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Newsletter, February

Happy super year! We're discussing 2021 ambitions, climate and vaccine justice, land rights and more in this newsletter.

An informal settlement with the words 'We can shape the future' overlaid.

Happy new super year! Why is 2021 such a big deal for climate, nature and people?

As the world woke up on 1 January this year, you could be forgiven for not noticing a new year had dawned. With lockdowns and restrictions still in place across many countries, new year celebrations were muted. But here at IIED, even without the midnight countdown, we're gearing up for an exceptional year in 2021: a year of great ambition and opportunity to drive better outcomes for climate change, nature and people.

Read the blog by senior researcher Ebony Holland and check out our 'super year' calendar of events that shows how we'll work with partners throughout the year at key opportunities to highlight and address these interconnected crises.

Women wearing face masks, passing a bundle between each other.

Blog by Andrew Norton

Climate justice needs vaccine justice

IIED director Andrew Norton reflects on the inequalities faced by developing countries in accessing vaccines and says the world needs fair and inclusive responses to the pandemic in order to effectively respond to climate change and achieve a green recovery.

Read his blog now.

"A green recovery – building forward to a more sustainable world and a new social contract built on social and environmental justice – cannot start until the pandemic is overcome everywhere."

– Andrew Norton

Two women standing in a field with baskets on their backs.

Send your endorsement now

Principles for locally led adaptation

Eight principles for locally led adaptation have been developed to help ensure that local communities are empowered to lead sustainable and effective adaptation to climate change at the local level. IIED is among over 40 governments, leading global institutions and local and international NGOs that have already endorsed these principles and are advocating their endorsement by others.

Find out more about the principles and how to endorse them.

Women standing in a group discussing draft by-laws, among other issues, at the Women Forum in Msanga ward, Kisarawe district in Tanzania.

Guest blog by Isabella Nchimbi

Ensuring women’s participation in land governance: “bringing the law home” in Tanzania

Despite Tanzania’s progressive legal framework on land rights and governance, many women are often left out of community decision-making due to social and cultural norms that persist in some areas of the country. Isabella Nchimbi of TAWLA discusses a participatory initiative in Tanzania that’s helping women make their voices heard when it comes to land governance.

Read her blog.

Grass huts and trees in a field in Ethiopia.

Webinar

Climate adaptation and resilience vision: what will success look like?

The impacts of climate change demand urgent action. Join this event hosted by IIED and ICCCAD on Thursday 11 February to hear expert perspectives on what climate adaptation and resilience success in 2021 looks like.

Register now.

People standing on a hillside in blue jumpsuits. They are surface mining tungsten in Rwanda.

Blog by Nathaniah Jacobs and Tehtena Mebratu-Tsegaye

Secure land rights are now more important than ever

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, many low-income countries are looking to their untapped natural resources as a way to deliver a swift economic boost. But there are concerns that the drive for urgent solutions could impinge on vital governance safeguards. Nathaniah Jacobs and Tehtena Mebratu-Tsegaye describe an important new initiative that aims to ensure good governance of land-based investments.

Read their blog.

Over 7,000 free publications, delivering positive change on a global scale.

News

New look for IIED's Publications Library

We recently made substantial improvements to our online research Publications Library. Since 2005 we have been making our extensive research on sustainable development freely available online – and now the 7,000-plus publications are easier to find than ever.

Take a look now.

Working paper

Energy services for local development: integrated and inclusive planning for county governments in Kenya

To realise the full benefits of energy as an enabler of different development objectives across sectors more inclusive and integrated approaches are needed. This working paper presents an innovative technical approach for inclusive and integrated energy planning for local governments by applying the the Energy Delivery Model (EDM) planning approach developed by IIED and CAFOD.

Download the working paper.

Issue paper

Principles for locally led adaptation: a call to action

Recovery from COVID-19 provides a historic opportunity to give greater voice to local people and put agency over their own adaptation into their hands. To support this shift, we present eight principles for locally led adaptation and invite adaptation stakeholders to join us on a complementary 10-year learning journey. Endorsing these principles and embracing the learning journey will help guide stakeholders through the challenging route of increasing the business-unusual financing, programming and policy support needed to build resilient and regenerative societies, economies and ecosystems.

Download the issue paper.

IIED briefing paper: Trust in climate finance requires meaningful tranparency.

IIED briefing papers

Briefings

Trust in climate finance requires meaningful transparency

Socio-legal empowerment and agency of small-scale farmers in informal markets

Progressing the Global Goal on Adaptation — key issues

We're hiring

Current vacancies

Temporary press manager (3-6 months contract): We're looking for a part-time press manager to start straight away to cover our press work. Apply now.

Researcher - climate finance: As a researcher, you will support the design and implementation of innovative policy research and influencing projects. Find out more and apply by 16 February.