COPLA output

A spotlight on value chains

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Over the last two years, COPLA has investigated a wide range of topics relating to trade, poverty and social exclusion in Latin America. Given the failings of orthodox trade theory to deal with these issues, our researchers have applied cutting-edge research techniques to help them to understand these complex linkages.

From Down-trading to Upgrading: Reducing Poverty in Latin America Using a Value Chain Approach

Submitted by globaladmin on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 20:08.
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12/09/2009 - 09:00
12/09/2009 - 13:30
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EventType:
Global

In recent years, Latin America has moved rapidly towards liberalising trade, both in the region and internationally. This has stimulated active debate on the merits of a more open trading regime. Getting lost in this polarised debate is an understanding of the impact of these changes on marginalised groups, particularly the rural poor. This event explores how value chain analysis (VCA) can, in a practical way, help the rural poor participate gainfully in local, regional and global trade.

The seminar will comprise keynote addresses, panel discussions and small group working sessions.

Untangling links between trade, poverty and gender

Submitted by globaladmin on Thu, 03/13/2008 - 08:03.
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This is the latest Briefing Paper from ODI for COPLA. It argues that: Changes in employment, prices and social expenditures are three pathways linking trade and gender; Trade liberalisation may have positive or negative impacts, but there are risks for women; Trade reforms must be complemented by social and labour policies to ensure that women can take full advantage of the new economic environment

Author:
Nicola Jones and Hayley Baker
Publisher:
ODI

http://www.odi.org.uk/publications/briefing/bp38-mar08-trade-poverty-gen...

November: The results of the COPLA baseline assessment will be published this month.

Submitted by globaladmin on Wed, 11/07/2007 - 10:05.
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Each country team is employing a mixed methods approach involving a structured questionnaire, key informant interviews and focus group discussions with civil society actors and policy makers.

Who is working to influence policies on trade and poverty in Latin America?

Submitted by globaladmin on Tue, 02/24/2009 - 11:45.
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This background note aims to identify organisations that are working to influence policy and build capacity around pro-poor trade in Latin America. This mapping provides an important baseline for the work of Comercio y Pobreza en Latinoamérica (COPLA, www.cop-la.net), a project funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) on trade, poverty and social exclusion in Latin America, and may also be useful for others concerned with the pro-poor dimensions of Latin American trade and trade-related policies.

Author:
Tom Pengelly
Publisher:
Overseas Development Institute (ODI)

http://www.odi.org.uk/resources/details.asp?id=1010&title=working-influe...

Protecting access to markets

Submitted by globaladmin on Tue, 12/09/2008 - 17:25.
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Author:
Soraya Fernandez
Publisher:
Instituto Boliviano de Comercio Exterior

Although trade does not currently enjoy the status of a human right, it is a tool of the market that has, historically, contributed to the wellbeing of humankind. In this way, bringing goods to market is a practice inherent to human nature that should not be obstructed. The lack of the concept of a ‘right to trade’ impedes individuals and/ or firms from exercising their civil rights and the right to be free from discrimination in access to national and international markets.

Economics and human rights: Narrowing the gap

Submitted by globaladmin on Fri, 12/05/2008 - 11:42.
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Author:
Sarah Hague
Publisher:
Save the Children UK

Trade, like income, has little intrinsic value to human well-being. But it is instrumental in achieving human rights, as it creates the means for providing additional resources; both at the individual level (through employment and expanded markets) and at the country level (through national expenditure and growth), which can then be harnessed to deliver rights. It is also worth noting that the relationship between trade and human rights is two-way; the realisation of rights can lead to increases in trade, and other aspects of development, as people’s human capital accumulates.

Should trade be considered a human right?

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‘Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment.’
– The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights

The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrates its 60th anniversary on 10 December 2008. This declaration has served as a foundation of international law in the intervening years and also holds the record as the most translated document in the world; it is available in over 360 languages. One of the main areas of focus of the declaration is on economic rights, which has been further detailed in the UN’s International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Ensuring the right to work is a central tenant of both these documents, but never do they explicitly mention trade as a mechanism for ensuring this fundamental right. And yet trade plays a key role in promoting the economic growth and stability that jobs and workers rely on. The Trade and Poverty in Latin America (COPLA) programme has therefore taken this anniversary as an opportunity to pose the question: ‘Should trade be considered a human right?’

COPLA Baseline Assessment: Engaging In Trade and Trade-Related Policy Debates?

Submitted by globaladmin on Thu, 10/04/2007 - 14:11.
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Author:
ODI
Publisher:
COPLA

One of the key aims of COPLA is to foster policy dialogues and debates among
civil society groups and policy decision-makers around issues of trade, poverty

COPLA Bolivia: Research summary

Submitted by boliviaadmin on Thu, 10/04/2007 - 14:07.
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Author:
GNTP
Publisher:
GNTP

Access to and use of natural resources is a subject that has been the cause of considerable conflict and which until now, has remained unresolved by conventional democratic approaches and dialogue.

COPLA Peru: Research summary

Submitted by peruadmin on Thu, 10/04/2007 - 13:56.
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Author:
CIES
Publisher:
CIES

The research pillar of COPLA Peru is focused on the small agricultural sector, which is the main livelihood source for the rural poor.

COPLA Peru research strategy: Case studies and background studies

Submitted by peruadmin on Thu, 10/04/2007 - 13:52.
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Author:
CIES
Publisher:
CIES

8 page summary of the types and themes of the evidence, which will be generated in the programmes framework.