One of the core goals of the Pandemic Agreement is to tackle global disparities in access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments. A key part of this effort involves technology transfer—the sharing of know-how, intellectual property, and manufacturing capacity. To that end, the agreement introduces a set of obligations aimed at shifting from a charity-based model to an end-to-end ecosystem grounded in equity. This article examines how effectively the agreement addresses technology transfer—one of the most contested issues in the negotiations.
Analysis
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Amid geopolitical fragmentation and rising nationalist sentiment, the negotiations leading to the Pandemic Agreement—which was adopted on May 20, 2025 at the World Health Assembly—have shown that multilateral diplomacy is more difficult than ever—but also more vital. For decades, cooperation on global health was treated as self-evident. The shared logic was clear: pandemics, like the climate […]
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Experts have highlighted that the Latin America and Caribbean region is unique in that several countries’ care policies are situated within their gender equality policies (encompassing a root cause approach) rather than being siloed within economic and poverty reduction policies. Recognizing the vital role of care work and transforming care systems to change the unequal distribution of labor is critical to addressing the root causes of gender inequality.
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This article looks at five priorities for UN80 reforms based on the outcomes of the 2021 UN Integration Review. The article suggests that reforms cannot be measured by departments merged or posts abolished, but by whether the UN delivers more coherent, effective, and principled support to those it serves. This will require reform not only of structure, but of behavior, leadership, and the compact with member states.
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Coalitions of the willing are the talk of the town these days and will play a central role in the future security of Ukraine and Europe. Yet, European leaders should not forget that coalitions are only stop-gap measures and anchoring them in a longer-term political-diplomatic strategy is essential.
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While there has been talk of UN reform for years, structural changes to the organization are now firmly on the agenda. Once a taboo subject, even the potential merger of UN entities is now openly being discussed. This article discusses ideas for changing the UN structure in light of UN80.
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While the current geopolitical tensions created a somewhat muted atmosphere, a high level of participation indicates a broad national appetite for participation in the CSW and reaffirms that women’s rights remain an issue on which countries continue to engage with.
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The deadly toll of the M23’s military escalation has presented an urgent call for international attention and support, including consideration of punitive measures against armed groups that attack civilians and peacekeepers. It also forced SADC member states to make a choice: showcase their commitment to regional conflict management under the SADC Mutual Defence Pact by reinforcing SAMIDRC or withdraw the mission. Their choice for withdrawal reflected waning political support for the mission, particularly among the three troop-contributing countries (TCCs), as the operating environment turned more hostile and the mission failed to show results.
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Governments worldwide have incorporated algorithmic decision-making into functions ranging from policing to welfare distribution, border control, and resource allocation. These political machines—AI systems used to support or automate government decision-making—are becoming central to contemporary governance while operating largely outside public scrutiny.
This transformation represents more than a technological upgrade to government operations; it marks a fundamental shift in the relationship between citizens and the state. As political machines increasingly make or inform decisions affecting people’s lives, questions of citizen participation will become an urgent concern for multilateral organizations, civil society, and institutional stakeholders.
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How should we assess Trump’s peace diplomacy? And what can Europe and Ukraine do to position themselves strategically in the diplomatic battle over Ukraine’s and Europe’s future?
