School of Law » Policy and Impact

Policy Brief #4 September 2022

Wed, 07 Sep 2022 21:04:00 GMT

Regulating Financial Markets for Sustainable Development Investments

Professor Celine Tan

Financial markets are emerging as important sources for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate-related financing in developing countries, replacing traditional public finance, such as grants and official loans. International development organisations, including multilateral development banks (MDBs) and development finance institutions (DFIs), facilitate this shift by providing financial, policy and regulatory incentives to create markets for sustainable debt instruments, such as green, social or sustainability-linked bonds.

This policy brief explores the implications of increasing reliance on capital markets for sustainable development finance in four areas: (1) ownership and alignment of social and economic development programmes; (2) oversight and accountability of public finance; (3) financial stability; and (4) sovereign debt liabilities and calls for caution in a blanket turn to financial markets for sustainable development finance.

Policy Brief #3 August 2022

Wed, 31 Aug 2022 10:18:00 GMT

Sustainable Development Finance, ESG and Land Rights

Dr Kinnari Bhatt

Local communities and indigenous peoples (LCIPs) are central to sustainable land governance for global sustainable development and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Despite established practice and evidence that their inclusion in land projects are key to delivering sustainable outcomes, LCIPs continue to have their land rights violated.

This policy brief outlines how financial and legal architecture, contractual terms and operational practices for sustainable development and green growth frequently sideline human rights-based considerations, fail to apply or implement appropriate environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and rarely obtain meaningful free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) from LCIPs. It recommends adapting ESG risk frameworks and impact assessments to deliver more ethical, inclusive and rights-compliant outcomes.

Policy Brief #2 July 2022

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 17:04:00 GMT

Stop. Look. Listen.
Why it is Time to Re-Examine Government Investments in Overseas Private Healthcare Providers.

Dr Benjamin Hunter

Governments and development institutions are increasingly investing in overseas private healthcare providers with little understanding of their impact on health and poverty. Evidence suggests that private healthcare sits in tension with universal health coverage favouring middle-class users and with limited mechanisms to protect users from catastrophic health expenditures. Foreign investment fuels the expansion of corporate healthcare chains, jeopardising inclusive healthcare. It is time to stop, look and listen before it is too late.

Policy Brief #1 May 2022

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 16:44:00 GMT

Promises Kept?
The Issue of Accountability in Multistakeholder Partnerships

Dr Gamze Erdem Türkelli

Over the last three decades, transnational multistakeholder partnerships (MSPs) have become key actors in financing and delivering the global sustainable development agenda. Yet, with limited oversight and accountability, MSPs are found to run the risk of eroding aid effectiveness, reinforcing donor conditionalities and promoting financialised instruments that privatise development. To minimise these risks, common reporting standards and peer-to-peer review and learning systems need to be developed.