Background Paper for Second Workshop on Contract Negotiation Support for Developing Host Countries

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and the Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance (HSVG) have initiated a process to discuss the desirability and feasibility of mechanisms to provide negotiation support for developing host countries in their negotiations with major investors. For more on this initiative, visit the project page.

At a first workshop held in October 2011, participants agreed on the need for an expansion of support for developing countries in their contract negotiations.

A second workshop was held at Columbia University in July 2012 that undertook a gap analysis between the existing sources of support for developing countries in relation to complex contracts and the countries’ needs for such support. A background paper prepared by CCSI and HVSG for this workshop spelled out, for the purpose of guiding discussions the nature and scope of developing countries’ needs for support, the existing sources of support, the missing elements and challenges to address to fully meet these needs, and some possible options for delivering additional support.