Brochure: IISD’s Sustainable Investment Advisory Services

IISD’s Sustainable Investment experts are based around the world, and we work with developing countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The tools and advice we provide cover every stage of the investment life cycle: promotion, facilitation, protection, dispute prevention, dispute management, and dispute resolution.

IISD’s sustainable investment experts work across a wide range of sectors, including agriculture and food systems, energy, and mining, as well as issues such as tax and voluntary sustainability standards. This breadth allows us to customize our services based on the investment priorities of your country.

Our advisory services are rooted in extensive practical knowledge of the local, national, and regional contexts in the countries where we work. The services benefit from IISD’s long-lasting relationships with government officials, academics, non-governmental organizations, and private practitioners across all the regions we work in.

IISD’s advisory services are informed by a deep understanding of global multilateral processes. Our team tracks or participates in all the key international investment reform initiatives—including in forums such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Commission on International Trade Law, World Trade Organization, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, African Continental Free Trade Area, and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership—where we support developing country officials to navigate the negotiations and shape change within global investment governance.

Our Services

Rooted in this vision, know-how, and global presence, IISD’s team of international lawyers and policy experts provide in-person or virtual training, workshops, and technical advice to government officials from developing countries across a wide range of topics, including the

• reform of investment treaties and contract negotiations, including the development of national and regional model instruments and negotiation strategies;
• negotiation of investment treaties and contracts, including commentaries on negotiating text and the development of negotiating tools and processes;
• adoption and revision of national investment laws, policies, and strategies;
• adoption and revision of regional investment instruments and policies;
• alignment of national and regional instruments with contemporary regional and international instruments and best practices, including regional investment treaties;
• establishment of coordination mechanisms for enhancing coherence in investment governance and preventing investment disputes at the national level, including guidance on setting up inter-ministerial committees; and
• preparation and adoption of national and regional strategies for investment governance reform processes at subregional, regional, and international levels. 

Please note that IISD cannot act for governments in live contract negotiations and dispute resolutions.

Our Expertise Is Available to Developing Countries Pro Bono

IISD offers training, workshops, and technical advice to developing countries pro bono. However, countries may be asked to contribute toward reasonable expenses. In case of insufficient funds, priority is given to least developed countries.

Reach Out for Other IISD Services

Upon request, we can work with your government or regional institution to design tailormade training, technical advice, and workshops to meet your needs, combining our investment services with insights from other IISD expert teams, including agriculture and food systems, mining, tax, trade, voluntary sustainability standards, and infrastructure.

Contact Us

If you are interested in discussing how IISD can support your government or regional institution, please email investmentlaw@iisd.org.