While IIA reform is underway in many countries, a lot remains to be done. To identify ways to fast-track IIA reforms, UNCTAD launched a Multi-Stakeholder Platform on IIA Reform. The IIA Reform Platform will serve as an informal group of experts for knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices on IIA reform. It will encourage the exploration of innovative ideas for IIA reform at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. The Platform on IIA Reform will foster synergies across different areas that are relevant for international investment and sustainable development, including public health, environmental protection, right to regulate, and climate action.

The Multi-Stakeholder Platform on IIA Reform was launched at the UNCTAD High-Level IIA Conference on 18 October 2023, as part of the 8th World Investment Forum in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Activities

The Multi-Stakeholder Platform on IIA Reform shall:

• explore possibilities and mechanisms for deepening and accelerating IIA reform
• evaluate options for coordinated reforms at the multilateral, regional, bilateral and national levels
• evaluate options for more immediate, smaller scale reforms
• identify long-term goals for IIA reform
• provide a forum for dialogue with a view to enhancing and promoting synergies in international investment policymaking
• exchange best practices on reforming investment policymaking for sustainable development
• share expertise on the reform of the international investment regime
• explore enhancing sustainable investment promotion and facilitation
• consider how existing and newly emerging issues and challenges such as health and environmental protection affect investment policymaking for sustainable development
• give special attention to issue areas that are of particular importance to developing countries in leveraging synergies in investment policymaking with a view to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

Participants of the IIA Reform Platform

The Multi-Stakeholder Platform on IIA Reform will be composed of experts across a wide range of issue areas related to policymaking for sustainable investment, with specific expertise on the negotiation and reform of IIAs. This will include participants from governments, international organizations, academia, think tanks, civil society and the private sector.

The Platform will ensure diversity in terms of gender, geographical distribution and area of expertise.

Modes of work

Experts joining the Multi-Stakeholder Platform on IIA Reform will:

• participate in regular (virtual or physical) meetings on key questions of IIA reform and actions to make it work on the ground
• exchange experiences and best practices to feed into UNCTAD’s policy analysis, technical assistance and capacity-building work
• participate in existing and ongoing activities of UNCTAD’s IIA Section such as conferences and the peer review of reports

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Group photo of speakers, participants and organizers at the UNCTAD High-Level IIA Conference on 18 October 2023 in Abu Dhabi.