Global Development and Policy Research Organizations: A Directory

International Organizations

World Bank

The World Bank advertises itself on its website as helping countries "achieve sustainable growth by financing investment, mobilizing capital in international financial markets, and providing advisory services to businesses and governments." The organization highlights success stories generated through its interventions. However, the bank presents itself primarily as a charitable institution rather than emphasizing its role as a lending institution that makes demands upon borrowers. This framing obscures the full scope of what it actually does, requiring website visitors to search extensively to understand its complete function.

World Trade Organization (WTO)

The WTO defines itself as "an organization for trade opening" that serves as a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements and settle trade disputes. According to its website, it "operates a system of trade rules" and functions as a place where member governments work to resolve trade problems. The WTO thus presents itself as a nonpartisan organization that promotes peace and justice in international trade, with its website detailing the benefits its existence has generated for member nations.

Regional Organizations and Trade Agreements

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

According to its website, ASEAN is designed to "promote economic growth, social progress and cultural development; cooperation; peace and stability and collaboration" between member states. The organization acts as an important counterweight to Western and European dominance in the region. Member states include Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam—all developing economies attempting to thrive in a region dominated by China and Japan. ASEAN serves as a reminder of the mutual interests binding its diverse members together.

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

COMESA was developed in the wake of post-colonial independence to improve the economies of newly independent African nations. More recently, the organization has identified excessive state control of industry as an obstacle to development and has positioned itself as a facilitator for greater private-sector participation. The organization works to remove trade barriers to investment and promotes free trade based on "market integration; production or project-directed integration, and development integration." However, a notable lack of success stories may indicate the extent to which regional infighting has dominated relationships between members.

Intergovernmental Associations

Group of 77 (G77)

According to its website, the Group of 77 is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries within the United Nations system. It provides a mechanism for countries of the Global South to "articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues." The G77 functions as an advocacy subset within the UN, promoting South-South cooperation for development. The organization's website describes its objectives and worldview from its own positive perspective, filtering UN activities through its specific lens.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

The EBRD engages in direct financing primarily through loans, equity investments, and guarantees to promote the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which the organization identifies as "crucial to nurturing a private sector economy." The bank also provides advisory services and guidance to support development. Although located in Europe, the EBRD provides assistance to more than thirty nations worldwide, extending its reach well beyond its geographic origin.

Think Tanks and Research Centers

The Brookings Institution

The Brookings Institution is a nonpartisan research organization that conducts studies to inform current public policy on a variety of national and international issues. Its website is organized by subject area, allowing users to easily locate recent studies on topics of interest. This structure makes it a valuable resource for policymakers and researchers seeking evidence-based analysis.

The Cato Institute

The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank that supports policies promoting free markets and privatization. The organization is not affiliated with any specific political party. For example, it supports free trade policies such as the opening of relations with Cuba but remains critical of other government interventions like healthcare reform. The Cato website defines the organization's values and features essays by its members on policy and philosophy, making its ideological commitments transparent to visitors.

Nongovernmental Organizations

Focus on the Global South

This NGO was specifically established to combat oppression in developing nations of the Southern Hemisphere. According to its website, "Focus on the Global South was established in 1995 to challenge neoliberalism, militarism and corporate-driven globalisation while strengthening just and equitable alternatives." The organization's website challenges conventional development paradigms—such as those promoted by the World Bank—that emphasize privatization and industry as cornerstones of progress. It adopts a social justice perspective, emphasizing anti-poverty activism and alternative models of development.

Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)

SEATINI is designed to promote the welfare of its participants through, as stated on its website, "deepening democracy, protecting human rights and enhancing good governance in the region." Despite its name emphasizing trade, the organization's actual focus centers on social justice issues such as promoting gender equality and combating AIDS. Political parity in these areas remains central to improving the status of member nations in the region.

Environmental Organizations

World Resources Institute (WRI)

The World Resources Institute conducts research in climate, energy, food, forests, water, and cities and transport. The organization focuses on enabling developing economies to improve their economic conditions without sacrificing environmental protection. WRI also conducts research to empower individuals and countries to enact change, and hosts a wide variety of charts and infographics related to climate change on its website.

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

The International Institute for Sustainable Development is a Canadian-based environmental research organization focused on researching sustainable strategies for environmental improvement worldwide. Its website maintains a general rather than regionally specific focus. The main activities of the organization are conducting research and disseminating knowledge from an environmentalist perspective, contributing to global understanding of sustainable development practices.