International Organisations | Civil Society Institutions, NGOs, Think Tanks | Other Institutions

International Organisations
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• Andean Community
  The Andean countries, knowing that it is essential to gradually and progressively eliminate measures that restrict trade in services in the subregion, in order to create the Common Market by 2005, are currently working to do so. In order to boost this process, the Commission on October 31 approved Decision 510 "Adoption of the Inventory of Measures Restricting the Trade in Services." This Decision allows the citizens of an Andean country to provide in any of the four other subregional members any service, except for those listed in the Inventory, which will be progressively phased out by the year 2005. A general framework of principles and provisions (Decision 439) guides this entire process.
  
  
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
  APEC is the premier forum for facilitating economic growth, cooperation, trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC has a membership of 21 economic jurisdictions, a population of over 2.5 billion and a combined GDP of 19 trillion US dollars accounting for 47 percent of world trade. As the primary regional vehicle for promoting trade and investment and practical economic cooperation, the end result of APEC’s activities includes increased employment opportunities and community development. APEC is working to achieve what are referred to as the ‘Bogor Goals’ of free and open trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific by 2010 for developed economies and 2020 for developing economies. APEC has identified three specific areas that are crucial to achieving the Bogor Goals. These three pillars are: Trade and Investment Liberalisaton; Business Facilitation; and Economic and Technical Cooperation.
  
  
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
  ASEAN has concluded its negotiations on the third package of commitments for the liberalisation of services. The package includes commitments in air transport, business services, construction, financial services, maritime transport, telecommunications, and tourism. Under business services, several commitments have been made on ICT-related services with the view to facilitating the realization of the e-ASEAN initiative.The ASEAN Economic Ministers adopted the Protocol to Implement the Third Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services on 31 December 2001. The ASEAN Economic Ministers also launched the third round of negotiations beginning on 1 January 2002 and ending on 31 December 2004. The third round is meant to go beyond the commitments made in the first two rounds, by covering all services sectors and all modes of supply.
  
  
• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
  The International Telecommunication Union is unique among international organisations in that it was founded on the principle of cooperation between governments and the private sector. With a membership encompassing telecommunication policy-makers and regulators, network operators, equipment manufacturers, hardware and software developers, regional standards-making organizations and financing institutions, ITU's activities, policies and strategic direction are determined and shaped by the industry it serve
  
  
• Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
  The OECD groups 30 member countries sharing a commitment to democratic government and the market economy. With active relationships with some 70 other countries, NGOs and civil society, it has a global reach. Best known for its publications and its statistics, its work covers economic and social issues from macroeconomics, to trade, education, development and science and innovation. The OECD plays a prominent role in fostering good governance in the public service and in corporate activity. It helps governments to ensure the responsiveness of key economic areas with sectoral monitoring. By deciphering emerging issues and identifying policies that work, it helps policy-makers adopt strategic orientations. It is well known for its individual country surveys and reviews.
  
  
• South Cente
  The South Centre came formally into being as an intergovernmental body of developing countries on 31 July 1995, when the Intergovernmental Agreement to establish the Centre came into force. Currently, 46 countries are members of the South Centre. The Centre, however, works for the benefit of the South as a whole, making efforts to ensure that all developing countries and interested groups and persons have access to its publications and the results of its work, irrespective of membership.
  
  
• UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
  Established in 1964, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) aims at the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy. UNCTAD is the focal point within the United Nations for the integrated treatment of trade and development and the interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment and sustainable development.
  
  
• UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR)
  As the international community strives to maximise the benefits of globalisation while minimising its negative impact, human rights forums are increasingly paying attention to the effects of trade liberalisation on the enjoyment of human rights. The UNHCHR Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights have taken the lead in this area. In August 2001 the Sub-Commission adopted a resolution concerning “Liberalisation of trade in services and human rights”. The High Commissioner has submitted a report on the human rights impacts of the liberalisation of trade in services, particularly in light of the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The report focuses on the effects of liberalisation of services trade on the right to health, the right to education and the right to development.
  
  
• Universal Postal Union (UPU)
  Established in 1874, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) with its Headquarters in the Swiss capital Bern, is the second oldest international organisation after the International Telecommunications Union. With 189 member countries, the UPU is the primary forum for cooperation between postal services and helps to ensure a truly universal network of up- to-date products and services. In this way, the organisation fulfils an advisory, mediating and liaison role, and renders technical assistance where needed. The UPU Council of Administration Project Team on Relations with the WTO monitors developments on trade in services and keeps Members informed on trade developments. The Project Team promotes awareness of WTO issues of interest to UPU Members and is responsible for establishing formal relations with the WTO, notably through a Memorandum of Understanding.The Project Team also advises and supports other UPU bodies on WTO issues.
  
  
• World Bank
  Ttrade is an integral part of the Bank’s work on development and poverty reduction. The World Bank assists developing countries to formulate liberal trade policies expressly in their process of development and poverty reduction and provides technical assistance or policy advice to the governments towards an open trade regime. The Bank undertakes research to better understand the role of international trade in development and poverty reduction. The Bank has also contributed significantly to the development of techniques and policy tools for analyzing the impact of trade policy reforms e.g. import restrictions, effective protection, domestic resource cost, etc.
  
  
  
• World Health Organisation (WHO)
  The World Health Organisation, the United Nations specialised agency for health, was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. WHO is governed by 192 Member States through the World Health Assembly.
  
  
• World Tourism Organisation (WTO/OMT)
  Its membership includes 139 countries, seven territories and some 350 Affiliate Members representing regional and local promotion boards, tourism trade associations, educational institutions and private sector companies, including airlines, hotel groups and tour operators. The WTO/OMT is an intergovernmental organisation vested by the UN with a central and decisive role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.Through tourism, WTO/OMT aims to stimulate economic growth and job creation, provide incentives for protecting the environment and cultural heritage, and promote peace, prosperity and respect for human rights.
  
  
• World Trade Organisation WTO
  The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. At its heart are the WTO agreements, negotiated and signed by the bulk of the world’s trading nations and ratified in their parliaments. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business.
  
  
  

• African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)
  The African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), established in 1988, is a public not-for-profit organization devoted to advanced policy research and training. The principal objective is to strengthen local capacity for conducting independent, rigorous inquiry into problems pertinent to the management of economies in sub-Saharan Africa. In response to special needs of the region, the AERC Research Programme has adopted a flexible approach to improve the technical skills of local researchers, allow for regional determination of research priorities, strengthen national institutions concerned with economic policy research, and facilitate closer ties between researchers and policy makers.
  
  
• Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)
  The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) offers an alternative to the message that we have no choice about the policies that affect our lives. It undertakes and promotes research on issues of social and economic justice. It produces research reports, books, opinion pieces, fact sheets and other publications, including The Monitor, a monthly digest of progressive research and opinion. People need to know that there are workable alternatives. It works hard to make sure progressive ideas and research make it into the hands of citizens, activists, and the media.
  
  
• Centre for International and Environmental Law (CIEL)
  CIEL is a public interest, not-for-profit environmental law firm founded in 1989 to strengthen international and comparative environmental law and policy around the world. CIEL provides a full range of environmental legal services in both international and comparative national law, including: policy research and publication, advice and advocacy, education and training, and institution building.
  
  
• Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS)
  Found in 1983, CUTS today operates out of four centres in India and one in Africa. Its work focusses on four operational areas: consumer protection, which includes accountability, regulatory reforms etc; trade and development, which include investment and competition policies; sustainable production and consumption, including consumer protection; and rural consumers and women empowerment.
  
  
• Focus on the Global South
  Focus aims to consciously and consistently articulate, link and develop greater coherence between local community-based and national, regional and global paradigms of change. Focus on the Global South strives to create a distinct and cogent link between development at the grassroots and the "macro" levels.
  
  
• Friends of the Earth Europe (FoEE)
  FoEE is the largest environmental network in Europe working at grassroots level, consisting of 31 independent national groups in 30 countries with more than 3000 local chapters. As the European branch of Friends of the International (FoEI), FoEE shares the aims, philosophy and democratic structure of FoEI. FoEE is heavily involved in the sustainable development debate and recognises the need to change lifestyle and consumption patterns. With the project "Sustainable Europe", FoEE has defined concrete targets, timetables, and political steps to reach a sustainable society. FoEE member groups are united by a common conviction that reaching this goal requires both strong grassroots activism and effective national and European campaigning and coordination.
  
  
• Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES)
  The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) was founded in 1925 as a non-profit institution committed to the principles of social democracy and with offices, programmes, and partners in more than 100 countries. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung coordinates the Dialogue on Globalisation, which aims at promoting peace, democracy, and social justice. The Dialogue on Globalisation, inter alia, provides a platform for a broad-based policy dialogue on the work of the WTO. Discussions on services trade liberalisation is one of the key focus of the platform.
  
  
• GATSWatch
  GATSwatch is a joint project of Corporate Europe Observatory and Transnational Institute. One of the main objectives of the GATSwatch project is research and analysis of the role and agenda of corporate lobbies with regards to the WTO GATS 2000 negotiations. Results will be presented in a series of briefing papers and fact sheets. GATSwatch supports global networking against GATS through the GATSwatch web site as well as through the GATSwatch mailing list. Outreach is also achieved through workshops and by active participation in strategy meetings.
  
  
• International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
  ICFTU was set up in 1949 and has 231 affiliated organisations in 150 countries and territories on all five continents, with a membership of 158 million. The ICFTU cooperates closely with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and maintains contacts with the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the WTO.
  
  
• Public Service International (PSI)
  PSI is an international trade union federation for public sector unions. PSI is an officially recognised non-government organisation (NGO) for the public sector within the International Labour Organisation (ILO).More than 600 public service trade unions in more than 140 countries make up PSI. Together these unions represent more than 20 million public sector workers.
  
  
• Safe the Children
  Save the Children is the leading UK charity working to create a better world for children. We work in 70 countries helping children in the world's most impoverished communities. We are part of the International Save the Children Alliance, which aims to be a truly international movement for children.
  
  
• Third World Network (TWN)
  The Third World Network is an independent non- profit international network of organizations and individuals involved in issues relating to development, the Third World and North- South issues. Its objectives are to conduct research on economic, social and environmental issues pertaining to the South; to publish books and magazines; to organize and participate in seminars; and to provide a platform representing broadly Southern interests and perspectives at international fora such as the UN conferences and processes.
  
  
• World Economy, Ecolody and Development (WEED)
  WEED was founded in 1990 to boost the advocacy in Germany of alleviating global poverty and resolving international environmental problems. WEED campaigns for a course correction in international economic and development policies that would put more emphasis on social justice and economic sustainability. Its aim is to create more awareness in this respect and develop and implement concrete political alternatives.
  
  
• WWF
  Since its inception in 1961, WWF has worked to conserve nature and ecological processes. It has done this through a combination of action on the ground, national and international advocacy work to establish appropriate policies, and international campaigns to highlight and demonstrate solutions to crucial environmental problems. Over the long course of its 41-year history, WWF has contributed significantly to the development and impact of the world conservation movement and to sustainable development in a period of great pressure on the world’s natural resources.
  
  
• World Development Movement (WDM)
  Founded in 1970, WDM is a democratic movement of individual supporters, campaigners and local groups. Much of its work is in partnership with other organisations in the UK and around the world. The World Development Movement tackles the underlying causes of poverty. It lobbies decision makers to change the policies that keep people poor. WDM researches and promotes positive alternatives.
  
  

Other institutions
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• EU Directorate-General Trade, Services
  
  
• US Trade Representative (USTR), Services
  
  
• Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Services
  
  
• Indian Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Services 
  

• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
  ICC activities cover a broad spectrum, from arbitration and dispute resolution to making the case for open trade and the market economy system, busi-ness self-regulation, fighting corruption or combating commercial crime. ICC has direct access to national governments all over the world through its national committees. The organization's Paris-based international secre-tariat feeds business views into intergovernmental organizations on issues that directly affect business operations. ICC membership groups thousands of companies of every size in over 130 countries worldwide. They represent a broad cross-section of business activity including manufacturing, trade, services and the professions. Through membership of ICC, companies shape rules and policies that stimulate international trade and investment.
  
  
• International Air Transport Association (IATA)
  Originally founded in 1919, IATA brings together approximately 280 airlines, including the world's largest. Flights by these airlines comprise more than 95 percent of all international scheduled air traffic.Since these airlines face a rapidly changing world, they must cooperate in order to offer a seamless service of the highest possible standard to passengers and cargo shippers. Much of that cooperation is expressed through IATA, whose mission is to "represent and serve the airline industry".
  
  
• International Financial Services, London (IFSL)
  IFSL (International Financial Services, London) is a private sector organisation, predominantly funded by membership subscriptions, with 30 years experience of successfully promoting the UK- based financial services industry throughout the world. IFSL works for the removal of barriers to trade in the global market for financial services. Through its Liberalisation Of Trade In Services (LOTIS) Committee and its wider trade policy work, IFSL is engaged in major initiatives to help ease regulatory and other constraints, providing the link between the technical expertise of the private sector and the UK government political negotiators. IFSL played an important role in the negotiations which led up to the 1997 Agreement on Financial Services under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation. IFSL also works with governments and other organisations bilaterally on barriers in individual countries.