Creating Sustainable Reform
IISD works with governments, international institutions, academics, and civil society to propose and support reform in international investment treaties, laws, and policies.
IISD works with governments, international institutions, academics, and civil society to identify, propose, and support reform across the international investment field to enhance sustainable development. Our work covers treaties, laws, contracts, and policies.
As the host organization of the annual Investment Policy Forum—a unique event exclusively for investment negotiators from emerging economies—and through our advisory services and workshops with developing countries on every continent, we promote sustainable, bottom-up reform of the international investment landscape.
Driving sustainable reform on the multilateral level, we are a member of the Task Force for the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Investment Protocol, the United Nations Conference on International Trade Law process for ISDS reform (the so-called UNCITRAL Working Group III), and we have an instrumental role on reform of the Energy Charter Treaty—where we are working for the removal of one of the key remaining obstacles to the green energy transition and advancing sustainable legal solutions.
In addition, IISD's Investment team is a member of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development Multi-Stakeholder Platform on International Investment Agreement Reform, and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law and International Chamber of Commerce’s Working Group on modernizing international investment contracts.
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UNCITRAL Working Group III and Reform of Investor–State Dispute Settlement
The UN Commission on International Trade Law Working Group III (UNCITRAL WGIII) has pursued reform of the investor–state dispute settlement model since 2017. IISD is an observer member of the Working Group, using our role to promote a fair system to resolve investment disputes that enhances sustainable development.
The Energy Charter Treaty
The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) is an energy investment agreement that has grown into an obstacle to impactful climate policies—and a safeguard for the fossil fuel industry. In April 2024, the European Parliament voted for the European Union's historic withdrawal from the treaty.
Advisory Services, Technical Support, and Workshops
IISD's international lawyers and policy experts provide training courses, workshops, and a range of advisory services for developing economy officials—covering investment treaties, laws and contracts, negotiations, and dispute prevention and management.
Best Practices Policy Bulletins
IISD's Best Practices Series analyzes the evolving scope and nature of investment treaty negotiations, drawing on public treaty texts and model agreements from governments.