Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development

by Robert M. Worth, PPAF Intern

The UN offers businesses many ways to support its mission while creating valuable partnerships and pursuing new business opportunities.  One is to compete in the procurement process and become UN vendors.  Another is to assist in disaster response.  The UN also encourages business to join  the UN Global Compact, which affirms their adherence to several basic international mandates.  For more information about business partnering with the UN, and examples of how companies work with the UN, see:  http://business.un.org

The Public-Private Alliance Foundation promotes a business approach to development for poverty reduction and partnerships, and in support of all of the UN Millennium Development Goals.  PPAF is a participant in the UN Global Compact.

Procurement

One way to become a vendor and gain access to the UN’s $6 billion international market is to take advantage of the “one-step, fully on-line” registration process of the UN Global Marketplace.  This registers businesses with 21 agencies, funds and programs and the UN Secretariat, which represent over 95% of the UN procurement program’s expenditures.

Large contracts make the headlines, but the UN also relies on small businesses to support its operations. To encourage small business participation, the UN offers a tiered contract system   based on contract size – ranging from under $200,000 to over $5 million – with reduced compliance requirements for smaller contracts.

The UN Global Marketplace guide “Doing Business with the UN System” outlines the process. 

Disaster Response

A business can partner with the UN in disaster response as a paid service provider or by making donations.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) produces “How Can My Company Help?”   This page explains the role of businesses in disaster response, as well as methods of giving.

Cash is always the preferred type of donation, as it allows the UN to direct resources to the most immediate need, but in-kind donations are accepted so long as they meet current emergency needs. In all cases, donated goods and services must be aligned with the goals of the UN.

Businesses can also donate expertise by providing full-time employees with needed skills to UN agencies, and can facilitate individual giving through employee donation programs.

 OCHA encourages businesses to develop their ability to respond to future disasters, especially by creating long-term partnerships with emergency relief organisations.  OCHA also encourages support after the initial disaster passes, as reconstruction often costs ten or more times the cost of the initial response.

The UN Global Compact

The UN Global Compact  is a public-private initiative that joins businesses with the UN to make commitments to sustainability and corporate citizenship in four core areas: human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. By signing the Compact, businesses agree to implement and promote ten universal principles and to make annual contributions according to revenue-based guidelines.

Participating in the Compact allows businesses to contribute to the creation of a “more sustainable and inclusive global economy,” as well as to enjoy the benefits of partnering with the UN, governments, civil society, labor, and other non-business interests to develop best practices and implement an “established and globally recognized policy framework for the development.”

by Robert M. Worth, PPAF Intern

PPAF’s renewable energy seminars, held in the Dominican Republic in cooperation with the National Energy Commission (CNE) and others in 2009, emphasized the importance of Law 57-07 to make the D.R. a potential leader in the Caribbean in renewable energy, and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.  Law 57-07 grants numerous incentives and tax exemptions to investors in renewable energy.

PPAF is very happy to learn that the Dominican Corporation of State Electrical Companies (CDEEE) recently signed its first contract, with Grupo Eolico Dominicano, to buy wind energy that will be carried by the Interconnected Electrical System (SENI). The system currently carries only energy from conventional sources.

The energy will come from Grupo Eolico Dominicano’s 34 mega watt wind park, which will join SENI in 2011. 

Speaking to the newspaper Dominican Today, Grupo Eolico Dominicano representative Wilfredo Gonzalez, who participated in PPAF’s 2009 seminars, called the deal “historic.” He said that the group will continue to make renewable energy investments in the Dominican Republic.

The power will be sold to the CDEE according to the price formula found in Law 57-07 on Incentives to the Development of Renewable Energy Sources and Special Regimes.

http://www.dominicantoday.com/dr/economy/2010/7/5/36209/Dominican-Republics-1st-wind-energy-park-to-operate-in-2011

by Robert M. Worth, PPAF Intern

PPAF has added a number of videos produced by Frank and Dana Minaya of the Samana College Research Center in the D.R. onto the PPAF YouTube site.  They feature the PPAF / SImACT workshop in Jacmel, June 12 – 13, 2010 – on “Reconstruction and Business Opportunities in Southern Haiti,” as well as the June 9 – 10, 2010 “Building a New Haiti” Conference held at Club Indigo in Montrouis.  Thank you , Frank and Dana! 

Click on the titles below to view the videos.

BUILDING A NEW JACMEL, HAITI

SImAct and PPAF sponsored a workshop in Jacmel on June 12-13, 2010, for the exploration of reconstruction and business opportunities in southern Haiti.  About 50 participants traveled there on the morning of June 12 from the Building a New Haiti conference (organized by American Chambers of Commerce (of the D.R. and Haiti) and the U.S. Commercial Service).  Another 25  joined them  from Jacmel, elsewhere in Haiti and internationally.

HAITIAN SYNERGY #3

Haitian Needs and Answers as described by Reginald Boulos, coordinator of the Haitian Private Sector Forum, notes President Obama’s commitment to Haiti.  He spoke at the Building New Haiti conference held at Club Indigo on June 10-11, 2010.

 HAITI’S SYNERGY #2

Reginald Boulos, speaking at the “Building a New Haiti” Conference.

HAITIAN SYNERGY – JUNE 2010

Photos from the “Building a New Haiti” Conference held June 10-13, 2010, at Club Indigo and Jacmel’s Hotel Cap Lamandou.  The first few minutes show Betsy Wall of the Foundation for International Development Assistance (FIDA) giving a special message for rebuilding Haiti.  Images and presentations from the Jacmel Workshop by PPAF and SImACT follow.

 HAITI’S MINISTER OF TOURISM PATRICK DELATOUR  (in Creole and French)

“Regional Priorities for Recovery and Development,” Jacmel, Haiti, June 12, 2010.   Minister Delatour meets with participants and reporters at the Jacmel Workshop.

RENE PREVAL, PRESIDENT OF HAITI,  JUNE 11, 2010

Rene Preval, President of Haiti, speaks at the “Building a New Haiti” conference.

PPAF and SImACT, Inc. will hold the Reconstruction and Business Opportunities in Southern Haiti conference on June 12-13 at the Cap Lamandou Hotel in the coastal city of Jacmel.

Nearly 50 participants from over 30 organizations have registered, and represent businesses, professional associations, NGOs, media outlets and government officials from the U.S., Haiti, Canada, the Dominican Republic and several other countries.

The event will focus on areas of development and business including agriculture, infrastructure including seaport and airport, ethanol cookstoves, energy, housing and construction, distribution, tourism, transportation / logistics, the Historic District of Jacmel, social venture capital, healthcare, education, microfinance and art & artisans.

Participants will tour the area and will be able to meet local and national governmental authorities, become acquainted with needs and opportunities in Southern Haiti, and meet potential investors and business and NGO partners.

Jacmel, home to artisans and the arts, historic buildings that predate New Orleans, beautiful beaches and a developing tourist site, was strongly affected by the earthquake – for example, the hospital was demolished and many lost their homes or places of business. But large parts of the city remain untouched, and as the main city in Southeastern Haiti, Jacmel offers important prospects for reconstruction, for business and tourism and for development toward a bright future. The government of Haiti has proposed Jacmel for placement on the UNESCO World Heritage List.