Consulting

IELRC brings together a unique combination of leading academics in the field of sustainable development. IELRC offers its clients a unrivalled concentration of expertise on international law and policy issues spanning three continents as well as the benefit from local expertise in India and East Africa thanks to our decentralised offices.

Since 1995, IELRC has had a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from international organisations to governments, non-governmental organisations and individuals.

The following is a selected list of some the consultancies that IELRC researchers have undertaken in the past.

Government of Ghana

Activity: Consultancy to develop a Traditional Knowledge Policy (2006)

IELRC Contribution: International consultants

Outcome: Draft Traditional Knowledge Policy

International Forestry Resources and Institutions (IFRI) Research Programme

Activity: Review of IFRI work in East Africa (2006)

IELRC Contribution: External review

Outcome: Assessment of the impacts of IFRI work on theory and knowledge of local forest governance, capacity-building of researchers and practitioners to generate new knowledge and policy changes at the national and international levels

FORD fOUNDATION

Activity: Review of Nairobi + 20 (2005-2006)

IELRC Contribution: Resource person

Outcome: Report reviewing the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies, the Beijing Platform for Action and Country-based reviews for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda focusing on the links between the environment, gender and sustainable livelihoods

Government of Kenya - Ministry of Lands and housing

Activity: National Land Policy formulation process (2005)

IELRC Contribution: Resource person and drafting

Outcome: Draft national land policy

United Nations Environment Programme

Activity: Phase II of the Project on a Partnership for the Development of Environmental Law and Institutions in Africa (PADELIA) (2005-2006)

IELRC Contribution: External evaluation

Outcome: Recommendations on future of the project

New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)

Activity: Background paper guiding the establishment of an African working group on intellectual property submitted to NEPAD's Steering Committee for Science and Technology (2004-2005).

IELRC Contribution: International and national expertise in intellectual property laws and policies

Outcome: Report with recommendations and proposed terms of reference for the working group [read more]

International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI)

Activity: Part of a three-member review team for the Centre-Commissioned External Review (CCER) of IPGRI's work on policy and legal aspects of genetic resources (2004).

IELRC Contribution: Expertise on legal issues in the field of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and on intellectual property rights.

Outcome: Report to the IPGRI Board with 18 recommendations for action.

Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscapes (SAEFL)

Activity: Organisation of two side-events on liability at the first Meeting of the Parties of the member states to the Biosafety Protocol (2004)

IELRC Contribution: Organisation and legal expertise on liability issues in the field of the environment at the international level as well as in India and Kenya.

Outcome:

• Two side-events organised in Kuala Lumpur,
• a dedicated website [read more]
• and significant media coverage of the side events.

Narmada Bachao Andolan

Activity (1992-2006)

1. Public interest litigation initiated by the Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save the Narmada Movement) in the Supreme Court of India to ensure the rehabilitation of persons displaced by the Sardar Sarovar Dam

2. Legal strategies to ensure that the dam project complies with all relevant laws, regulations and international treaties.

IELRC Contribution: Legal advice to the lawyers representing the Narmada Bachao Andolan on international environmental legal aspects. Legal advice to the Narmada Bachao Andolan on legal aspects related to the construction of the Sardar Sarovar dam. Advice on legal aspects of resettlement and rehabilitation.

Outcome:

1. briefs provided to the lawyers representing the Narmada Bachao Andolan at the Supreme Court

2. participation in a public hearing organised by the Narmada Bachao Andolan

3. publications in national media on legal aspects of resettlement.

4. participation in proceedings concerning resettlement and rehabilitation

Netherlands Development Cooperation Organisation (SNV)

Activity: Exploring the Impact of Traditional/Religious Institutions on Gender Relations and Gender Discriminative Practices and Identifying the Scope for Changing the Negative Trends among the Maasai, Samburu, Rendille, Borana & Gabra communities in Marsabit, Samburu & Laikipa districts, Kenya (2004).

IELRC Contribution: Legal expertise in women’s rights issues and engendering SNV development work

Output: Report

Impact: Establishing networks with marginalised and locally-based groups

UNEP – Department of Early Warning and Assessment (UNEP-DEWA)

Activity:

• Supporting the UNEP-DEWA initiative on environment and conflict prevention in the Great Lakes Region

• Mapping the environment and conflict linkages in the Great Lakes Region for UNEP-DEWA

• Taking Stock of Institutions and Individuals working on environment and conflict linkages in the Great Lakes Region for UNEP-DEWA (2004)

IELRC Contribution: Expertise in environmental law and policy and facilitation of Stakeholders’ Meeting on Environmental Issues in the Great Lakes Region Conference Themes, UNEP, Nairobi 8-9 September 2004

Output: Reports

Impact: Establishing networks with environment and conflict actors in the Great Lakes Region and linking up with UNEP work

Department for International Development (DFID)

Activity: Identifying opportunities for increasing access to justice in environmental matters in Kenya for DFID (2004)

IELRC Contribution: Expertise on environmental law issues

Output: Report

Impact: Focused look at the supply and demand side access to justice needs in Kenya

Department for International Development (DFID)

Activity: Review of the Lesotho Justice Sector Development Programme (2004)

IELRC Contribution: Law and social development issues expertise

Output: Report

Impact: Understanding the nuances and issues in the justice sector in a small African country

Heinrich BOell Foundation

Activity: Review of the Programme of the Foundation in Nairobi (2004)

IELRC Contribution: Broad understanding of the issues of gender, environment and conflict and the linkages

Output: Report

Impact: Understanding work of civil society actors in the gender, environment, peace and trade in Kenya and identifying potential partners