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Ibrahim Maïga is a Sahel expert at the International Crisis Group. Alliance Sud asked him what the recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger mean for democracy in the region and Switzerland's development cooperation. Interview by Isolda Agazzi.

The Free Trade Agreement with Thailand does not provide for the strengthening of intellectual property rights over medicines (for now) and seeds, which is a good thing from a development standpoint. But the sustainable impact assessment, the first of its kind, misses the mark.

The dismantling of global US involvement must be of concern to Switzerland, writes Andreas Missbach. The repercussions on multilateralism and development cooperation and, by extension, on the poorest countries in particular, are serious. Against this backdrop, the Federal Council cannot opt for business as usual.

The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences hosted a meeting on tax justice and solidarity. Yet what hovered above attendees was not the Holy Ghost, but Donald Trump.

Much has been written in recent days about the dramatic dismantling of the American development agency USAID. It is now clear that not only was the agency destroyed in an undemocratic and unlawful manner, but that moreover, the decision is having worldwide repercussions. Despite its much-vaunted humanitarian tradition and advocacy of multilateralism through international Geneva, official Switzerland is still noticeably silent.

Impact Investment has gained popularity, particularly in Switzerland, a country known for its financial system and its aspirations for sustainable finance. As impact investing is often presented as a panacea for development challenges, Alliance Sud’s study takes a critical look at its effectiveness, its limitations and the extent to which it can contribute to sustainable development.

Many people favour greater use of private funding to cover current and future contributions from the countries in the North to those in the South in their fight against climate change. A stocktake by Laurent Matile

Imports of the most polluting products are to be taxed under the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). No exemption is being contemplated for the poorest countries, even though they will be severely affected. Should Switzerland ever adopt this measure, it would have to make sure to put this right.

Whether in regard to the CO2 Act or the new austerity programme: Swiss policymakers are relying increasingly on carbon certificates from abroad to meet their own climate target by 2030. Yet the plan could fail – the first programmes are already showing serious shortcomings. An analysis by Delia Berner