This issue of South Bulletin covers many interesting issues. Our two lead articles are on the BANKING CRISIS in developed countries.  The first by Martin Khor reviews how the LIBOR scandal has contributed to the loss of confidence on the ethics of the major banks.  The second article is by India’s former Central Bank Governor, Dr. Y.V. Reddy on the need to re-make the financial system to meet society’s needs.  He focuses on why trust has to be restored, how there has been “comprehensive regulatory capture” of the system, and the need for inclusive finance, as issues to address.

South Centre Analytical Note - October 2008

This Analytical Note follows up the study on stakeholder perspectives on the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) prepared by the South Centre entitled “Reshaping the International Development Cooperation Architecture: Perspectives on a Strategic Development Role for the Development Cooperation Forum” and provides more in-depth developing country perspectives on the DCF on the basis of four country papers prepared by research partners based in Brazil, China, India, and South Africa.

South Centre Analytical Note - September 2008

This Analytical Note presents the findings of a research project undertaken by the South Centre designed to gather insights and perspectives from various stakeholders – including developing country governments and civil society. It then presents some recommendations regarding the vision, roles, institutional architecture, and functions of the newly-created Development Cooperation Forum (DCF), highlighting the need for the DCF to be a strategic forum for multilateral discussion of development cooperation issues in order to enhance the role of the UN system in development cooperation policymaking and implementation.

This Issue of the South Bulletin reflects upon the Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness that took place in Accra, Ghana from 2-4 September and prepares its readers for the upcoming Monterrey review conference on Financing for Development that takes place in Doha, Qatar in end-November. The Editorial by Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre is on “Assessing Accra Action Agenda” while the Op-Ed piece by Vikas Nath, South Centre is on the launch of the INSouth.org platform.

Analysis and commentaries appearing in the Bulletin, include on Enhanced Financial Mechanism for UNFCCC: The G77 Proposal; Financing for Development from Monterrey to Doha; Keeping Developing Countries Hooked on the Aid Drug; Food Crisis in India; and Let us not Build the EPA in the Graveyard of Regionalism.

South Centre Analytical Note - May 2008

This South Centre Analytical Note looks at the 18 March 2008 first consultative draft text of the Accra Agenda for Action (AAA) that is expected to be adopted by participants at the Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra, Ghana, in September 2008. It argues that the text of the AAA sets the participation of developing countries within the framework and the norms set by developed country donors and will therefore end up strengthening the OECD-DAC framework and its associated governance structure, and does not suggest any inherent change in the governance structure of the international aid system which continues to be donor-driven and reflects donors’ economic and policy agendas.

 South Centre Analytical Note - July 2008

This Analytical Note evaluates how far the commitments contained in the 2002 Monterrey Consensus were fulfilled. It also examines the adequacy of the Monterrey Consensus as a framework for guiding international policy decisions and actions in current circumstances, and then outlines the significant changes and developments that have occurred since Monterrey that call for a fresh approach to addressing financing for development issues. Finally, the Analytical Note seeks to identify policy and institutional areas where the world community needs to be more ambitious in its approach, decisions, and actions at the UN International Review Conference on Financing for Development that will take place in Doha at the end of November 2008.