INTRODUCTION

Third World Network (TWN) is an independent non-profit international research and advocacy organisation involved in issues relating to development, developing countries and North-South affairs.

TWN was formed in November 1984 in Penang, Malaysia at the concluding session of an International Conference on "The Third World: Development or Crisis?" organised by the Consumers' Association of Penang and attended by over a hundred participants from 21 countries. At this conference, TWN was formed to especially strengthen cooperation among civil society groups in the South.

Its mission is to bring about a greater articulation of the needs and rights of peoples in the South, a fair distribution of world resources, and forms of development which are ecologically sustainable and fulfill human needs.

TWN’s objectives are to deepen the understanding of the development dilemmas and challenges facing developing countries and to contribute to policy changes in pursuit of just, equitable and ecologically sustainable development.

To achieve these objectives TWN conducts research on economic, social, health and environmental issues pertaining to the South; publishes books and magazines; participates in intergovernmental processes; organises and participates in conferences, seminars and workshops; and provides a platform representing broadly Third World interests and perspectives at international fora such as United Nations agencies especially FAO, WHO and WIPO, as well as WTO , the World Bank and IMF. 

The TWN website contains information on economics, health, environment and other issues from a development perspective. There is also a dedicated website for biosafety. Selected Mandarin Chinese translations of TWN's web materials are available at http://twnchinese.net.

TWN is legally registered in Malaysia with its International Secretariat in Penang and offices in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Geneva (Switzerland) and Delhi (India). There are researchers based in Beijing, Cairo, Jakarta, Kathmandu, Manila and New York. The Latin America Regional Secretariat is located in Montevideo (Uruguay) and the African Regional Secretariat is in Accra (Ghana).

TWN PUBLICATIONS

Third World Resurgence – a monthly magazine on development, ecology, economics, health, alternatives and South-North relations.

Third World Economics – a bi-monthly economics magazine focussing on the GATT/WTO, the World Bank/IMF, etc.

SUNS bulletin – the daily South-North Development bulletin published from Geneva, Switzerland.

For more information, a publications catalogue and subscriptions details, please write to or e-mail TWN publications department.

CONTACT DETAILS

Third World Network
131 Jalan Macalister
10400 Penang
Malaysia
Tel: 60-4-2266728/2266159
Fax: 60-4-2264505
Email

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