Right to development-focused trade policy research.

Cosmoledo Research is an independent think tank founded to examine the intersection of trade policy and human rights, with specific attention to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and its implementation.

Focus areas

Our research addresses critical questions relevant to policymakers and advocates

Trade agreement design and implementation

How can trade agreements be structured to advance human development rather than hinder it? We examine the legal frameworks of the AfCFTA and other trade regimes to identify provisions that either support or potentially undermine human rights obligations.

Policy coherence

How can African states navigate multiple, sometimes competing obligations under trade and human rights regimes? We analyse systemic coherence between the AfCFTA and the broader African Union legal ecosystem, particularly regarding right to development commitments.

Development-first policymaking

Which economic sectors and populations face particular risks from trade liberalisation? Our research identifies protection mechanisms within trade agreements that can safeguard vulnerable communities while still advancing continental integration.

Participatory governance

How can affected communities meaningfully participate in trade policy formation? We study mechanisms for inclusive governance that ensure diverse voices inform implementation decisions.

Research methodology

We maintain methodological transparency and ethics by adhering to the TENK standards.

Our analytical work combines:

  • Historical legal analysis of preparatory documents, treaty texts, and negotiation records

  • Socio-legal examination of how legal concepts function within specific political and economic contexts

  • Comparative assessment of implementation approaches across different trade regimes

  • Rights-impact assessment methodologies applied to technical trade provisions

Practical applications

  • Our research provides:

    • Analysis of legal options within existing treaty frameworks

    • Concrete implementation strategies that balance trade liberalisation with human rights protection

    • Technical guidance on specific provisions such as tariff schedules, rules of origin, and other trade rules

  • Our work offers:

    • Methodological frameworks for analysing trade agreements through a right to development lens

    • Primary source analysis of negotiation processes and implementation challenges

    • Conceptual tools for understanding the interplay between trade liberalisation and human rights regimes

    • Comparative data on various approaches to developmental regionalism

  • We offer:

    • Analytical frameworks to evaluate trade provisions against human rights standards

    • Entry points for effective advocacy within technical trade negotiations

    • Comparative analyses of best practices in rights-protection within trade agreements

Collaboration

We actively collaborate with government trade negotiators, regional economic community secretariats, civil society organisations, and African academic institutions. Through these collaborations, we aim to strengthen the analytical quality of our work and its practical utility for those engaged in trade policy formation and implementation.

Meet the team

  • Guillaume Gérout Suominen

    Researcher

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