WTO Doha Round & South Asia: Linking Civil Society with Trade Negotiations
South Asia Forum for International Trade (SAFIT-II)

Partner Organisation

Like SAFIT-I, five organisations are engaged as research partners from five South Asian countries. The following is the list of research partners along with the topics thereto:

  • Bangladesh (Services): Unnayan Shamannay
  • India (Non-Tariff Barriers): CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment
  • Nepal (Duty & Quota Free Market Access): South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment
  • Pakistan (Agriculture: Special Products and Special Safeguard Measures): Sustainable Development Policy Institute
  • Sri Lanka (Preference Erosion and Aid for Trade): Institute for Policy Studies

Brief description of partner organisations:

Unnayan Shamannay (US), Bangladesh

Unnayan Shamannay is a Bangladeshi NGO and denotes coordinated development activities, not in the narrow sense, but in the wider context of a living society. Established in 1994, its flagship programme is Unnayan Manusher Jonno (development is for the people). Unnayan Samannay will engage a trade researcher for this work. Web site: http://www.shamunnay.org

CUTS Centre for International Trade, Economics & Environment, India

Established in 1996, CUTS CITEE has been a dedicated Centre of CUTS International, a leading NGO based at Jaipur, India. It works on trade and development issues. Over the years, the Centre has established itself as a key research, advocacy and networking body with a mission to ‘pursuing economic equity and social justice within and across borders by persuading governments and empowering people’. Working at different levels – local, national, regional and international – it focuses on four specific issues: WTO Rules; Bilateral/Regional Cooperation; Trade and Social Issues; and Grassroots Issues. Web site: http://www.cuts-international.org

South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment, Kathmandu, Nepal

SAWTEE was launched in 1994 by a consortium of NGOs from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is a regional network that operates through its secretariat in Kathmandu and 11 member institutions. Its focus areas include: networking; capacity building; policy research; advocacy; and sensitisation.
Web site: http://www.sawtee.org

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan

SDPI is an independent, public interest think tank that provides advice to public, private and voluntary organisations, and undertakes policy-oriented research and advocacy. Founded in August 1992 on the recommendation of the Pakistan National Conservation Strategy (NCS), also called Pakistan’s Agenda 21, SDPI is registered under the Societies Registration Act, XXI of 1860.
Web site: http:// www.sdpi.org

Institute of Policy Studies, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Established in 1988, IPS contributes to the economic development of democratic Sri Lanka. Among others, it has the goal of strengthening the national capacity for economic policy analysis and to be a point of reference on national policy issues to the public.

Web site: http://www.ips.lk