Introduction    History    Work Programme   Governance    Staff   Funding    Employment    How to find us

The International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) was established in Geneva in September 1996 to contribute to a better understanding of development and environment concerns in the context of international trade. 

As an independent non-profit and non-governmental organisation, ICTSD engages a broad range of actors in ongoing dialogue about trade and sustainable development. With a wide network of governmental, non-governmental and inter-governmental partners, ICTSD plays a unique systemic role as a provider of original, non-partisan reporting and facilitation services at the intersection of international trade and sustainable development. 

ICTSD facilitates interaction between policy-makers and those outside the system to help trade policy become more supportive of sustainable development. By helping parties increase capacity and become better informed about each other, ICTSD builds bridges between groups with seemingly disparate agendas. It seeks to enable these actors to discover the many places where their interests and priorities coincide, for ultimately sustainable development is their common objective. 

On this section of the site, you will find comprehensive information about our history, work programme, staff, funding and governance. We welcome your interest in the Centre’s activities and invite you to become a part of our worldwide network of supporters! 

Introduction
History
Work Programme   
Governance
Staff   
Funding   
Employment
How to find us  

back to top

In October 1995, the twelve members of the Neptune Group of environmental NGOs proposed the creation of an international resource center to advance the understanding of links between trade and sustainable development. Their initial proposal envisioned a small, highly efficient support centre dedicated to providing information services and facilitating dialogue. 

Less than one year later, this vision became a reality as five founding members – the Consumer Unity and Trust Society (India); Fundacion Futuro Latinamericano (Ecuador), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (Canada), the Swiss Coalition of Development Organizations (Switzerland), and the World Conservation Union (Switzerland) – established the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development in September of 1996.

In the four years since its founding, ICTSD has grown both in size and in scope. At the outset, ICTSD employed a small staff of four; today, ICTSD regularly employs a staff of about ten professionals and interns with expertise in law, economics, management and sustainable development. While it has remained committed to the basic principles articulated by its founders, ICTSD has evolved into a dynamic, internationally respected provider of news and analysis of issues in trade and sustainable development. 

ICTSD has been a presence at each of the World Trade Organization’s Ministerial Conferences, where it has provided support services for its affiliates and the general public. At the Seattle Ministerial Conference, for example, ICTSD produced daily briefings in three languages, providing immediate information about the progress and sustainable development implications of the negotiations. 

More recently, ICTSD has reorganised its governance structure to become more broadly representative of the public it now serves. Visit the governance section of this site for more information on this change. 

From its early days as a small, tightly focused resource center to its current status as a highly efficient information provider and facilitator, ICTSD has evolved to meet the needs of the international trade and sustainable development communities. As new issues emerge and new positions are articulated, ICTSD will be on the forefront of efforts to integrate policy, knowledge and participation into the framework of sustainable development.

Introduction
History
Work Programme   
Governance
Staff   
Funding   
Employment
How to find us    

back to top

ICTSD’s work is organized into three main programme areas: Communications and Information, Dialogues, and Research, Documentation, and Support Services. A short description of each programme, as well as associated outputs, products and services, follows. 

Communications and Information Programme – Enabling Dialogue:

The Bridges series of monthly and weekly publications have been widely recognised as the leading publications in their field.  They draw on ICTSD’s experience in trade and sustainable development and communicate news and analysis in a meaningful context. 

• Bridges Between Trade & Sustainable Development (Monthly Review). Bridges provides an analytical review of recent developments in trade and sustainable development, and is written by ICTSD editors and outside contributors.

• Puentes / Passerelles (Spanish and French editions of Bridges co-published by partners in Latin America and Africa).

• Bridges Weekly Trade News Digest. The Weekly Trade News Digest is a weekly email newsletter on trade and sustainable development that offers a blend of original reporting and syntheses of trade news from other news media. 

• Public Participation Series, Insider Briefings and other ad-hoc publications. These occasional publications provide in-depth analysis of specific issues connected to the world trading system.
   

Dialogues Programme – Facilitating Interaction:

From informal off-the-record meetings to large-scale conferences, ICTSD builds processes that convene key actors and institutions to explore common and different interests, as a contribution to ongoing discussions at the WTO and in other trade policy-making arenas.

• Café & Croissants (informal briefings)

• Virtual Dialogues  (email and Internet discussions and communications)

• Policy Dialogues (project / event basis)

• Conferences (project / event basis)  

Research, Documentation & Support Services Programme – A Catalyst for Supporting Processes and Building Capacity:

Encompassing training, research and services, this programme focuses on raising and supporting a high level of interaction among stakeholders by drawing on the best human and academic resources to factor sustainable development into trade policy-making.

• Capacity building and training for trade and sustainable development.

• Contributing to partner research and bringing trade and sustainability perspectives to discussion and policy-making fora.

• Providing documents and resources to organisations performing research.

• Reports that factor sustainable development into trade issues.  

ICTSD also pursues sector-specific projects that incorporate elements of each programme. In 2001, ICTSD will be exploring the links between trade, sustainable development and the following sectors through a process of research, dialogue and information dissemination:

• Climate Change

• Biodiversity

• Fisheries

• Mining

• Globalisation

Introduction
History
Work Programme   
Governance
Staff   
Funding   
Employment
How to find us  

back to top

As of May 2000, ICTSD’s governance structure has changed to adapt to the changing environment of the trade and sustainable development debate. The new governance structure better reflects ICTSD’s commitment to broader representation and deeper participation by stakeholders, and has been in effect since September 2000. 

Under the new structure, the Executive Board has become a Governing Board (GB) whose members act as individuals and not as representatives of specific organizations. Membership grew from 5 founding organizations to 13 individuals, at least 8 of which must have NGO backgrounds. The membership of the GB will observe geographical, issue, gender and other balances. The GB will set broad policy direction, supervise the work programme, approve the annual report and carry out functions of financial oversight. A list of our 13 current GB Members and their brief biographies can be viewed by following this link.

The Programme Advisory Board of approximately 30 NGO organisational members and the Trade Advisory Council of approximately 15 individual members will be transformed into the Stakeholder Forum (SF) to advise and assist the Centre in its work.  The SF will be comprised of a diverse range of organisations, and will include at least two representatives from each of the following groups: civil society, business, trade unions, governments, academia, intergovernmental organisations, donors and the media.  Geographical, issue, gender and other balances will be observed in Board selection.  The SF will also represent a majority of developing country interests.  

Introduction
History
Work Programme   
Governance
Staff   
Funding   
Employment
How to find us  

back to top

Introduction
History
Work Programme   
Governance
Staff   
Funding   
Employment
How to find us  

back to top

ICTSD’s work is made possible by the generosity of its donors. We thank them for their contribution to the achievement of our objectives.

2000 – 2001 Donors

• Christian Aid (UK)
• European Commission- DG for External Relations, Commercial Policy and Relations with North America, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand
• European Commission, – DG Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection
• Government of Denmark (DANIDA)
• Government of Finland, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department for International Development Co-Operation
• Government of New Zealand
• Government of Switzerland (SECO)
• Government of the Netherlands (DGIS)
• Government of the United Kingdom (DFID)
• IUCN The World Conservation Union (Switzerland)
• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
• MISEREOR
• Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• NOVIB (Netherlands)
• Oxfam (UK)
• PSP Publishing Foundation
• Rockefeller Foundation
• Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
• Swiss Coalition of Development Organisations (SCDO)

Previous Donors  

• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
• Department for International Development (UK)
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada)  
• Federal Office of Environment (Germany)
• Ministry of Environment (Netherlands)
• Mission of the Netherlands to the WTO
• MS-Denmark
• National Wildlife Federation (USA)

In-Kind Contributors  

• Aalborg University, (Denmark)
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (Canada)
• Kent State University, Geneva (Switzerland)
• United Nations Environment Programme

Start-Up Donors  

• Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
• ChristianAid (UK)
• Fundacion Futuro Latinoamericano (Ecuador)  
• Government of Denmark (DANIDA)
• Government of Switzerland (SECO)
• MISEREOR (Germany)
• NOVIB (Netherlands)
• Oxfam (UK)
• Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)
• Swiss Coalition of Development Organisations

back to top

Employment  

ICTSD is not currently seeking to fill vacancies.

Volunteer and Internship Opportunities  

ICTSD welcomes inquiries from qualified applicants with interest in the Centre’s areas of work. Applicants should have a demonstrated interest and background in international trade and sustainable development, and will most often possess graduate or post-graduate education in a relevant field, though ICTSD will exceptionally accept undergraduates. These positions are designed to be of mutual benefit: interns will learn about the Centre’s work while building personal capacities and experience, and the Centre receives valuable assistance in achieving its projects and goals. 

Internships 

ICTSD will accept a limited number of interns annually depending on available funding and programme needs. Because funding for these positions is limited, interns are encouraged to seek sponsorship and additional funding from other organisations. Positions may be within one programme or across several programmes, and will quite often demand a high level of responsibility and time commitment. In general, interns will receive a monthly stipend and will be expected to interact on a full time basis with ICTSD staff.  

Volunteers 

ICTSD will accept a limited number of volunteers annually depending on programme needs. These positions will be un-remunerated and open to applicants who are willing to commit a minimum of 15 hours per week over a 3-month period to ICTSD. Positions may include ongoing programme related support or project-related assignments.

Application Process 

Application forms consist of a cover letter stating the applicant’s interest, availability, qualifications, resume or curriculum vitae, and a writing or work sample. Included in the above should be applicant’s nationality, age, work / educational experience, language ability and any other information the applicant deems relevant to the position. We accept applications on a rolling basis, but applicants should contact ICTSD at least three months before the start of the internship.  

Applicants are obliged to acquire adequate health insurance and provide proof of this coverage before final acceptance. (Current estimated cost of such coverage is SFr.200-300 per month).  

Applications will be officially reviewed each calendar quarter for acceptance during the following quarter (i.e. applications for the period from 1 April - 30 June must be received by 1 January for consideration). Applications should be sent to: Human Resources, ICTSD, 13 Chemin des Anémones, 1219 Geneva, Switzerland. Alternately, they may be faxed to: (41-22) 917-8093 or emailed to: ictsd@ictsd.ch.

back to top

Introduction
History
Work Programme   
Governance
Staff   
Funding   
Employment
How to find us  

back to top

Introduction
History
Work Programme   
Governance
Staff   
Funding   
Employment
How to find us  

How to find ICTSD

ICTSD is located at :

the International Environmental House,
13 Chemin des Anémones,
1219 Châtelaine,
Geneva, Switzerland

Download the Map

Reaching International Environment House by car

If you are on the autoroute

• take the exit Meyrin/ Vernier,
  
• follow Vernier
• then Genève centre
• below the viaduc de l'Ecu follow the sign forEnvironment

If you are at the airport

• follow signs for Geneve centre
• then for Balexert
• before Balexert, follow Vernier
• below the viaduct de l'Ecu follow Environment

if you are at the train station Cornavin

• take the rue de Lyon
• follow Vernier
  
• below the viaduc de l'Ecu follow the sign for Environment

Reaching the Internatinal Environment House by bus

if you are at the train station Cornavin

• Take bus 6 or 19 in the direction of Vernier-Village or Gare ZIMEYSA
  Buses depart every 5-7 minutes (15 minutes after 19:00).
  
  
• Alternatively, take bus 14 (for example, from the Palais des Nations) in the direction
  of Tours-de-Carouge, with departures every half-hour. Get off at the bus stop "Châtelaine-Ecole". Walk up to the corner by the Pont de l'Ecu, turn right and walk two short blocks. The bus fare costs 2.20 SFr from ticket machines at the bus stops.
  
  
• Download the Map

 ICTSD Home | News Digest | Calendar | Publications | Virtual Bridges | Mailbox
About ICTSD | Contact Info | Info Search | SiteMap

Copyright 1997 International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, All rights reserved.