Website presentations of international policy organizations and their missions

International organizations www.worldbank.org - World Bank

In its 'about' section, the World Bank advertises itself as helping countries "achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments." The World Bank advertises the 'success stories' that have been generated via its interventions on its website. However, for a thorough description of what it actually does, a website-surfer would have to look everywhere, given the presentation of the Bank as more of a charity vs. The lending institution that it actually is (which makes demands upon borrowers).

www.wto.org - World Trade Organization (WTO)

The WTO defines itself on its website as "an organization for trade opening. It is a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. It is a place for them to settle trade disputes. It operates a system of trade rules. Essentially, the WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other." The WTO thus presents itself as a nonpartisan organization which promotes peace and justice in trade. The website details the benefits its existence has generated for its members.

2. Regional Organizations, Free Trade Agreements and Bilaterals www.aseansec.org - Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

ASEAN is designed, according to its website to "promote economic growth, social progress and cultural development; cooperation; peace and stability and collaboration" between member states. It acts as an important counterweight to Western and European dominance and a reminder of the mutual interests of all its members. Member states comprise nations such as Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, all of whom are developing their economies and attempting to thrive in a region dominated by China and Japan.

www.comesa.int - Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

This organization was developed in the wake of post-colonialism to improve the economies of newly independent African nations. More recently, the organization has identified too much state control of industry to be a lag upon development and has acted as a facilitator to simulate greater private industry. The organization strives to remove trade barriers to investment and promotes free trade based upon the principles of (as stated on the website): "market integration; production or project-directed integration, and development integration." However, there are a notable lack of success stories, which might unfortunately indicate the extent to which infighting has dominated the relationships between members in the region.

3. Other Inter-Governmental Associations www.g77.org -- Group of 77 (G77)

According to its website," The Group of 77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development." The Group is thus a subset of the UN and acts as an advocacy group within the larger organization. The website describes the objectives and the worldview of the group from its own perspective in a positive light (and the activities of the UN through its own, specific lens).

www.ebrd.com - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

The EBRD engages in direct financing of ventures primarily in the form of loans, equity, and guarantees to promote development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which, according to the website: "are crucial to nurturing a private sector economy." The bank also provides advice and guidance to promote development. Although located in Europe, it provides assistance to over thirty nations around the world.

4. Think Tanks and Research Centers www.brookings.edu - The Brookings Institution

The Brookings Institution is a research organization that conducts studies to better inform current public policy. It is nonpartisan and collects information on a variety of national and international issues. Its website is divided by subject area, so users can easily find the most recent studies on topics of interest to them.

www.seatini.org - Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)

SEATINI is designed to promote the welfare of its participants through, as stated on the website, "deepening democracy, protecting human rights and enhancing good governance in the region." Despite the use of the word 'trade' in the title of the organization, the website's focus is on social justice issues such as promoting gender equality and ending AIDS. Of course, political parity in these issues is still of concern in terms of improving the status of member nations.

6. Environment www.wri.org - World Resources Institute

This organization conducts research in these specific areas according to its website: "climate, energy, food, forests, water, and cities and transport." It focuses on ways to enable developing economies to be more proactive in improving their economies without sacrificing the environment. It also conducts research to empower individuals and countries to enact change and hosts a wide variety of charts and infographics on the site related to climate change.

www.iisd.org - International Institute for Sustainable Development

This organization is a Canadian-based environmental research group which focuses on researching sustainable strategies for improving the world's environment. The focus of the website is general rather than on a particular region. The main activities of the organization are conducting research and disseminating knowledge from its specific, environmentalist perspective.

7. Hawai-i-Based Organizations

http://coe-dmha.org / - Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance

The focus of this website is on disaster preparedness for the region. Natural disasters are its focus according to the website and it is charged with being: "a direct reporting unit to United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) while continuing to receive program direction and policy guidance from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict (ASD/SOLIC)." The website notes that disasters have occurred with increasing frequency in the region and as well as spelling out its mission the website also offers downloadable disaster preparedness manuals.

http://www.eastwestcenter.org / - East-West Center

The EWC is a U.S. Congressionally-established research and education center designed to improve East-West relations. It engages in research and also conducts educational activities for the benefit of the immediate public. It also offers seminars to individuals in the media on the subject of east-west relations. It offers journalism fellowships to enable journalists to engage in dialogue with politicians and researchers at the center.