Economy, Trade and Sustainable Development

The objective of the Economy, Trade and Sustainable Development Programme is to contribute to the analysis and understanding of the linkages between trade and environmental policies in the context of trade liberalisation. Unisféra conducts ex ante and ex post assessments of environmental impacts of trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and of trade negotiations, including the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and multilateral processes under the auspices of the World Trade Organization. As part of this programme, Unisféra has also carried out research on agricultural subsidies and international trade and on trade issues related to fresh water.

International Environment and Development

The objective of the International Environment and Development Programme is to provide services and assistance in project development, monitoring and evaluation, resource mobilization and capacity building. Unisféra works with UN agencies, bilateral partners and developing country partners to develop capacity to address the twin challenges of development and sustainability.

Environment and Sustainable Development Law and Policy

The Environmental and Sustainable Development Law and Policy Programme is designed to contribute to the development of effective and efficient public policies in the pursuit of environmental protection and sustainable development. In this context, Unisféra carries out research and analysis on international law, multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and comparative research on national laws. Unisféra has conducted research on innovative approaches for environmental protection and sustainable development, including on new instruments for the effective implementation of environmental regimes. Unisféra has also researched issues related to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.

Intellectual Property Law and Policy

The objective of the Intellectual Property Law and Policy Programme is to contribute to the analysis and understanding of the linkages between intellectual property (IP) law and sustainable development policies, at the national and international levels. In this context, Unisféra carries out research on international IP negotiations and on the scope of international IP law. Unisféra has published a series of studies on bilateral negotiations involving developing countries and on the linkages between IP law and biodiversity. In cooperation with partner institutions, it has also contributed to a number international conferences and workshops on IP law.

Institutional and Programme Evaluation

Unisféra conducts evaluations and assessments at the request of national and international private and public organisations active in the field of sustainable development. Unisféra conducts institutional and programme evaluations, strategic assessments and environmental assessments of trade agreements. Unisféra is a member of the International Association for Impact Assessment and is part of the working group on environmental assessments of trade agreements.