ASSESSMENT OF THE WORLD BANK’S ASSISTANCE TO AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA. By the World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group, November 2007. The report comes at a critical time for the Bank, as it reassesses its work in this area, in light of the recent release of the World Development Report on agriculture, and statements from World Bank President Zoellick, that highlight Africa and agriculture as top priorities for development. The under-performance of the agriculture sector, which accounts for a large share of GDP and employment in the region, has been a major drag on Africa’s development. It argues that Sub-Saharan Africa is a development priority for the donor community. Internet: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTOED/EXTASSAGRSUBSAHAFR/0,,contentMDK:21489079~isCURL:Y~pagePK:64168427~piPK:64168435~theSitePK:4174768,00.html.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY QUARTERLY UPDAY: THIRD QUARTER 2007. By South Centre, November 2007. This issue examines the use of the August 2003 Decision of the General Assembly of the WTO to enable the import and export of pharmaceuticals produced under compulsory license by Rwanda and Canada. It also provides update on major developments at multilateral, regional and bilateral level concerning intellectual property rights, innovation and access to knowledge. Internet: http://www.southcentre.org/info/sccielipquarterly/ipdev2007q3.pdf
THE IMPLICATIONS OF PRIVATE-SECTOR STANDARDS FOR GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES EXPLORING OPTIONS TO FACILITATE MARKET ACCESS FOR DEVELOPING-COUNTRY EXPORTERS OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES: EXPERIENCES OF ARGENTINA, BRAZIL AND COSTA RICA. By UNCTAD, November 2007. This publication analyses the developmental and market access impact of new, ever more stringent and complex private standards on food safety, health and environmental requirements (mostly set by large and globally acting supermarkets) on fresh fruit and vegetable exports from Central and South American countries. These private standards, although voluntary in legal nature, are often de facto mandatory for producers and exporters through the buying power of those setting and applying them. The wider use of these standards can help to increase efficiency of fruit and vegetable production, offer safer and healthier produce for consumers, improve occupational safety of producers, and facilitate access to lucrative export and domestic markets. Internet: http://www.unctad.org/trade_env/test1/publications/UNCTAD_DITC_TED_2007_2.pdf