Best of 2019: blogs

Best of 2019: publications

IIED published nearly 200 publications during 2019, ranging from research reports and policy briefings to toolkits and case studies.

Here are the top 10 most downloaded

IIED debrief: COP25 and what it means for the climate crisis

After the UN climate talks in Madrid, Spain, ended with widespread disappointment, IIED is hosting a discussion in London on Tuesday, 14 January 2020, to unpack the decisions and declarations made at COP25. An expert panel will examine what blocked progress and discuss what needs to happen over the coming year in order to deliver success at the climate summit in Glasgow in November 2020.

Register for the event to book your place

Small-scale farming and the future of the European food system

Globally, small-scale farming is crucial for producing food and for sustaining the livelihoods of millions of people. In European food systems, the important but under-appreciated role of small-scale farmers is under threat from external drivers.

On Wednesday, 22 January 2020, we will host a critical theme event to discuss how small farms fit in the future context of the UK and European food system.

Find out more and register now

10 years on: What Haiti taught us about urban crises and community planning 

In the wake of the devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake, significant resources were channelled to neighbourhood-level projects, precipitating numerous innovations in community planning.

On Thursday, 23 January 2020, a panel of experts will discuss their experiences working in Haiti before and after the disaster.

Find out more and register for the event

Researcher – protracted displacement

IIED's Human Settlements research group (HSG) is recruiting for a researcher: we're embarking on a three-year research project on protracted displacement.

It involves a large-scale study of displacement experiences, comparing cities and camps in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Jordan and Kenya.

Apply by 7 January 2020

Planning for reality in one of Nairobi’s largest ‘slums’

High levels of participation and a readiness to reconsider conventional approaches have led to promising plans to upgrade the Mukuru informal settlement.

Read the blog by principal researcher Lucy Earle

Principal researcher/senior researcher 

IIED's Human Settlements research group (HSG) is looking to recruit a highly motivated principal researcher to lead on new and emerging programmes of work. They will develop a programme of work that builds on the group’s reputation and strengths, complementing the work of other members of the group and establishing a team around their area of expertise.

We may also recruit a second person at senior researcher level. Find out more and apply by 13 January 2020

Conservation versus food production in Africa: better managing trade-offs

Agricultural expansion is the greatest driver of the loss of nature and its biodiversity and ecosystem services worldwide. But losses could be greatly reduced by better managing the trade-offs between conserving nature and increasing agricultural production.

This briefing explains basic concepts of better trade-off management and identifies four key changes in policy and practice needed to bring this about.

Towards more inclusive urban health systems for refugee wellbeing: Lessons from Kampala, Uganda

Uganda has a progressive national refugee policy that provides freedom of movement and the right to work, own land and access basic services in urban centres. However, refugees experience a number of barriers to realising these rights in practice, including hidden costs, language gaps, discrimination and institutional incapacity.

This working paper examines how refugees access healthcare services in Kampala, the barriers to access, and the impact of these barriers on refugee wellbeing.