonesia continued to advocate for the remunicipalisation of Jakarta’s water supply. 10 With financial and technical support from TNI, an environmental rights network in Nigeria continued to advocate towards the national and state governments for the fair allocation of public budget and democratisation of public water. 11 With financial support from TNI, a regional platform launched an international online campaign on community-based water management in Latin America. The campaign focuses on water defenders across the Americas, including in LLMICs, working with platform members to highlight the work of men and women across the continent who are in the front line defending the right of the communities to manage water by themselves.
6 CSOs will lobby and advocacy on public services, tax collection, clean energy, and public water supply based on increased research and advocacy capacity.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
1 Based on TNI's financial support and technical research input, a research institute based in Indonesia will strengthen its research and develop policy proposals, which it will use to advocate in water policy dialogues and the media for a transparent transition to public water in Jakarta. 2 Financial and technical assistance through TNI's Transformative Cities initiative will strengthen the communications skills of CSOs in multiple LLMICS to support their advocacy for policy change in the areas of energy, water, housing, finance and food systems. In the first edition of Transformative Cities in 2018, TNI supported CSOs from Ghana, Tanzania, India, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, India and Indonesia. 3 TNI’s financial and advocacy support will strengthen the policy advocacy skills of a regional platform based in Bolivia, who will mobilize to advocate for citizen water laws, including in El Salvador. 4 TNI will provide financial and technical assistance to a centre in India to better communicate their successful work in energy democracy to support their advocacy for policy change.
(1) With analysis and research from TNI, a Latin American congress of unions, which includes unions in LLMICS, advocated at the international level for a just energy transition in relation to energy utilities and governance, including public spending. (2-3) With communications support from TNI and increased profile and networks through the Transformative Cities Award, local groups organized online and offline local actions to promote their initiatives and attract public vote including two CSOs in West Bank and Gaza and Kenya. These actions were targeted towards the media, their constituencies and allies. The Transformative Cities Award showcases and promotes transformative initiatives that protect the right to water, energy, housing and food. (4) With financial and research support from TNI, and connections to other water de-privatisation groups, a research institute in Indonesia has continued to advocate for the remunicipalisation of Jakarta’s water supply. (5) With financial and technical support from TNI, an environmental rights organisation in Nigeria continued to advocate towards the national and state governments for fair allocation of the public budget and democratisation of public water. In 2019, they hosted a major national summit on water, in which TNI participated and won the Transformative Cities Award in the water category. (6) With financial support from TNI, a platform based in Bolivia organised a meeting where the representatives of 52 organizations, including from LLMICs attended. The meeting facilitated the exchange of experiences around community water management from different dimensions to highlight the work of women and men across the continent who are in the front line defending the right of the communities to manage water by themselves.
1 With financial support and technical research input from TNI, a CSO based research institute in Indonesia will strengthen its research and develop policy proposals, which they will use to advocate for a transparent transition to public water and ongoing fight against water privatisation in Jakarta, based on the human right to water and through media and engagement with municipal policy makers. 2 With technical support from TNI, a research and advocacy group in the Philippines will set up a platform on urban policies in Manila with a focus on just transition, housing and transportation to advocate for more sustainable social rights. 3 With video training, resources and joint strategizing from TNI, a Nigerian NGO will continue to fight the privatisation of the Lagos water utility and advocate for the human right to water in Nigeria. 4 With joint strategizing, networking and resources from TNI, a regional platform who has members in Bolivia and El Salvador, will work with community organisations to advocate for recognition of their water systems. Currently, these community water system groups are excluded from legislation as a water service provider. 5 Financial and technical assistance through TNI's Transformative Cities initiative will strengthen the communications capacity and visibility locally and internationally of CSOs in multiple LLMICS to support their advocacy for policy change at the local level, and in some cases the national and international level, in the areas of energy, water, housing, finance and food systems. In the latest edition of Transformative Cities in 2019, TNI supported CSOs from Nigeria, Kenya, Palestine, India, Senegal, Mozambique and Indonesia.
(1-2) With analysis and research from TNI, two networks of trade unions, both of which include unions in LLMICs, advocated at the international level for a just energy transition in relation to energy utilities and governance, including public spending.
(3) With communications support from TNI and increased profile and networks through the Transformative Cities Award, local groups organized online and offline to promote their initiatives and attract public votes including an environmental rights group in Palestine. Their actions were targeted towards the media, their constituencies and allies. The Transformative Cities Award showcases and promotes transformative initiatives that protect the right to water, energy, housing and food.
(4) With financial and research support from TNI, and connections to other water de-privatisation groups, an Indonesian research institute has continued to advocate for the remunicipalisation of Jakarta’s water supply. In 2020, after their supreme court victory was overturned on appeal, they moved their focus to the contract expiration in 2023.
(5) With financial and technical support from TNI, an environmental rights group in Nigeria continued to advocate towards the national and state governments for fair allocation of the public budget and democratisation of public water, and to resist privatisation of Lagos’ state water company.
(6) With financial support from TNI, a platform based in Bolivia, facilitated the exchange of experiences around community water management from different dimensions to highlight the work of women and men across the continent who are in the front line defending the right of the communities to manage water by themselves. They then used this work in their advocacy for policies that support rather than block community centred water systems.
(7) A global trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men in 163 countries, including LLMICs, published its own guidebook ‘Taking our public services back in house: A remunicipalisation guide for workers and trade unions’, based on their and TNI’s collective work for the last 10 years. Beyond agenda setting in workers movement, this guidebook has been shared with and used as a resource by union members, including in LLMICs.
Outcome E: Policies Changed
These include improved financial regulation by governments and improved financial policies in corporations; improved tax regimes and corporate tax practices; and effective accountability, transparency, safeguards and gender aware policies in public financial institutions.
3.E.a
# measures taken by national, regional and international government bodies to ensure financial, tax and spending policies advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
None of aimed changes have been achieved yet
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results
No results expected for 2018
1 The UK Conservative Government announced in 2018 that they would not sign any new Public Finance Initiatives (PFIs). The UK was previously a major promoter of PFIs globally as a means to finance infrastructure and basic services. UK companies participate in PFIs in LLMICs. Their rejection of PFIs sets a powerful precedent for the halting of PFIs around the world. TNI did interviews with the British press on the failures of privatisation and TNI worked with a key British media outlet that pressured the British conservatives.
1 country will leave the TiSA negotiations.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results expected during this timeframe.
(1) The Local Government in Cali, Colombia officially cancelled the privatisation of the city’s telecommunication services. TNI provided research support to the trade union in the municipal utilities company of Cali who advocated to stop privatisation. (2) Trade Unions in South Africa, with research support from TNI, prevented the unbundling of Eskom, a state-owned power utility that operates in LLMICs.
No outcomes expected in this indicator in 2020
(1) The Local Government in Cali, Colombia officially cancelled the privatisation of the city’s telecommunication services. TNI provided research support to the trade union in the municipal utilities company of Cali who advocated to stop privatisation.
(2) Trade Unions in South Africa, with research support from TNI, prevented the unbundling of Eskom, a state-owned power utility that operates in LLMICs.
3.E.b
# policies improved or introduced by public financial institutions and private actors on accountability, transparency and safeguards, and investment policies adopted that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
None of aimed changes have been achieved yet
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
As a result of succesful advocacy work by our partner in Colombia, privatisation of Cali telecom company has been halted. TNI provided technical input and wrote a report on the situation in Cali and the role of advisory company Lazard, which led to public debate and discussions.
No results expected for 2018
No results in 2018
Lagos state water company acknowledges and adapts proposals to reform LSWC.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results expected in the timeframe
No results in 2019
TNI does not work on this.
TNI does not work on this.
Outcome A: Enabling Environment
Both the rights and the legal and political spaces needed to claim and defend those rights are protected for women and men, communities and civil society actors in LLMICs, enabling them to address misconduct and grievances successfully, and promote improved financial and tax policies.
3.A.a
# mechanisms put in place or improved by governments and/or financial institutions and developments banks that guarantee access for civil society to (democratic) decision-making processes related to finance, tax and spending, including the right to resist developments.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
Space for policy stakeholder dialogue expanded at the international level (GWOPA) on the area of management of public water as a result of continuous lobby and awareness raising by TNI and partners
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
Our partner in Nigeria started organising meetings throughout different communities in Lagos, to educate people about the government's plans and their implications of water privatisation in Lagos (Nigeria). The communities became the prime voice in the Our water Our rights campaign whereas communities had previously never been consulted for policy plans by the government. In this way, our work (TNI provides technical and financial support to our local partner ERA) strengthened the voices of communities in Lagos who got a seat at the table as a result.
Transparency improved and space for policy dialogues expanded on the area of public finance, public spending, tax justice, management of common good in: - Nigeria (Lagos water privatisation), - Indonesia (Jakarta, groundwater and water provision) , - Mexico (Agua para Todos water school), - Colombia (legislation in related to the operation and recognition of community water utilities) TNI provides political financial supports especially by creating mutual learning, visibility, network building opportunities.
1 The Governor of Jakarta established an official advisory committee called ‘The Drinking Water Governance Evaluation Team’. The team is chaired by a senior civil servant with members from various groups including civil servants from water and environment related bodies, activists, directors of state-owned companies, and experts. Two out five members representing professionals are from TNI’s partner, an Indonesian research institute. The team’s main objective is to evaluate drinking water management to respond to the Supreme Court ruling. It is the first time such a committee has been established. TNI’s partner, with research and financial support from TNI, has advocated for the remunicipalisation of the water utility.
Transparency improved and space for policy dialogues expanded on the area of TiSA, public finance, public spending, tax justice, management of common good in Nigeria, Indonesia, Mexico, Colombia [will be working on transparency in all these issues, but only expect one outcome change for the next year].
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results expected during this timeframe.
No outcomes in 2019
No outcomes expected in this indicator in 2020
No outcomes in 2020
3.A.b
# effective legal and other grievance mechanisms adopted or improved by corporations and/or financial institutions and development banks via which CSOs and communities can resolve grievances with governments, financial institutions and companies, and claim their environmental, human and worker rights.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI does not work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI does not work on this.
TNI does not work on this.
Outcome F: Practice Changed
There is successful and sustainable implementation of: financial regulation by governments and financial policies in corporations; tax regimes and corporate tax practices; and accountability, transparency, safeguards and gender aware policies in public financial institutions.
3.F.a
# mechanisms for improved financial, tax and spending policies implemented and enforced by national, regional and international government bodies.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No outcome level results are expected in this time frame
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
A water rights campaign led by TNI partner in Nigeria, mobilised public resistance and halted the Lagos State Environmental Laws (that would further criminalise the informal sector and deny peoples' access to water). In 2017, the government allocated 185 million dollars of the budget to ensure clean water for people as a result of the campaign. TNI made a financial contribution to the campaign and TNI's expertise was used in the joint publication.
No results expected for 2018
No results in 2018.
No outcome level results expected within this timeframe.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
No results expected during this timeframe.
No results in 2019
No outcomes expected in this indicator in 2020
No results in 2020
3.F.b
# concrete steps taken by public financial institutions and private actors to actively identify, prevent and mitigate adverse social, gender and environmental impacts of their investments, and concrete steps taken that advance socially just and sustainable development in LLMICs.
All baselines are set at 0
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI does not work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI doesn't work on this.
"N/A. Targets set for the combined periods 2016 and 2017 are included in “Period 2016-2017”. Results achieved in the period 2016-2017 are reported under “Period 2016” and “Period 2017”
TNI doesn't work on this.
TNI doesn't work on this
TNI does not work on this.
TNI does not work on this.
NL-KVK-41201806-FGG3
Transnational Institute
Fair, Green and Global Programme
FGG identifies ‘the unprecedented power of capital over people and planet’ as the primary obstacle impeding realisation of fair and green trade and value chains and that ‘this power asymmetry is embedded in the global architecture underpinning trade and value chains’. FGG aims to address this problem by ‘increasing the power and decision-making influence of organised mobilised and informed civil society especially women to advance fair and green trade and value chains’.
TNI contributes to the FGG programme in the following result areas:
Strengthen capacities of civil society actors to lobby and advocate (Result Area A) for changes in agendas of key actors (Result Area B) towards policy and practices (Result Area C D and F) that together contribute to ‘fair and green trade and value chains.’
Within the C D and F result areas TNI cooperates with partners in the South on:
• Trade and investment agreements (Result Area C)
• Climate and environmental policies (Result Area C)
• Tenure rights (Result Area C)
• Rules for business and corporate conduct: (Result Area D
• Policy space/support: Agroecology (Result Area F)
• Policy space/support: Fair and green energy (Result Area F)
Both ENDS
Transnational Institute
Transnational Institute
Transnational Institute
tni@tni.org
https://www.tni.org/en
1947285
2108285
9736420
60478
58454
1643417
1947285
122270
1947285
1858430
A
strengthened capacities
1
# of CSOs included in the FGG programme
89 CSOs, networks and social movements from North, East, Southern and West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean (including India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, Myanmar and Uganda) will be included in the FGG programme in 2022.
We aim for 92 CSOs from countries in Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia (including Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Uganda) to strengthen their capacities to advocate for among other things just trade and investment agreements, stopping the expansion of ECT and ISDS, proposals on just climate and environmental policies, agroecology, just transition, improved corporate conduct at the national level, and a UN Binding Treaty. To achieve this, we will engage in mutual capacity development activities including building knowledge, evidence and communication skills, enhancing capacities to mobilise constituencies, facilitating access to decision-making spaces, leveraging on multiple (supra-national) pressure points and building capacities to undertake action freely and safely.
A
strengthened capacities
2
# targeted civil society actors with strengthened capacities for lobbying and advocacy
With analysis and research, training and financial support from TNI, 9 CSOs in Ghana, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Nigeria advocated towards their national governments to dissuade them from joining the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
With analysis and research from TNI, including a co-published report on ISDS in Latin America, a regional network working on trade, a Peruvian network on trade, and public services unions campaigned publicly and lobbied national governments and parliaments to end ISDS.
On the 15 March a transatlantic coalition to stop the EU-Mercosur agreement was launched, that includes more than 400 organizations from both sides of the Atlantic, including from Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua and Paraguay. TNI was a founding member and played a key role bringing together unions, indigenous, small scale farmers groups into the coalition. The coalition has engaged in many different L&A activities in 2021 in their campaign to stop the agreement.
With analysis and research from TNI, 2 CSOs in Tunisia and Indonesia deepened their understanding and analysis on the digital trade chapters in their countries proposed FTAs with the EU and incorporated this in their advocacy against the FTAs.
15 CSOs, social movements and networks from LLUMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights through oral interventions in (online) Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Sessions of the UNHRC, (online) meetings with their national missions, publishing statements and analysis media work and/or public (online) events (see list of organisations below). Two organisations focused on the gender dimensions of the treaty, and four organisations focused on the treaty in relation to civic space. TNI co-organised regional meetings in Latin-America, Africa and Asia before the OEIWG to prepare feedback on the revised draft of the treaty, and jointly developed strategy, facilitated interviews with media, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate. (g) (x)
With joint analysis, research and strategizing with TNI, 6 networks and CSOs strengthened their understanding of corporate capture of multilateral decision making through multistakeholder forums in sectors of health, education, debt, technology, environment, food and agriculture. This included the corporate capture of the COP26 process by the finance and fossil fuels sectors. This understanding and analysis informed their campaigns, statements, media work, lobbying towards the G77 countries and other international organisations on the issue.
Three Brazilian CSOs actively participated in a working group with Members of the National Parliament of Brazil to develop a draft Framework Law on Business and Human Rights that will be discussed in the national Brazilian Parliament. TNI facilitated the involvement of CSOs in the working group and supported with analysis and strategizing.
Together with TNI and other partners, an East African regional organisation, a Ugandan CSO and a global network of public services unions with members in LLUMICs countries, developed and published a global public services manifesto. Gender equality is also persistent in the analysis to develop the Global Public Services manifesto and demand throughout the entire manifesto. Gender equality in the leadership, management, delivery and financing of gender-transformative public services are central feature of the manifesto. These organisations are using the manifesto in their campaigns and lobbying towards local governments to prevent the privatization of public services. (g)
A network of trade unions including those in LLUMICs, developed a vision and policy recommendations for a global public energy future, co-written and co/published with TNI. The network is using the proposal in their campaign for a just transition towards governments and within the union movement.
With analysis and financial support from TNI, a regional network based in Bolivia working on community water systems completed a study on how the community water systems in the region were responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a case study in El Salvador. This resulted in two essays that detail the experience of community water systems, as well as infographics and other material related to the findings. They used this analysis in their campaign for community water systems.
With analysis and strategic advice from TNI, a pan-African CSO mobilised a pan-African campaign with actions in 8 African countries (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda) during the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privitisation with common messages, media strategies and community engagements.
A small scale farmer’s organisation in Morocco, with analysis and research from TNI, advocated towards the Morocco national Government to legalise the farming of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, allowing them to participate in the medical and industrial supply chains for cannabis, including in Europe. The currently illegal and subsistence cannabis farming communities have otherwise been excluded from the emerging global medicinal cannabis market, dominated by big players. TNI is supporting small scale farmers to develop sustainable outdoor cultivation, of local crops, with limited use of scarce natural resources.
3 farmers organisations from the Caribbean, facilitated by TNI, exchanged experiences and developed proposals for fair(er) trade cannabis for medicinal purposes in the region. They used these proposals in a dialogue with government officials from seven Caribbean countries, organised by TNI.
With technical support, including joint research with TNI, 4 ethnic based CSOs in Myanmar advocated locally with and towards political organisations governing specific ethnic areas to implement better land and natural resources policies and practices, including agroecology, through developing research and proposals.
4 North African CSOs and networks developed a shared analysis of what a truly just transition could look like in the region. They then used this analysis in their statements and advocacy work in support of a Just Transition in Africa. TNI facilitated the discussions and contributed to the analysis.
With analysis from TNI through a well attended workshop, a regional Arab CSO advocating for environmental-social justice, further developed their proposals for a just transition in the Arab region and used these proposals in their advocacy work.
With analysis from TNI through a well attended workshop, a regional African CSO lobbying to leave oil in the ground, further developed their proposals for a just transition in Africa and strengthened linkages among various CSOs and grassroots groups in Africa, connecting Northern African organisations to their counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa. This has been very useful in their advocacy in preparation for and around the COP27 (in 2022) which will be held in Egypt.
14 small-scale fishers organisations, with support from TNI, completed a peoples’ online multi-country “Tribunal on the Impact of the Blue Economy on Indian Ocean countries,” exploring the impacts of blue economy policies on small-scale fishers in India (West & East), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia. TNI’s Blue Fix report and framing of the blue economy were used and TNI provided logistical and technical support and presented at one tribunal. The Tribunal process has helped to develop and consolidate analysis, and gather evidence for, advocacy work at the local, national, regional, and international level. David Boyd, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment in his July 2021 report on Special Report on Healthy and Sustainable food noted “small-scale fishers are being deprived of their livelihoods by overfishing and ocean grabbing by powerful economic actors”. The findings of the Blue Economy Tribunal were presented to him in a 30 April meeting by the National Fishworkers’ Forum, India & World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) with support from TNI.
With analysis and connections from TNI, 2 South African small scale fishers organisations lobbied nationally and internationally toward the Blue Action Fund for better fisheries policies.
A Mauritian small scale fishers organisation and TNI developed shared analysis of Blue Economy impacts and threats in Mauritius, which their organisation is using in their advocacy for the rights of small scale fishers.
With analysis and technical support from TNI including preparatory meetings, 4 small-scale fishers’ organisations participated in the 34th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in February most of whom participated in COFI for the first time. They made three interventions during the official session and submitted five written statements to COFI.
With analysis from TNI on the corporate capture of multilateral decision making in relation to food systems and through a joint webinar, 5 organisations boycotted the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) and lobbied nationally, made international statements and spoke to media about the flaws of the summit and the need for food sovereignty and agroecological alternatives.
With analysis and financial support from TNI, three regional networks and a Nicaraguan CSO developed their analysis and strengthened movements advocating for national policies in support of agroecology, food sovereignty, environmental justice and people’s rights (including rights to land and territories) against corporate power.
With analysis and financial support from TNI, a CSO in Colombia developed grassroots support for agroecology in Colombia.
With publication and financial support from TNI, the AEPF launched a comprehensive report on the Right to Dissent. The 10 country study analyses trends on how, who and why dissent is being throttled in these countries. It gives examples of laws and methods being used to curb dissent and what mechanisms are employed and how they curb democratic voices. The publication has a theoretical framework and conclusion that show broad trends in these countries. All the case studies were LLUMICs.
89 CSOs, networks and social movements from North, East, Southern and West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean (including India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, Myanmar and Uganda) will strengthen their capacities to advocate for, among others, just trade and investment agreements that enable governments to live up to their human rights obligations, more just and effective tenure arrangements, public services, a UN binding treaty on transnational corporations, more just energy/climate/environmental policies, agroecology and to claim their civic space. To achieve this, we will engage in mutual capacity development activities including building knowledge, evidence and communication skills, enhancing capacities to mobilise constituencies, facilitating access to decision-making spaces, leveraging on multiple (supra-national) pressure points and building capacities to undertake action freely and safely.
10 national and international small-scale fishers organisations from Latin America, Asia (including India) and Africa were supported with improved knowledge capacity, networking and joint strategizing, having come together to discuss the implications of the financialisation of conservation for small-scale fishers. This meeting came about building on approximately 20 similar strategy meetings organised since 2020 organised with TNI’s support.
8 international and regional food sovereignty organisations came together to support the international Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC) - an autonomous and self-organised global platform of small-scale food producers, rural workers organisations and grassroots/community-based social movements, representing 300 million small-scale food producers in every region of the world, organ-ised into 6000 local and national organisations - under the facilitation committee to agree on the process for the Nyeleni Global Gather-ing. TNI provides critical analysis and technical expertise to support these organisations’ capacities in strategy development to prepare for the Nyeleni Global Gathering.
A regional agroecology network discussed strategies to resist the co-optation of agroecology in 3 regional meetings. Through technical support from TNI, the regional network strengthened capacities in strategy development and regional networking.
8 trade unions and organisations representing women, rural people and affected communities from Latin America came together in Honduras in August for a continental strategy meeting to build collective strategies and campaigns for the upcoming years. Through technical support from TNI, the organisations strengthened capacities in strategy development and regional networking.
A Mozambican, Indonesian, and Indian organisation improved their knowledge capacity and networks through engaging in a series of online discussions organised by TNI on just transition across the rural-urban spectrum, which contributed to exchanging and developing pathbreaking approaches to land and resource rights.
With analysis and financial support from TNI, a CSO in Colombia improved grassroots and community support for agroecology in Colom-bia, creating the basis for the adoption of agroecological practices and advocacy for agroecology.
A collaborative network of African women fish processors and traders undertook a training for Southern African organisations on a work-ing people’s program for land and national resources governance based on the 5 R’s - recognition, restitution, redistribution, regeneration, and representation. The network improved their knowledge and advocacy capacities to be engaged in wider advocacy efforts around the 10 years since the approval of the FAO SFF and tenure guidelines.
In 2022, TNI and partners supported the formation of a new working group for energy democracy in North Africa, improving the capaci-ties of these organisations in joint strategy development for advocacy through the creation of this space. The creation of this working group is a result of TNI’s and partners agenda-setting on energy democracy, including with trade unions and activists in Tunisia. The working group will strengthen mutual capacities in advocating for a just energy transition and energy democracy in Tunisia and the North Africa region.
TNI and partners co designed and coordinated The Future is Public conference held in Chile. Gender equality in the leadership, manage-ment, delivery and financing of gender-transformative public services was a central issue in the conference. The conference brought together 567 different CSOs who participated in the workshops to generate joint strategies for lobbying and advocacy for public futures. This included specific sessions for actors engaged in water, energy and public services, such as the panels on gender-transformative pub-lic services and democratic public ownership as well as the water and energy sector conferences. The conference resulted in the drafting of the Santiago Declaration, expected to be published in early 2023.
An Indonesian environmental organisation improved their knowledge capacity on the impact of coal extraction on fishers, and just transi-tion in Indonesia through technical support from TNI.
With analysis and research, training, and financial support from TNI, 10 CSOs in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Mali, Togo, Uganda, Morocco, and Nigeria improved their knowledge, advocacy and networks in the anti-ECT campaign to advocate towards their national governments to dissuade them from joining the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
A working group of CSOs in Mexico and Europe advocated to stop the ratification of the EU-Mexico agreement by drafting a joint letter signed by 170 organisations, coordinating lobby meetings and public campaigning. As a part of the lobby and advocacy mutual capacity development for the working group, TNI supported a series of workshops on the relationship between gender and FTAs for 20 CSOs that are a part of the working group in Mexico, which resulted in a feminist webinar series being developed.
TNI contributed to the strengthened knowledge, advocacy and networking capacity of a regional network working on trade and interna-tional public services unions through joint research and analysis and a conference co-organised in Sao Paolo to publicly campaign and lobby national governments and parliaments to end ISDS.
11 Indonesian and Asian organisations and coalitions deepened their understanding and analysis of the digital trade chapters in their countries' proposed FTAs with the EU and incorporated this in their advocacy against the FTAs nationally and internationally. TNI contrib-uted to mutual capacity development through joint research and analysis.
15 CSOs, social movements and networks from LLUMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights through oral interventions in (online) Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Sessions of the UNHRC, (online) meetings with their national missions, publishing statements and analysis media work and/or public physical events at the Palais de Na-tions in Geneva as well as online events. Three organisations focused on the gender dimensions of the treaty, and four organisations fo-cused on the treaty in relation to civic space. These CSOs deepened their networks and advocacy through developing regional and coor-dinated strategies, and accessed decision-making spaces to lobby and advocate to their governments and in the OEIGWG process. TNI co-organised regional strategy meetings in Latin-America, Africa and Asia before the OEIWG to strategise and prepare feedback on the revised draft of the treaty, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate.
15 CSOs deepened their knowledge and engagement in the UN Binding Treaty process, through their participation in a conference of the Extraterritorial Obligations (ETOs) Consortium in June, and signing on to a joint statement advocating for the UN Binding Treaty to be used in national and international campaigning.
With joint analysis, research and strategizing with TNI, 3 networks and CSOs strengthened their understanding of corporate capture of multilateral decision making through multistakeholder forums in sectors of health, education, debt, technology, environment, food and agriculture. This included the publication of the e-book ‘The Great Takeover’ as well as several online and offline public debates on the issue in different regions. This understanding and analysis informed their campaigns, statements, media work, lobbying towards the G77 countries and other international organisations on the issue.
2 civil society organisations co-organised an online symposium held on the day of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the late President Salvador Allende’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the dangers of corporate power to further expose the relevance of multistakeholderism and transnational corporations. This symposium was a result of strengthened capacities through mutual knowledge building and analysis, and improved networks.
A network of over 250 social movements, civil society organisations (CSOs), trade unions and communities affected by the activities of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) issued a public position paper on the European Due Diligence (DD) law that is proposed for discus-sion at the European Parliament, as a part of their campaign. The network members built upon their strengthened knowledge on the law gained through joint research, and on their joint analysis, which they did with TNI’s support.
Three Brazilian CSOs improved their capacities for lobbying and advocating by actively participating in a working group with Members of the National Parliament of Brazil to develop a draft Framework Law on Business and Human Rights that will be discussed in the national Brazilian Parliament. TNI facilitated the involvement of CSOs in the working group and supported with analysis and strategizing.
2 Brazilian small scale fishers organisations improved their capacities in regional networking and strategizing by undertaking three re-gional tribunal processes (in the South East/South; Northeast; and North), which culminated in a national statement of judgement issued on 22 November 2022 in Luziânia, Brazil. During the tribunals affected communities brought forward testimonials about the impacts of economic development projects on SSF livelihoods, including damages caused by monoculture agribusiness, hydroelectric dams, mining, ocean transport, and oil and gas extraction. The process highlighted impacts on women and youth. TNI supported with the conceptualisa-tion of the tribunal process.
A global federation of small-scale pastoralists’ organisations (representing 200 member organisations in 48 countries) engaged in advo-cacy towards actors involved in the environmentalist debate on global meat production and consumption. For this advocacy they built upon research they co-published with TNI, on the importance of approaches to animal agriculture that foreground the rights of small-scale food producers, especially pastoralists.
13 small-scale fishers’ organisations participated in the 35th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in February in the lead up to the 10th anniversary of the SSFG, following strengthened capacities to access decision-making spaces and knowledge capacity with analysis and technical support from TNI including preparatory meetings and a co-published report delivering a well-informed critique of the implementation of the Small Scale Fisheries Guidelines (SSFG). They organised 2 side events, where the report findings were presented. The report and presentation also had a strong emphasis on the role of women in small-scale fisheries and the related impacts of the guidelines on women in the fisheries sector, including onshore activities (processing, marketing, etc.) where the role of women is more pronounced.
With technical support, including joint research with TNI, 3 ethnic based CSOs in Myanmar improved their capacity to access decision-making spaces and develop participatory proposals to advocate locally with and towards political organisations governing specific ethnic areas to implement better land and natural resources policies and practices, including agroecology.
7 North African CSOs and networks developed a shared analysis of what a truly just transition could look like in the region, including en-dorsing a primer on Just Transition. They then used this analysis in their statements and advocacy work in support of a Just Transition in North Africa. TNI facilitated the discussions and contributed to the analysis.
With analysis and strategic advice from TNI, a pan-African CSO had strengthened financial and mobilisation capacity to mobilise a pan-African campaign with actions in 8 African countries (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda) during the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation with common messages, media strategies and community engagements.
We aim for 92 CSOs from countries in Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia (including Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Uganda) to strengthen their capacities to advocate for among other things just trade and investment agreements, stopping the expansion of ECT and ISDS, proposals on just climate and environmental policies, agroecology, just transition, improved corporate conduct at the national level, and a UN Binding Treaty. To achieve this, we will engage in mutual capacity development activities including building knowledge, evidence and communication skills, enhancing capacities to mobilise constituencies, facilitating access to decision-making spaces, leveraging on multiple (supra-national) pressure points and building capacities to undertake action freely and safely.
A
strengthened capacities
2x
# targeted civil society actors with strengthened capacities contributing to and/or relevant for lobby and advocacy aiming at expanding/defending civic space
Of these, 13 CSOs and networks from Asia, West Africa, or global who have members in LLUMICs, will strengthen their capacities in relation to advocacy for civic space. Through mutual capacity development to strengthen their knowledge, evidence, and communication skills, their access to decision-making spaces, their leverage on multiple (supra-national) pressure points and focused on building more coherent solidarity with (E) HRDs, these CSOs and networks will be better equipped to advocate for civic space in relation to multilateral decision making on food systems, freedom of movement in the face of militarisation in West Africa and claiming the right to dissent.
of these 12 CSOs will gain skills that contribute to lobby and advocacy for defending civic space. These CSOs from Latin America, Africa and Asia (incl Bangladesh and Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Indonesia) will advocate for civic space for Environmental Human Rights Defenders, Land Defenders resisting dispossession and CSOs claiming their seat at the decision-making table on the Binding Treaty negotiation.
A
strengthened capacities
2g
# targeted civil society actors with strengthened capacities relevant to advance gender justice
Of these, 16 CSOs, unions and networks from Northern Africa and the Middle East, Southern Africa, West Africa, East Africa, Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, India and Uganda, will strengthen their capacities relevant to their advocacy for gender justice. These CSOs will strengthen their knowledge, evidence and communication skills, access to decision makers and capacities to mobilise constituencies. Gender justice is a core element of the proposals for a just transition, post covid public services and agroecology, and tenure and resource rights these CSOs and networks are advocating for. It will be further incorporated or strengthened in the proposals being developed by and with these CSOs, networks and unions. TNI and our partners will provide and/or engage with training activities to integrate gender-conscious and responsive analysis in the integrated public energy, education, health and care system proposals and advocacy.
12
of these 5 CSOs will strengthen capacities that are relevant for their advocacy for gender justice. These CSOs will strengthen their collective proposals on just transition in relation to care work through a feminist lens, and the relation between investment protection/ISDS and gender. Gender justice is a core element of the proposals for a just transition, post covid public services and agroecology, and tenure and resource rights these CSOs and networks are advocating for. It will be further incorporated or strengthened in the proposals being developed by and with these CSOs, networks and unions. Together with these CSOs, networks and unions, we will shed light on the gendered impacts of ISDS, given the fact that ISDS lays a huge claim on public budgets of governments, which are often used to advance public services which are key to advancing gender justice.
A
strengthened capacities
3
# targeted civil society actors that lobby and advocate for improved policies and practices in trade and value chains and advance fair and green practices based on capacities mutually developed
With analysis and research, training and financial support from TNI, 9 CSOs in Ghana, Togo, Uganda, Tanzania, Bangladesh, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Nigeria advocated towards their national governments to dissuade them from joining the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
With analysis and research from TNI, including a co-published report on ISDS in Latin America, a regional network working on trade, a Peruvian network on trade, and public services unions campaigned publicly and lobbied national governments and parliaments to end ISDS.
On the 15 March a transatlantic coalition to stop the EU-Mercosur agreement was launched, that includes more than 400 organizations from both sides of the Atlantic, including from Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua and Paraguay. TNI was a founding member and played a key role bringing together unions, indigenous, small scale farmers groups into the coalition. The coalition has engaged in many different L&A activities in 2021 in their campaign to stop the agreement.
With analysis and research from TNI, 2 CSOs in Tunisia and Indonesia deepened their understanding and analysis on the digital trade chapters in their countries proposed FTAs with the EU and incorporated this in their advocacy against the FTAs.
15 CSOs, social movements and networks from LLUMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights through oral interventions in (online) Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Sessions of the UNHRC, (online) meetings with their national missions, publishing statements and analysis media work and/or public (online) events (see list of organisations below). Two organisations focused on the gender dimensions of the treaty, and four organisations focused on the treaty in relation to civic space. TNI co-organised regional meetings in Latin-America, Africa and Asia before the OEIWG to prepare feedback on the revised draft of the treaty, and jointly developed strategy, facilitated interviews with media, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate. (g) (x)
With joint analysis, research and strategizing with TNI, 6 networks and CSOs strengthened their understanding of corporate capture of multilateral decision making through multistakeholder forums in sectors of health, education, debt, technology, environment, food and agriculture. This included the corporate capture of the COP26 process by the finance and fossil fuels sectors. This understanding and analysis informed their campaigns, statements, media work, lobbying towards the G77 countries and other international organisations on the issue.
Three Brazilian CSOs actively participated in a working group with Members of the National Parliament of Brazil to develop a draft Framework Law on Business and Human Rights that will be discussed in the national Brazilian Parliament. TNI facilitated the involvement of CSOs in the working group and supported with analysis and strategizing.
Together with TNI and other partners, an East African regional organisation, a Ugandan CSO and a global network of public services unions with members in LLUMICs countries, developed and published a global public services manifesto. Gender equality is also persistent in the analysis to develop the Global Public Services manifesto and demand throughout the entire manifesto. Gender equality in the leadership, management, delivery and financing of gender-transformative public services are central feature of the manifesto. These organisations are using the manifesto in their campaigns and lobbying towards local governments to prevent the privatization of public services. (g)
A network of trade unions including those in LLUMICs, developed a vision and policy recommendations for a global public energy future, co-written and co/published with TNI. The network is using the proposal in their campaign for a just transition towards governments and within the union movement.
With analysis and financial support from TNI, a regional network based in Bolivia working on community water systems completed a study on how the community water systems in the region were responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including a case study in El Salvador. This resulted in two essays that detail the experience of community water systems, as well as infographics and other material related to the findings. They used this analysis in their campaign for community water systems.
With analysis and strategic advice from TNI, a pan-African CSO mobilised a pan-African campaign with actions in 8 African countries (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda) during the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privitisation with common messages, media strategies and community engagements.
A small scale farmer’s organisation in Morocco, with analysis and research from TNI, advocated towards the Morocco national Government to legalise the farming of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, allowing them to participate in the medical and industrial supply chains for cannabis, including in Europe. The currently illegal and subsistence cannabis farming communities have otherwise been excluded from the emerging global medicinal cannabis market, dominated by big players. TNI is supporting small scale farmers to develop sustainable outdoor cultivation, of local crops, with limited use of scarce natural resources.
3 farmers organisations from the Caribbean, facilitated by TNI, exchanged experiences and developed proposals for fair(er) trade cannabis for medicinal purposes in the region. They used these proposals in a dialogue with government officials from seven Caribbean countries, organised by TNI.
With technical support, including joint research with TNI, 4 ethnic based CSOs in Myanmar advocated locally with and towards political organisations governing specific ethnic areas to implement better land and natural resources policies and practices, including agroecology, through developing research and proposals.
4 North African CSOs and networks developed a shared analysis of what a truly just transition could look like in the region. They then used this analysis in their statements and advocacy work in support of a Just Transition in Africa. TNI facilitated the discussions and contributed to the analysis.
With analysis from TNI through a well attended workshop, a regional Arab CSO advocating for environmental-social justice, further developed their proposals for a just transition in the Arab region and used these proposals in their advocacy work.
With analysis from TNI through a well attended workshop, a regional African CSO lobbying to leave oil in the ground, further developed their proposals for a just transition in Africa and strengthened linkages among various CSOs and grassroots groups in Africa, connecting Northern African organisations to their counterparts in sub-Saharan Africa. This has been very useful in their advocacy in preparation for and around the COP27 (in 2022) which will be held in Egypt.
14 small-scale fishers organisations, with support from TNI, completed a peoples’ online multi-country “Tribunal on the Impact of the Blue Economy on Indian Ocean countries,” exploring the impacts of blue economy policies on small-scale fishers in India (West & East), Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia. TNI’s Blue Fix report and framing of the blue economy were used and TNI provided logistical and technical support and presented at one tribunal. The Tribunal process has helped to develop and consolidate analysis, and gather evidence for, advocacy work at the local, national, regional, and international level. David Boyd, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment in his July 2021 report on Special Report on Healthy and Sustainable food noted “small-scale fishers are being deprived of their livelihoods by overfishing and ocean grabbing by powerful economic actors”. The findings of the Blue Economy Tribunal were presented to him in a 30 April meeting by the National Fishworkers’ Forum, India & World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) with support from TNI.
With analysis and connections from TNI, 2 South African small scale fishers organisations lobbied nationally and internationally toward the Blue Action Fund for better fisheries policies.
A Mauritian small scale fishers organisation and TNI developed shared analysis of Blue Economy impacts and threats in Mauritius, which their organisation is using in their advocacy for the rights of small scale fishers.
With analysis and technical support from TNI including preparatory meetings, 4 small-scale fishers’ organisations participated in the 34th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in February most of whom participated in COFI for the first time. They made three interventions during the official session and submitted five written statements to COFI.
With analysis from TNI on the corporate capture of multilateral decision making in relation to food systems and through a joint webinar, 5 organisations boycotted the United Nations Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) and lobbied nationally, made international statements and spoke to media about the flaws of the summit and the need for food sovereignty and agroecological alternatives.
With analysis and financial support from TNI, three regional networks and a Nicaraguan CSO developed their analysis and strengthened movements advocating for national policies in support of agroecology, food sovereignty, environmental justice and people’s rights (including rights to land and territories) against corporate power.
With analysis and financial support from TNI, a CSO in Colombia developed grassroots support for agroecology in Colombia.
With publication and financial support from TNI, the AEPF launched a comprehensive report on the Right to Dissent. The 10 country study analyses trends on how, who and why dissent is being throttled in these countries. It gives examples of laws and methods being used to curb dissent and what mechanisms are employed and how they curb democratic voices. The publication has a theoretical framework and conclusion that show broad trends in these countries. All the case studies were LLUMICs.
89 CSOs, networks and social movements from North, East, Southern and West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean (including India, Indonesia, Kenya, Philippines, Myanmar and Uganda) will lobby and advocate for just trade and investment agreements that enable governments to live up to their human rights obligations, more just and effective tenure arrangements, a UN binding treaty on transnational corporations, more just energy/climate/environmental policies, agroecology and to claim their civic space. They will do this through national, local and international level campaigns and direct advocacy targeting local and national governments, parliaments and inter-governmental spaces/decision-makers (e.g. FAO, UN Special rapporteurs, etc), building evidence, proposals and piloting practices, media work, human rights monitoring and organising civil society conferences and summits. Their activities will be enhanced by mutual capacity development activities with TNI including building knowledge, evidence and communication skills, enhancing capacities to mobilise constituencies, facilitating access to decision-making spaces, leveraging on multiple (supra-national) pressure points and building capacities to undertake action freely and safely.
With analysis and research, training, and financial support from TNI, 10 CSOs in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Mali, Togo, Uganda, Morocco, and Nigeria improved their knowledge, advocacy and networks in the anti-ECT campaign to advocate towards their national governments to dissuade them from joining the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT).
A working group of CSOs in Mexico and Europe advocated to stop the ratification of the EU-Mexico agreement by drafting a joint letter signed by 170 organisations, coordinating lobby meetings and public campaigning. As a part of the lobby and advocacy mutual capacity development for the working group, TNI supported a series of workshops on the relationship between gender and FTAs for 20 CSOs that are a part of the working group in Mexico, which resulted in a feminist webinar series being developed.
TNI contributed to the strengthened knowledge, advocacy and networking capacity of a regional network working on trade and interna-tional public services unions through joint research and analysis and a conference co-organised in Sao Paolo to publicly campaign and lobby national governments and parliaments to end ISDS.
11 Indonesian and Asian organisations and coalitions deepened their understanding and analysis of the digital trade chapters in their countries' proposed FTAs with the EU and incorporated this in their advocacy against the FTAs nationally and internationally. TNI contrib-uted to mutual capacity development through joint research and analysis.
15 CSOs, social movements and networks from LLUMICs advocated for a UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights through oral interventions in (online) Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group (OEIGWG) Sessions of the UNHRC, (online) meetings with their national missions, publishing statements and analysis media work and/or public physical events at the Palais de Na-tions in Geneva as well as online events. Three organisations focused on the gender dimensions of the treaty, and four organisations fo-cused on the treaty in relation to civic space. These CSOs deepened their networks and advocacy through developing regional and coor-dinated strategies, and accessed decision-making spaces to lobby and advocate to their governments and in the OEIGWG process. TNI co-organised regional strategy meetings in Latin-America, Africa and Asia before the OEIWG to strategise and prepare feedback on the revised draft of the treaty, and provided logistical and financial support for some of the CSOs to participate.
15 CSOs deepened their knowledge and engagement in the UN Binding Treaty process, through their participation in a conference of the Extraterritorial Obligations (ETOs) Consortium in June, and signing on to a joint statement advocating for the UN Binding Treaty to be used in national and international campaigning.
With joint analysis, research and strategizing with TNI, 3 networks and CSOs strengthened their understanding of corporate capture of multilateral decision making through multistakeholder forums in sectors of health, education, debt, technology, environment, food and agriculture. This included the publication of the e-book ‘The Great Takeover’ as well as several online and offline public debates on the issue in different regions. This understanding and analysis informed their campaigns, statements, media work, lobbying towards the G77 countries and other international organisations on the issue.
2 civil society organisations co-organised an online symposium held on the day of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the late President Salvador Allende’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly on the dangers of corporate power to further expose the relevance of multistakeholderism and transnational corporations. This symposium was a result of strengthened capacities through mutual knowledge building and analysis, and improved networks.
A network of over 250 social movements, civil society organisations (CSOs), trade unions and communities affected by the activities of Transnational Corporations (TNCs) issued a public position paper on the European Due Diligence (DD) law that is proposed for discus-sion at the European Parliament, as a part of their campaign. The network members built upon their strengthened knowledge on the law gained through joint research, and on their joint analysis, which they did with TNI’s support.
Three Brazilian CSOs improved their capacities for lobbying and advocating by actively participating in a working group with Members of the National Parliament of Brazil to develop a draft Framework Law on Business and Human Rights that will be discussed in the national Brazilian Parliament. TNI facilitated the involvement of CSOs in the working group and supported with analysis and strategizing.
2 Brazilian small scale fishers organisations improved their capacities in regional networking and strategizing by undertaking three re-gional tribunal processes (in the South East/South; Northeast; and North), which culminated in a national statement of judgement issued on 22 November 2022 in Luziânia, Brazil. During the tribunals affected communities brought forward testimonials about the impacts of economic development projects on SSF livelihoods, including damages caused by monoculture agribusiness, hydroelectric dams, mining, ocean transport, and oil and gas extraction. The process highlighted impacts on women and youth. TNI supported with the conceptualisa-tion of the tribunal process.
A global federation of small-scale pastoralists’ organisations (representing 200 member organisations in 48 countries) engaged in advo-cacy towards actors involved in the environmentalist debate on global meat production and consumption. For this advocacy they built upon research they co-published with TNI, on the importance of approaches to animal agriculture that foreground the rights of small-scale food producers, especially pastoralists.
13 small-scale fishers’ organisations participated in the 35th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in February in the lead up to the 10th anniversary of the SSFG, following strengthened capacities to access decision-making spaces and knowledge capacity with analysis and technical support from TNI including preparatory meetings and a co-published report delivering a well-informed critique of the implementation of the Small Scale Fisheries Guidelines (SSFG). They organised 2 side events, where the report findings were presented. The report and presentation also had a strong emphasis on the role of women in small-scale fisheries and the related impacts of the guidelines on women in the fisheries sector, including onshore activities (processing, marketing, etc.) where the role of women is more pronounced.
With technical support, including joint research with TNI, 3 ethnic based CSOs in Myanmar improved their capacity to access decision-making spaces and develop participatory proposals to advocate locally with and towards political organisations governing specific ethnic areas to implement better land and natural resources policies and practices, including agroecology.
7 North African CSOs and networks developed a shared analysis of what a truly just transition could look like in the region, including en-dorsing a primer on Just Transition. They then used this analysis in their statements and advocacy work in support of a Just Transition in North Africa. TNI facilitated the discussions and contributed to the analysis.
With analysis and strategic advice from TNI, a pan-African CSO had strengthened financial and mobilisation capacity to mobilise a pan-African campaign with actions in 8 African countries (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Senegal, Uganda) during the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation with common messages, media strategies and community engagements.
We aim for 92 CSOs from countries in Latin America, Africa, Middle East and Asia (including Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Uganda) to strengthen their capacities to advocate for among other things just trade and investment agreements, stopping the expansion of ECT and ISDS, proposals on just climate and environmental policies, agroecology, just transition, improved corporate conduct at the national level, and a UN Binding Treaty. They will do this through national, local and international level campaigns and direct advocacy targeting local and national governments, parliaments and inter-governmental spaces/decision-makers (e.g. FAO, UN Special rapporteurs, etc), building evidence, proposals and piloting practices, media work, human rights monitoring and organising civil society conferences and summits. Their activities will be enhanced by mutual capacity development activities with TNI including building knowledge, evidence and communication skills, enhancing capacities to mobilise constituencies, facilitating access to decision-making spaces, leveraging on multiple (supra-national) pressure points and building capacities to undertake action freely and safely.
B
agenda-setting, momentum-building and increased support
4
# key actors (government, private sector, other) who put FGG policy/practice recommendations on their agendas (e.g. meetings, debates, media coverage)
(1-2) In October around the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, 42 outlets including CBS, the Guardian, Liberation (France) and Independent (UK), and public figures such as Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, George Monbiot and leading US environmentalist Bill McKibben wrote or spoke about how the world’s wealthiest nations prioritise borders over climate action, based on TNI and partner’s research. TNI’s report showed the interconnectedness of climate inaction and border militarisation and sought to forge new links between climate and migrant justice groups, as well as peace activists. Attention from media and public figures helped amplify this message and strengthen its legitimacy. TNI wrote the report, engaged campaigners, journalists and public figures. TNI partners from Tunisia and Central America researched and drafted the case studies in the report on Tunisia and Mexico – Central America.
(3-5) The Swedish Ambassador for Oceans, executive director of the Blue Action Fund, officials from SwedBio (a branch of SIDA which provides funding on oceans and fisheries) discussed the impacts of ocean grabbing, ocean economy and Marine Protected Areas (MPA) with small scale fishers organisations. It was the first time these officials had discussed these issues with small-scale fishers organisations and had not focused on the impact on them. Sweden is one of the key funders of the Blue Action Fund 150 million euros devoted to MPAs. The Ambassador sits on the Advisory Board for the BAF. Through the meeting those involved became aware of TNI’s lobbying efforts towards the Blue Action Fund, and of small-scale fishers’ concerns about Marine Protected Areas and other policy initiatives supported by the Fund. TNI organised the meeting and participated along with TNI’s partners.
(6) Movements, civil society organisations and NGOs from multiple sectors (health, education, debt, technology, environment, food and agriculture), as well as the intergovernmental organisation the South Centre and current G77 chair Afghanistan, consolidated their work or began working on corporate capture of multilateral decision making through multistakeholder forums. Now many organisations are working on the issue including using it in their statements, speeches and framing for campaigns and boycotts. Multistakerholder forums are often seen as a natural solution for the lack of funding for the multilateral system but these forums are not accountable, often involve self-governance of corporations and marginalising of states whose accountable decision making role is weakened and even lost. The South Centre is influential because it is an intergovernmental organisation and advises governments in LLUMICs directly. TNI facilitated and consolidated of a network of movements, NGOs and CSOs working on the issue . The group meets regularly meet regularly to strategise and support each other's efforts. TNI has published multiple ground breaking works on the topic including long reads, an e-book, a common web-space and webinars.
(7) The Global Arbitration Review (GAR) published an article on the impact of Ecuador rejoining the ICSID convention, including with quotes from TNI. GAR is an important magazine for the investment protection arbitration industry.
(8-10) At least 12 Arabic, African and European media outlets published articles with critical analysis of the just transition in North Africa taking a decolonial perspective on the energy transition and Green Hydrogen projects and Desertec, referencing TNI’s publications on this. Articles were in 4 languages: Arabic, French, English and Italian. Media outlets: Assafir Al-Arabi (a well-read regional publication), Orient XXI (French language regional publication), Nawaat (Tunisia), Al Jazeera (global english language outlet), Middle East Eye (MEE), Amandla! (South Africa), Jeune Afrique (in French) AFRIQUE XXI (in French), Nouveaux Cahiers du Socialisme (in French), Noon Post (in Arabic), BraveNewEurope (in English), BreakingLatest.news (in English), Internazionale.it (in Italian). Green hydrogen has been hyped as a solution to the climate crisis and is being promoted by fossil fuel companies so they can continue extracting gas. There has not been a lot of critical analysis of it in the region, especially that the projects being pushed in North Africa maintain the same relations of dependency. Proposed Green Hydrogen and Desertec projects in North Africa will have a negative impact in the region, especially in relation to water and externalised environmental costs (in the form of burying captured carbon from burning gas), and the focus on exports to Europe. Moreover, technically, the green hydrogen projects are still questionable. TNI published four TNI long reads on the topic of Just Transition in North Africa (launched in a webinar “Reflections on Just Transition(s) in North Africa” as part of the COP26 People’s Summit for Climate Justice). The long reads were written by academics and activists from the region. A closed door workshop was held in July to develop the analysis with partners based in north, west and southern Africa.
(11) In February 2021, Investigate Europe published a story revealing how European governments are losing patience in talks to modernise the ECT. In December 2021, they published a follow up story on the failings of the ECT modernisation process and on the strong pressure by NGOs against the ECT. TNI met with the journalists involved.
(12) On 3 November 2021, around the COP26 the Guardian published a strong piece on the ECT with the updated numbers on ECT cases provided by TNI researchers and included a few quotes from TNI.
(13) German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle published a critical article on ECT: Deutsche Welle: Multi-billion euro lawsuits derail climate action. TNI was interviewed for the article.
(14) El Confidencial (a conservative newspaper) published an opinion piece signed by the socialist deputy and spokesperson in the Ecological Transition Commission and the French LaREM Deputy and Vice-President of the Sustainable Development Commission in which, after five failed rounds of negotiations, they called for the exit of the Energy Charter Treaty either jointly or unilaterally. TNI supported the two authors to develop the opinion piece with content.
We expect 21 key actors, including media, academics, UN/inter-governmental bodies representatives (e.g. Special Rapporteurs), MPs, government officials and national governments from North, West and East and Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Europe, North America, including India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Niger, Mali, and the Netherlands will put FGG recommendations on their agendas. These recommendations are in support of just trade and investment agreements that enable governments to live up to their human rights obligations (with a particular focus on the Energy Charter Treaty and digital trade chapters in FTAs), more just and effective tenure arrangements, a UN binding treaty and other national regulation on transnational corporations and human rights, ending the corporate capture of multilateral decision making, more just energy/climate/environmental policies, public services, agroecology, for civic space to be respected and de-militarisation.
(1) Media in Bangladesh put ECT on their agendas. A position paper on ECT was presented to policymakers and media in Bangladesh for the first time, which resulted in 15 newspapers in Bangladesh covering the controversy over joining the ECT. FGG provided financial and technical support to our partner to commission the position paper and organise a training for journalists,, which resulted in the articles being drafted.
(2) At least 13 European news outlets in English and Spanish critically reported on the ECT with a strong climate angle, including the Guardian, Euronews, El Diario and El Salto. Published stories included op-eds and opinion pieces alongside news articles about the discussions around ECT within European and national policy spaces. The magnitude of the articles represented a narrative shift, supporting the success of the campaign. TNI and partners’ research was cited and we were interviewed or gave comments in several of the pieces.
(3) 5 media outlets critically reported on the EU-Mexico FTA and ISDS cases against Mexico using TNI and partners’ data. To date the media has been silent around the EU-Mexico FTA, including traditionally left-wing media.
(4) An ad-hoc committee in Colombia responsible for reforming the mining code discussed ISDS. ISDS in Colombia is an important issue amongst affected communities. This ad-hoc committee will continue to review and revisit policies where reform is needed, and the fact that they discussed ISDS reflects that the government has an interest in the issue. This is a result of TNI and partners’ work advocacy efforts in Colombia and the region to raise awareness of the impacts of ISDS.
(5) ISDS was on the agenda of Civil Society 20 (C20), the civil society mechanism to the G20. The C20 linked it to climate justice and mentioned it as a problem in the context of energy transition. TNI and partners participated in the C20 and hosted a session on linking climate justice to energy transition.
(6-9) Governments in Latin America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Uruguay) are putting digital trade and digitalisation on their agenda. Government officials are requesting TNI and partner expertise to better understand the digital trade agenda with the WTO’s ongoing engagement in the digital trade agenda. These governments have an interest to be more engaged in the issues as data protection laws are weak and civil society organisations in Latin America are also putting pressure on governments not to join digital trade negotiations at the WTO and to lift to moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmission.
(10) During the 35th Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI35, 5-9 September, 2022, Rome), FAO discussed concerns of small scale fishers on the implementation of the Small Scale Fisheries Guidelines (SSFGs), including the role of women in the SSF value chain. Fishers, including partners, organised two Side Events at the COFI35 attended by FAO director of fisheries and other key FAO fish-eries staff, at which the report findings were presented. This outcome links with indicator 3 regarding supporting 14 small-scale fishers’ organisations participating in the 35th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Fisheries (COFI) in February, and the co-published report delivering a well-informed critique of the implementation of the Small Scale Fisheries Guidelines (SSFG), including the role and impact on women. (g)
(11) The Land Tenure Unit of FAO organised a session on the Political Economy of Land at their Ten Years of the VGGTs event in Rome (6-7 October), in which they critically discussed the implementation of the land tenure guidelines, citing TNI and partners' work.
(12) A communique from the G7 Labour Ministers in May and at the G7 Leaders Summit meeting in June made explicit reference to the Binding Treaty. G7 countries include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU, who have which been relatively silent on the issue of a UN Binding Treaty in the past. This is linked to the lobbying and advocacy by TNI and partners on the Binding Treaty.
(13) The Pakistan UN delegation has put the UN Binding Treaty on their agenda following the lobbying and advocacy of TNI and partners, including engagement in the Asian Task Force, a networking and mutual capacity development space that TNI and partners have contributed to building and maintaining since its inception.
(14) The newly appointed Director of the Human Rights Department of South Africa put the UN Binding Treaty on their agenda through a roundtable on the current status and challenges facing the negotiations on 3rd Draft of the treaty. This was a result of This was a result of a strategy meeting facilitated by TNI and partners in Johannesburg to bring together allies and partners to re-converge and reinvigorate the movements in the Southern Africa region structured through the Southern African Campaign to Dismantle Corporate Power. (x)
(15) MPs from 11 African countries engaged in a briefing and strategy meeting on the Binding Treaty hosted online (in 4 languages) by TNI and partners in September. It was the first engagement on the Binding Treaty for many of the African MPs.
(16) G77 put multistakeholderism on their agenda. The G77 countries established a partnership with the South Center to work on multistakeholderism. This was the result of an online round table discussion co-organised by TNI, South Center and the People’s Working Group on Multistakeholderism in an effort to reach out to G77 states including 35 government representatives to discuss the characteristic, impact and challenges that multistakeholderism brings to day-to-day multilateral governance.
(17) 16,000 people from around the world, including in LLUMICs, put local transformative socio-ecological solutions on their agenda by voting in the Transformative Cities Award, facilitated by TNI and partners. The award highlights local initiatives in LLUMICs that aim to improve access to public services while addressing social and ecological concerns in their communities. More people engaging in the award highlights the growing significance of local municipalist initiatives that focus on sustainable solutions on the ground for people and the planet.
(18) 15 Media outlets from Africa and the Middle East published critical articles around a just energy transition and green hydrogen in the context of Africa linking to debates around national sovereignty and development, and energy democracy, citing TNI and partners’ work. Media included 7iber, MadaMasr, Radio M, Injiyez, AlManassa, Al Safir Al Arabi, Al Hamish, Siyada, Orient XXI, Nawatt, Agence-ecofin, Hespress, ArabicPost, Maghreb Emergent, ROAPE, MRONLINE, Zeitschrift LuXemburg., Middle East Eye and the New Internationalist. Many people in the region are not aware of these large-scale energy plans and projects in the pipeline, and therefore not aware of the socio-ecological impacts of these projects. We were able to get a lot of media attention, being a new topic in the public discourse.
(19) African media outlets critically report on the Africa Week of Action Against Water Privatisation campaign and activities, follow-ing TNI’s support to partners’ advocacy activities.
(20) Prominent climate activists promoted the withdrawal from ECT, including Greta Thunberg in a video recorded and shared online ahead of the European Council vote. TNI and partners co-organised the social media campaign vote down ECT that got Greta Thunberg’s video.
(21) The 2022 IPCC annual report published in April cited ECT as an obstacle to climate action. This was an important signal to and motivator for the climate science community to actively engage in the campaign, including pressuring policymakers and government to withdraw from the ECT. The report cited academic articles that included citations of TNI and partners’ research on ECT.
(22) The climate science community promoted the withdrawal from ECT, including by a letter of 76 climate scientists signing a letter addressed to EU leaders asking for the withdrawal from the ECT in June. Through TNI and partners’ advocacy efforts, getting the support of the climate science community was a key strategy of the campaign, particularly through joining in our campaign to say no to ECT. This included supporting the process of drafting the letter as an action point of the campaign.
(23) The 2022 Special Report on Climate Change and Land noted the importance of land redistribution as an element of effective land policies in the Summary for Policy Makers. Mainstream land politics at the global scale have been resistant to the inclusion of redistribution as a legitimate policy tool. This report was the first and long-awaited attempt by the IPCC to address complex interlinkages between land and climate change. Activist scholar allies contributed to the drafting of the report, and several academic publications which TNI staff, fellows, associates, and allies contributed to were cited as evidence in the report.
We expect that 22 key actors (including governments, mayors and city councils, and academics) from Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East (including Bangladesh, Uganda and Indonesia) will put FGG policy recommendations on their agenda. These recommendations are in support of just trade and investment agreements that enable governments to live up to their human rights obligations (with a particular focus on the Energy Charter Treaty and digital trade chapters in FTAs), more just and effective tenure arrangements, a UN binding treaty and other national regulation on transnational corporations and human rights, ending the corporate capture of multilateral decision making, more just energy/climate/environmental policies, public services, agroecology, for civic space to be respected and de-militarisation.
B
agenda-setting, momentum-building and increased support
4x
# of instances in which the recommendation a key actor puts on its agenda aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
Of these, we aim for 6 actors (the media and policy makers from the EU, Mali, Niger, and representative of global or regional Asian multilateral organisations to put an FGG recommendation on their agenda that contributes to civic space. These recommendations concern the right to dissent or question government policies, which will protect and expand civic space, and in West Africa, shifting from militarised to civilian strategies of promoting democracy and peace, civic space, which is at the core of good governance.
From these actors we aim for 6 key actors from Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe to put an FGG recommendation on their agenda that contributes to civic space, particularly in the work around a UN binding treaty and other national regulation on transnational corporations and human rights that aim to institutionalise legally binding human rights frameworks, including for the purpose of defending civic space.
B
agenda-setting, momentum-building and increased support
4g
# of instances in which the recommendation a key actor puts on its agenda aims to contribute to gender justice
Of these, we expect 1 actor (the media in Europe) to discuss de-privatisation of public services as a feminist alternative.
We anticipate that 2 local, regional or national governments will put recommendations on their agenda which specifically contribute to gender justice, including recognising the importance of care work.
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
5C
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
(1-3) French and Spanish ministers for trade and energy published op-eds arguing that if the ECT modernisation process failed, their countries should exit the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT). Additionally, 71 MEPs from the center and left groups signed an op-ed in EURACTIV arguing the EU and member states should leave the ECT. if European countries exit the ECT, it would set a precedent for countries in the South and halt expansion of the treaty in the South. Many companies which use the ECT to sue governments in the South are based in Europe. TNI met with the Spanish Ministers and MEPs, supported campaigners with evidence and data, co-organised a petition of more than 1 million signatures from concerned European citizens and a petition from 200 Climate experts to pressure policy makers.
(4) 12 MEPs wrote a letter in October to the European Commission raising substantive concerns about the EU-Mexico FTA. TNI, together with it’s partners in Europe and Mexico lobbied the MEPs to write the letter. The letter was timed to coincided with the launch of the report “Transnational Corporations and Free Trade in Mexico”, co-ordinated by TNI and to be co-published with a number of members of the Global Campaign and the Left Group in the European Parliament in October.
(5) Over 1 million people signed a petition calling for European countries to exit from the ECT (European countries, EU and the UK) and not to expand the treaty to other countries. TNI co-organised the petition with a large coalition of European organisations.
(6) In October 2021, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) published a position on the ECT and sent it to members of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety. It is one of the biggest confederations in Europe. TNI has worked with the FNV on the issue, who was key in the ETUC position debate.
(7) The German Greens called the ECT "outdated" in their election manifesto and said the EU should leave the ECT. This is a strong result considering that the German Greens are now in the coalition government. TNI has supported German campaigners working on this with analysis and strategizing.
(8) A vote to terminate the ECT in the Dutch Parliament was only narrowly defeated with just 2 votes short of the majority, showing strong support for exiting the ECT. This included support from across the political spectrum. Through the Dutch CSO Platform Handel Anders!, TNI strengthened advocacy and movement-building with public statements, lobby letters to Parliament.
(9) Cadiz passed a parliamentary motion calling for the Spanish Government to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty. Cadiz is the first municipality in Spain to pass such a motion and others are now discussing it. Together with the Spanish Campaign on the ECT, TNI organized an event in the city hall in Cadiz to talk about the ECT.
(10) In December, the Chair of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights and other speakers at the 10th UN Forum on Business and Human Rights discussed if current investment agreements are compatible with their international human rights obligations and climate. All of the panellists agreed that ISDS should be eliminated. TNI was one of the panelists.
(11) In October 2021, The UN HRC Working Group on Human Rights and Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises published a report calling for holistic reform of International Investment Agreements referring to the need to think about new models of development. TNI consulted as experts on the matter.
(12) A new section of the trade union movement engaged on the issue of ISDS, the Latin American Confederation of workers from the Judiciary (Confederación Latinoamericana de Trabajadores del Poder Judiciario) which includes administrators and public servants in the judiciary. TNI has been working with Public Services International Americas, the confederation of public services unions on this issue, including on the report “Justicia Paralela, cómo el arbitraje de inversiones vulnera al poder judicial en América Latina” which TNI co-published with them.
We aim for 7 key actors, including MPs and government officials from the European Parliament, the Netherlands, Africa, Latin America and Asia and the media and academia to support and promote FGG recommendations, including by calling for withdrawal from the ECT and ISDS mechanisms, calling for multilateral action on the right to dissent and for the demilitarisation of West Africa.
(1) The European Parliament supported the coordinated withdrawal from the ECT, including a European Parliament debate in March, through a report published in June and the vote to request the European Commission to withdraw the EU and member states from the ECT in November. TNI and partners’ campaigning and advocacy over the last few years have contributed to this outcome, including the mobilisation of public support in Europe to exit ECT.
(2) The European Commission asked to remove the modernization of the ECT from the agenda of the ECT summit that was due to take place in November on account of the increased pressure to exit ECT, contributed to by TNI and partners.
(3) The Belgian environment minister promoted the Belgian withdrawal from the ECT, following TNI and partners’ lobbying and campaigning.
(4) Mexican politicians spoke out against ISDS in key fora. This included a Mexican senator in his proposal to government and speech in congress against ISDS, and the Mexican president, following TNI and partners’ lobbying and advocacy activities.
We anticipate that 8 key actors (including governments, media, academics, UN special rapporteurs, major international trade unions or politicians) will support FGG policy recommendations on climate finance/reparations, climate securitization, just transition, ECT/ISDS or digital trade.
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
5Cx
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
Of these, one actor in the European Parliament will call for de-militarisation of European forces in West Africa and one actor representing regional or global multilateral organisations will call for Ensuring the right to dissent or question government policies will protect and expand civic space.
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
5Cg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
6C
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
(1) The Moroccan National Parliament voted in favour of a bill to legalise the cultivation, use and export of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes (such as hemp fibre). This will enable farmers to participate in the growing medicinal plants and hemp industrial supply chain, especially in Europe, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for the farmers and their families. Including these farmers previously criminalized and prosecuted, into a legal industry, would be fair. Also, the way these communities produce as opposed to the large cannabis companies, will be more in balance with the ecosystem and limited natural resources. Since 2016, TNI has been working with traditional cannabis farmers in the Rif region in Morocco to build capacity for the inclusion of the farmers in the (international) medical cannabis market. TNI provided technical support to the farmers and supported the farmers’ advocacy efforts towards the government with the aim to develop independent and sustainable livelihoods for farmers in the international agriculture value chain for medicinal and therapeutic purposes.
(2) The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the ECT is not applicable to intra-EU cases. This was a heavy blow to the arbitration industry and gave weight to ending the ECT globally. TNI raised the issue of the ECT in its groundbreaking 2018 report.
No new governments join the ECT.
(1-7) Seven European countries take steps to withdraw from the ECT, including Germany, France, Slovenia, the Netherlands, Poland, Luxembourg and Spain, signified by top officials and government representatives announcing withdrawal.
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
6Cx
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
C
governments increasing democratic decision-making
6Cg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
D
governments regulating the private sector
5D
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
(1) In October in Geneva, the UNHRC High Commissioner Ms Michelle Bachelet, opened the session of the Open-ended Working Group on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises (OEIGWG) with respect to human rights remarking that the world is witnessing a “growing consensus on the need for binding regulations on business and human rights”. This showed that after a difficult few years during the pandemic, the process to develop a Binding Treaty is still on track. TNI, together with our partners in the Global Campaign, facilitated activities in the week of mobilisation around the OEIWG open session including 3-4 interventions from civil society bringing affected communities perspectives to the Treaty text; participation of a delegation of Members of the Global Inter Parliamentary Network (GIN) on the Treaty and helped prepare and promoted a Joint Statement by the three main networks working on the treaty (Global Campaign, Treaty Alliance, Feminists for a Binding Treaty) to the Chair of the OEIGWG with proposals on enhancing and strengthening the participation of civil society in this stage of the process.
(2) A working group comprised of 5 Members of the National Parliament of Brazil, CSOs and Human rights experts finalised a draft Framework Law on Business and Human Rights that has now been presented in Parliament. This is the first step towards a new law. If the law is passed, it will be significant in Brazil because it is binding (not voluntary) and goes beyond due diligence to guarantee access to justice and comes from the perspective of affected communities. It sets a precedent for similar laws in other southern countries. It applies at the national level TNI and it’s partners has been arguing for at the international level. TNI facilitated the working group to develop the law and involved key civil society partners. TNI and partners in Latin America worked on the draft through the working group.
(3-4) The Global Inter-Parliamentarian Network (GIN) in support of the UN Binding Treaty on TNCs which has over 350 members from different countries and regions worldwide sent a delegation to the OEIGWG Oct 2021 which made 2 oral interventions at the Session and spoke at a webinar co-organised by TNI in support of the importance of the Binding treaty especially for affected communities. The local authorities network, facilitated by TNI is active in promoting support for the Binding Treaty.
(5) The Catalan parliament formally registered a law to create a Centre on TNCs and Human Rights in Catalunya. This was the result of the efforts of the Catalan working group on TNCs and human rights, where TNI participates. When the Centre is created, it will be the first step towards a public space that will support the regulation of the extraterritorial impacts of TNCs in the Global South and open the path towards the access to justice for those affected.
We aim for 7 key actors, government officials and parliamentarians in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the media, to show their support for a UN Binding Treaty on Human rights and Transnational Corporations through speeches or statements.
(1-3) The Global Inter-Parliamentary Network (GIN) continued to pro-actively intervene in favour of a Binding Treaty: MP Charles Santiago had an intervention in the Malaysian Parliament, MP Lilian Gallan from Uruguay prepared an intervention in the UN-HRC’s March Session, and new parliamentarians came to Geneva for the October session. For the first time, an African MP (Sydney Mushanga, from Zambia) advocated via the GIN and the Global Campaign at the UN negotiations, following engage-ment from TNI and partners. TNI and partners support the continued capacity of GIN to reach out to more MPs.
(4) 54 African Union states supported the binding treaty in an African Union joint statement after the 8th Session of the Intergov-ernmental Working Group on Business and Human Rights meeting in Geneva in October, following TNI, partners’ and GIN’s lob-bying and advocacy. This included a rejection to the proposed new text by the Chair of the Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group leading the negotiations on a UN Binding Treaty in what was seen as an attempt to derail the Binding Treaty pro-cess.
(5) The G77 representing 134 member states advocated against multistakeholderism to the UN General Secretary (UNGS) in the organisa-tion of the UN Summit of the Future (SOFT), expected to be held in 2024. The G77 support for multilateral governance pressured the UNGS to agree to not make SOFT a multistakeholder space. TNI and partners have contributed to this through our advocacy against mul-tistakeholderism.
(6-7)Jeremy Corbyn, a British politician and public figure, and Rosa Pavanelli, the General Secretary of Public Services International advocated against multistakeholderism in a public debate.
We aim for 5 key actors (member states) engaged in the UN Summit of the Future (SOFT) negotiations to support and promote FGG recommendations on global governance. Following the release of the document Our Common Agenda by the General Secretary of the UN in late 2021, the SOFT was announced for 2023 to discuss the program of reforms towards better global governance. This provides an opportunity to propose alternative narratives to multistakeholderism (MSIism) as MSIism has been included as part of the General Secretary’s recipes for better governance.
D
governments regulating the private sector
5Dx
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
of these, 3 key actors (member states from the G77) will promote FGG recommendations on global governance, including pushing for increased community involvement in decision-making on tax collection, and for a more critical approach to MSIsm in the SOFT negotiations.
D
governments regulating the private sector
5Dg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
D
governments regulating the private sector
6D
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
(1) Following pressure from the G77, the UN Summit of the Future (SOFT) will not be a multistakeholder space. The summit aims to forge a new global consensus on what our future should look like and what we can do today to secure it. This is a result of TNI and partners’ partnership with the South Centre, an intergovernmental organisation of developing nations that provides tech-nical support to 55 countries, including those in the G77.
D
governments regulating the private sector
6Dx
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
D
governments regulating the private sector
6Dg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
5E
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
5Ex
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
5Eg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
6E
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
6Ex
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
E
private sector actors respecting human rights and the environment
6Eg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
5F
# key actors who support and/or promote FGG policy/practice recommendations
(1) The UN Special Envoy to the UNFSS Agnes Kalibata called for called for wider support for agroecology and small-scale farmers, and greater recognition of indigenous knowledge. This represents a significant shift in the rhetoric/discourse of Agnes Kalibata between her pre-summit and summit communications. The legitimacy of the Summit was severely undermined by civil society mobilisations throughout 2021, with media attention documenting criticisms and concerns. Outrage around the summit and how it was organised energised a counter movement of which TNI and our partners were actively involved including a boycott of the summit and instead a counter-summit in July before the pre-summit, meetings with the special rapporteur on the right to food and a subsequent strong statement from them, statements, strategy meetings, a critical letter from academics (including TNI Associates), withdrawal of support by the expert body IPES-Food (of which a TNI associate was a member at the time), discussion with the Dutch MoFA about the summit, op-eds and articles in the mainstream media including outlets NRC, Guardian. TNI also hosted a webinar on corporate capture of multilateral decision making, on which TNI has done significant work.
(2-9) Eight former and current UN Special Rapporteurs and regional human rights experts welcomed the Global Public Services Manifesto and encouraged us to continue advocating for democratising public services. The endorsement happened on 26 October during the webinar Enough is Enough: The Future is Public where they also discussed public services and human rights and the manifesto was launched. These people are influential and are recognized within the UN system as top experts in their fields. They have become outspoken in their critique of privatisation of public services from housing to health, especially during the pandemic, and are clear in their argument that privatisation is harming public services. Through a consultative process, TNI and public services advocacy groups, human rights and development organisations, finance and debt issues focused NGOs came together, developed and published the Global Public Services Manifesto in October 2021. This includes an Eastern African regional CSO, a Ugandan organisation and Public Services international, which has over 30 million members, including in low income countries. The Manifesto for a post covid vision with essential services at centre. It is built on a gender analysis and gender equality is central in the Manifesto. The manifesto is presented in seven languages (English, Spanish, Swahili, Arabic, French, Portuguese and Croatian) so far and it has been endorsed by 189 civil society organisations and networks. TNI was one of the leaders of the global coordination team, hosted the European meeting and supported the MENA meeting to further develop the manifesto.
(10) the Dutch federation of trade unions FNV took up the narrative of The Future is Public systematically, including de-privatisation, remunicipalisation and in-sourcing as outlined on their website. TNI supported them to develop their vision internally.
(11) On 26 February, John McDonnell (Labour MP and former UK Shadow Chancellor) endorsed the importance of international knowledge and narratives to reverse privatization at the online launch event for the global de-privatisation database. TNI is one of the developers of the database and co-hosted the online launch event for the global de-privatisation database.
We aim for local officials from 5 countries (Tunisia, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, El Salvador) to show their support for de-privatisation that is feminist at its core and increasing funding to public health and education systems instead of giving subsidies and incentives to private provision and developing further tier (public and private) systems.
(1-2) The 2022 UN Secretary General and UN Habitat World Cities Report acknowledged remunicipalisation as a viable/legitimate policy option in the context of privatisation, meeting social & environmental justice ambitions, a framing advocated for by TNI and partners. UN institutions and actors have been implicitly or explicitly pushing privatisation and PPPs as the primary mode of international development for decades, therefore this acknowledgement reflects a shift in their prevailing discourse.
(3) The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) acknowledged problems with privatisation in their Annual Report, acknowledging the importance of public ownership for a just energy transition. TNI provided inputs to the report and acknowledged TNI in the preparation of the report.
We aim for 8 key actors including local authorities, UN Special Rapporteurs, or national-level policy makers to support or promote FGG recommendations around public energy, universal public services, and gender-just water provision.
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
5Fx
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a key actor aims to contribute to expanding/defending civic space
3 of these 8 key actors -including decision-makers from Asia and South America- support recommendations that are aimed at contributing to gender equality, such as recommendations related to gender-just water provision, and feminist approaches to care work.
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
5Fg
# of instances in which the supported and/or promoted recommendation by a partner aims to contribute to gender justice
Of these, all five will be in support of a de-privatisation that is feminist at its core because the gendered division of labour makes women, both as users and workers, more reliant on public service provision. Women will therefore benefit most from de-privatisation and improved funding for public essential services.
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6F
# instances in which key actors adopt and/or implement FGG policy/practice recommendations
(1) The National Government in South Africa approved a new National Freshwater (Inland) Wild Capture Fisheries’ Policy. The policy itself provides an important tool for small-scale fishers to defend their rights, and provides recognition for informal fishers who currently face harassment and criminalisation. It is the first time a fisheries policy defined any kinds of fishing rights for informal subsistence fishers (previously they only issued recreational licenses), so this was a first recognition of the sector of inland subsistence fisheries. Small scale fishers undertook numerous advocacy efforts aiming to shape the policy and push for its adoption, which strengthened the alliances between fishers and environmental groups and their relationship with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries; the Fisheries Department, and FAO representatives who participated in meetings. TNI partners, especially Masifundise, participated in the process of developing the policy. Allied organisations including South Durban Community Alliance, Durban Subsistence Fishers, Groundwork, One Ocean Hub, and Green Connection participated in meetings and workshops, strengthening and consolidating advocacy for human rights-based fisheries policies, including the Inland Fisheries Policy. Analysis co-developed with TNI was used in the advocacy process.
We expect the government of Morocco to allow medical cannabis cultivation while strengthening local traditional growers in the Rif area, following advocacy by TNI’s partners in the country and with knowledge and evidence from TNI.
(1) Drinking water will remain exempt from EU Concession Directive, therefore defending the right to water and protecting the water sector in the EU from the liberalisation that other public sectors have been exposed to. At the EU level, virtually every other public service has been exposed to increased pressures to liberalise public services. The fact that water has remained exempt means that public pressure has pushed EU bodies to respect water as a human right. The specific tipping point was that remunicipalisation was mentioned in the EU discussion/decision, which is an advocacy framing that has been used by TNI and partners for many years.
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6Fx
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to expanding/defending civic space
F
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6Fg
# of instances in which the adopted and/or implemented policies/practices by key actors contribute to gender justice
SCS
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6SCS1
# of laws, policies and norms, implemented for sustainable and inclusive development
SCS
governments, government-backed agencies, donors, private sector actors increasing policy space and support for fair and green practices
6SCS2
# of laws, policies and norms/attitudes, blocked, adopted, improved for sustainable and inclusive development
Process
process
l
learning sessions organised by FGG members and partner organisations
TNI will continue to routinely have strategic discussions with key partners. In these discussions, we will reflect on what has and has not worked in previous strategies and adjust our plans accordingly. These discussions occur within the networks TNI is part of and bilateral discussions. Examples include, the AEPF Food Sovereignty and Resource Justice discussions (on agroecology and tenure); internal meetings and conversation with WFFP and the IPC Fisheries Working Group (on tenure); and discussions with NAFSN (on just transition and agroecology), the Seattle to Brussels Network, the Global Campaign to Reclaim Peoples Sovereignty, Dismantle Corporate Power and Stop Impunity and their regional subgroups. All these networks include members from LLUMICs who are involved in these discus-sions including from North and Southern Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean (including India, Indonesia and Philippines). Since the COVID-19 pandemic these meetings have largely taken place online.
TNI has routinely had strategic discussions with key partners where we reflect on what has and has not worked in previ-ous strategies and adjust our plans accordingly. Much of this reflection occurs within our daily work and through our partner meetings to strategise our actions and interventions. Additionally, TNI has worked towards integrating learning within our activities. In 2022, we centred our learning focus towards strengthening our reflection around promoting southern leader-ship and ownership. In our work around ECT, in 2022 we increased our engagement and mutual capacity development with partners in Africa and Asia on ECT expansion, which resulted in a lobbying and campaigning strategy led and centred around partner needs in their regional and national context. For example, in Indonesia the issue of how to implement a just transition in the context of transition miner-als is an ongoing public debate. In conversations with our Indonesian partners, ECT was framed as a tool that is being used to try and promote extractivism from the Global South and became incorporated into partners’ ongoing lobbying and advocacy.
Process
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lines of work in which FGG members and partners build upon gender analysis and incorporate gender justice in their strategy
TNI’s work on the following topics builds upon a gender analysis: Just Transition/climate and energy, agroecology, tenure rights, Post-COVID public services, the UN Binding Treaty on Transnational Corporations and Human Rights, corporate capture of multilateral deci-sion making, E -FTA with Tunisia and Digital trade work. These topics integrate an intersectional feminist approach to develop gender analysis and develop several proposals for feminist alternatives. Partners are based in North, Southern and West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean (including India, Indonesia and Philippines).
In 2022, TNI and partners have begun building upon a gender analysis or continued building upon a gender analysis in the following lines of work: just transition/climate and energy, agroecology, tenure rights, public services, the UN Binding Treaty, corporate capture of multi-lateral decision making, EU-FTA with Tunisia and the work on digital trade. Partners are based in North, Southern and West Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean (including India, Indonesia and Philippines).
Process
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the extent to and ways in which FGG involves local groups in the design and implementation of the FGG programme
TNI’s new programme strategy has been identified in conversation with partners and responds to the needs and ambitions they have identified. This is the case for all TNI’s areas of work For example, pathbreaking work on new proposals for tenure emerged out of work on the ground with grassroots movements in Myanmar; dispossession in oceans – and specific research questions related to energy and aquaculture – have been identified in conversation with small-scale fisher movements; and our cross-sectoral and transformative understanding of just transition has been collectively developed with partners in Africa, Asia, and South America. With the ECT work, for example, several people from CSOs in Africa participated in an online course in 2021 and then approached TNI to work on ECT expan-sion with them. They decided this was important enough to take up as a campaign. TNI had meetings with them and jointly decided on joint work for 2022. TNI will continue to work to enhance the mobilisation, consultation and involvement of local groups. For example, TNI will provide financial and technical support to groups in Tunisia to enhance their mobilisation around local policy processes, including around trade and investment and agricultural policies, and to strengthen their alliances with allied organisations internationally and in the MENA region. TNI will also provide financial and technical support to small-scale fisher (SSF) organisations from Southern Africa, MENA region, LAC, and Asia to engage in a process of national-to-global Independent People’s Tribunals on the Blue Economy which will help to develop an evidence base (including more local cases) and mobilise constituencies for longer-term lobby and advocacy around Blue Economy Policies and their impacts on SSF. TNI will also provide technical support to a platform, based in Bolivia, to en-hance consultation of local groups and increase mention of local cases in relation to successful examples of community water ma-nagement. TNI is facilitating the involvement of local groups in consultations with parliamentarians in Brazil who are developing a new national law on business and human rights. Local groups in South Africa involved in the Right to Say No Campaign will work to mobilise other local groups in Southern Africa, especially in Mozambique, to join the campaign, through exchanges hosted by TNI.
Across all areas of work TNI designs and implements interventions under FGG jointly with our partners and directly with affected local groups or representative organisations.
Fostering local ownership is an important aspect of TNI’s work that features in the design of activities and strategies (see indicator l for more details) or fostering local ownership is the activity itself (e.g. supporting partners engaged in the Nyeleni Global Gathering, counter-ing water privatisation in Africa, supporting Blue Tribunals, etc). In each case, fostering local ownership is an ongoing process across our activities and largely feeds into our programmatic strategy and approach. For example, in North Africa, mutual capacity development with partners engaged in the energy debate has resulted in the formation of a new working group for energy democracy. This working group was formed to dedicate a space for partners in the region, particularly trade unions, to come together towards developing joint strategies to counter privatisation of energy, and also discuss and propose solutions to what energy democracy could look like in the re-gion. With the formation of this working group, not only will TNI continue to support our partners engaged with mutual capacity devel-opment, however this space will be vital to informing our strategy towards just energy transition and public services in the region. Addi-tionally, TNI’s partner in Nigeria mobilized communities towards the Africa water week against water privatization in 8 African countries (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Mozambique, Kenya, Senegal, and Uganda, where CSOs and trade unions have set up coalitions) with common messages, media strategies and community engagements. Part of the campaign was the organisation of community wa-ter parliaments in Nigeria and Mozambique to identify community needs in terms of access to water and strategise their demands from the government and campaign activities during the week of action. Also, TNI continued to work with partners on supporting the organi-sation of Blue Tribunals for small-scale fishers’ rights, including in Brazil with two SSF representative organisations leading the process.