About TKN

The Trade Knowledge Network (TKN) is composed of research and policy institutions in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America that are exploring the connection between trade and sustainable development. TKN members are working to ensure that increased international trade can contribute to sustainable development in their countries and regions. TKN's goal is to foster long-term capacity to address the complex issues of trade and sustainable development in partner-country research institutions, governments and the wider policy community, including business, academia, environment and development NGOs.

TKN has three inter-related objectives to achieve this goal:

• to produce high-quality, objective, in-country and thematic research to increase awareness, knowledge and understanding of the sustainable development dimensions of trade;
• to utilize policy workshops and other fora to inform and promote dialogue among policy-makers and stakeholders in TKN countries as a means to incorporate sustainable development into trade policy; and
• to facilitate through TKN, its partners and among broader global audiences, the exchange of information, best policy and practice on trade and sustainable development.

The Trade Knowledge Network is managed collaboratively by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (Canada) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (Switzerland). TKN is supported by the Rockefeller Foundation ; the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs ; the International Development Research Centre (IDRC); the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

International Institute for Sustainable Development

International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development

TKN South Asia

The Trade Knowledge Network is in its third phase. In the first two phases, the TKN secretariat in Geneva collaborated with Southern research partners under a hub and spoke model. The Sustainable Development Policy Institute was the lead partner in South Asia.

In the third phase, the TKN secretariat has designated institutions as regional focal points across the globe, which would facilitate research/capacity building activities under the TKN umbrella. This reflects a move away from the traditional hub and spoke model, to allow partner institutions in the developing world further independence in their activities under the program.

The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Islamabad, Pakistan has been designated as the regional focal point for South Asia. In order to enhance research and capacity building on trade and sustainable development issues, SDPI has partnered with like minded institutions within the region. TKN South Asian partners include CUTS (India), SAWTEE (Nepal) and East West University (Bangladesh).