Second Workshop on Contract Negotiation Support for Developing Host Countries

Date: July 18, 2012 9:00am – July 19, 2012 05:00PM
Location: Columbia University, New York

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and the Humboldt-Viadrina School of Governance 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 the first workshop held in October 2011, participants agreed on the need for an expansion of support for developing countries in their contract negotiations.

This follow-up workshop therefore 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. Based on that analysis, this workshop explored, at a preliminary level, whether and if so what potential mechanisms, tools and innovative solutions could usefully be provided to make comprehensive support available to developing country governments in order for them to secure the best possible deals, while remaining commercially viable.

A background paper prepared 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.

The workshop was attended by invited experts and practitioners from governments, companies, civil society organizations, bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, and academia.

See the workshop program here.

See the workshop report here.

Follow-up steps and materials will be posted on the project page.