The International Law Handbook was prepared by the Codification Division of the Office of Legal Affairs under the United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 70/116 of 14 December 2015. Ambassador Emmanuel K. Dadzie of Ghana proposed the establishment of this programme when he …
This brief provides a rigorous and standardized approach for value chain analysis and design (VCA/D).1 It assumes that a specific value chain (VC) has already been selected and describes how to complete the first two steps for its sustainable evelopment, namely analysing the VC and designing an upgrading strategy and development plan for it.2 The next step, beyond this brief, is the implementat…
Diverse cultivation systems like agroforestry, crop rotation and intercropping systems support biodiversity and, in the past, made agriculture a main factor in conserving it. The sustainable agriculture, however, was exchanged in many places of the world by a land use model that segregates agricultural production from areas managed for biodiversity conservation. Thus, favoring monocultures and …
Commercial quality standards for agricultural produce are developed and approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe through its Working Party on Agricultural Quality Standards. These international standards facilitate trade, encourage high-quality production, improve profitability and protect consumer interests. They are used by governments, producers, traders, importers and e…
Human rights are rights inherent to all human beings. They define relationships between individuals and power structures, especially the State. Human rights delimit State power and, at the same time, require States to take positive measures ensuring an environment that enables all people to enjoy their human rights. History in the past 250 years has been shaped by the struggle to create such an…
There are many factors to be considered in selecting a crop for production. A farmer’s previous experience producing a crop, or the availability of a contract for the purchase of a crop are certainly factors in the decision. However, there are two factors which always must be considered. However, from a practical standpoint the number of years and crops to include in a crop rotation will dep…
Few building materials possess the environmental benefits of wood. It is not only our most widely used building material but also one with characteristics that make it suitable for a wide range of applications. As described in the many chapters of this handbook, efficient, durable, and useful wood products produced from trees can range from a minimally processed log at a log-home building site …
Universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services by 2030 (SDG 7.1) is a prerequisite and catalyst for improving the living and working conditions of all the world's people. The lack of access to modern energy is a barrier to achieving several other SDGs, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable populations. Receiving access to modern energy helps people lift themselves…
The Global Fund was designed to evolve to best meet the needs of a changing world context. More than 50 percent of the burden of each of the three diseases and the majority of the world’s poor now live in countries classified by the World Bank as middle income but still varying greatly in terms of quality, access, and capacity of health service provision. Simultaneously, concentrations of dis…
It is one of the most important demographic megatrends with implications for all aspects of our societies. Ageing is already having a far-reaching impact on living arrangements and the way that societies and economies work. The process of change towards more aged societies is inevitable. Ageing is happening in different regions and in countries at various levels of development. It is proceeding…