Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development

Since the January 12 earthquake we are helping Haitians find sustainable ways to revitalize Haiti.   We are doing this by partnering with Haitian business, the Diaspora, non-profits, the Government, the United Nations and with you, on key projects that improve people’s lives.

The Foundation will hold its “Partners Against Poverty” Benefit at Affirmation Arts, 523 West 37th St., Manhattan, on November 4, 2010, from 6 pm to 8 pm.  Affirmation Arts is featuring an exhibition, “Saving Grace: A Celebration of Haitian Art.” It includes works by many of the best artists of the Haitian Renaissance and is curated by Gérald Alexis, an historian of Haitian art. 

Noted actor and director Tony Plana will host the event.  He recently played the father on Ugly Betty, on ABC TV, and has starred in over 70 movies and on Broadway.    Ian Williams, past president of the United Nations Correspondents Association will be on hand to chat about and sign his book, Rum:  The Social and Sociable History of the Real Spirit of 1776.  Refreshments will be served.

The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization and donations are tax-exempt to the extent of the law.  Requested minimum donations are $30 for students or under-30′s, $50 for supporters, $250 for sponsors.  These can be made online at www.ppafoundation.org (through JustGive or PayPal).   Donations will also be accepted at the door.

In order to assist businesses to work in the redevelopment of Haiti, several organizations have held or will hold events to bring prospective investment, commercial and related interests together.  Here are a few:

June 10-11, 2010 – AMCHAM DR / AMCHAM Haiti Conference– Montrouis, Haiti

About 600 people attended the “Building A New Haiti” conference organized by the American Chambers of Commerce of the Dominican Republic and Haiti and the U.S. Commercial Service.   Speakers included the Haitian President Rene Preval and the Prime Minister, Max Bellerive.  Partial lists of attendees and presenters and PowerPoint presentations of selected speeches are available on the AmCham DR website:  http://amcham.org.do  David Stillman of PPAF and a team from SImACT attended, with Lesly Kernisant making a presentation in the Tourism segment.  PPAF has posted a few photos from the event.

June 12-13, 2010 – PPAF/SImACT Workshop, Jacmel, Haiti    

About 50 participants from the AmCham conference, plus about 20 from Jacmel and elsewhere participated in the PPAF / SImACT workshop “Reconstruction and Business Opportunities in Southern Haiti.”  Billed as an add-on to the AmCham conference, this workshop focused group discussions and site visits on several practical possibilities.  The Minister of Tourism Patrick Delatour gave a keynote address.   (See article, press and photos.)

June 21, 2010 – “Building a New Haiti” Debriefing and Planning meeting, Brooklyn, NY

About 20 people attended the meeting, held at the offices of the Brooklyn International Trade Development Center of Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York.  Several shareholders and friends of SImACT participated, as well as the PPAF Executive Director.   Thoughts, comments and suggestions of those who attended the June 10-11 conference in Montrouis will be used to shape the July 10 forum and the September trade mission (below) and for communications with government officials.  

July 10, 2010 – Meeting to Plan a Trade Mission to Haiti, Brooklyn, NY

Participants in the July 10 meeting will help plan for a trade mission to Haiti.  The meeting is being organized by the New York State Association of Minority Contractors and the NS and J Advisory Group.  It will be held Medgar Evers College.  PPAF and SImACT have been invited as presenters.  Contact events@nsandj.com  to reserve a place.

September 8-10, 2010 –  Proposed Trade Mission to Haiti 

A trade mission, jointly led by NS&J Advisory Group and SImACT, is being planned for September, to Jacmel and other sites in Haiti.  Details will be available after the July 10 meeting.

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.

Le vendredi après-midi 11 Juin, PPAF et SImACT, Inc. tiendront une table ronde sur la reconstruction dans le sud de Haïti a la Conférence de la Chambre de commerce américaine << Construire une Nouvelle Haïti >>

Les membres du groupe seront: Patrick Delatour, ministre de Haiti pour le Tourisme (et reconstruction); Dr. Lesly Kernisant, président de SImACT, Inc; Roland Zenny, président de la Chambre de commerce de Jacmel et le Dr David Stillman, directeur  exécutif de PPAF.

Le lendemain matin, les inscrits partent pour le voyage à Jacmel.

PPAF et SImACT, Inc. tiendront un événement sur la reconstruction dans le sud de Haïti, à l’Hôtel Cap Lamandou à Jacmel les 12-13 Juin. L’événement mettra l’accent sur les domaines du développement retenues par les participants. Domaines possibles: agriculture, infrastructures, notamment portuaires et aéroportuaires, les fourneaux à l’éthanol, l’énergie, le logement et construction, distribution, tourisme, transport / logistique, l’arrondissement historique de Jacmel, de capital-risque social, la santé, l’éducation, la microfinance, l’art et les artisans et autres thèmes identifiés par les personnes inscrites. Les participants seront en mesure de répondre aux besoins locaux et ses autorités gouvernementales nationales, se familiariser avec les besoins et les possibilités dans le sud de Haïti, et de rencontrer des investisseurs potentiels et les entreprises et les ONG partenaires.

Coût du voyage à Jacmel est de 100 $, payable PPAF. Voir le formulaire d’inscription, qui devrait être soumis et payés par Juin 1.

Cet événement aura lieu immédiatement après la « Construire une nouvelle Haïti » conférence, qui sera tenue du 9 au 11 Juin nord de Port-au-Prince (au Club Indigo, la Côte des Arcadins, Montrouis). PPAF / SImACT assurera le transport du Club Indigo à Jacmel le samedi matin, 12 Juin et le retour à Port-au-Prince, le 13 Juin, à ceux qui s’inscrivent à ce sujet. L’espace est limité. SVP vous inscrire avant le 1er Juin en utilisant ce formulaire d’inscription.   D’obtenir le formulaire en francais, email:  ppafoundation@gmail.com

NOTE: Si vous souhaitez séjourner jours supplémentaires, écrivez à ppafoundation@gmail.com pour plus de détails.

En la tarde del Viernes, 11 de junio, PPAF y SImACT, Inc., celebrará una mesa redonda sobre la reconstrucción en el sur de Haití a la Conferencia de la Cámara Americana de Comercio “Construyendo un Nuevo Haití>>

Los miembros del grupo son: Patrick Delatour, ministro de Haití para el Turismo (y reconstrucción), el Dr. Lesly Kernisant, Presidente de SImACT, Inc., Roland Zenny, Presidente de la Cámara de Comercio de Jacmel y el Dr. David Stillman, Director Ejecutivo de PPAF.

A la mañana siguiente, los solicitantes de registro deje para el viaje a Jacmel.

This is your opportunity to visit the Southern coastal city of Jacmel, home to artisans and the arts, historic buildings that predate New Orleans, beautiful beaches and a developing tourist site.  Jacmel 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.  Jacmel, as the main city in Southeastern Haiti, offers important prospects for reconstruction, for business and for development toward a bright future.   The government of Haiti has proposed Jacmel for placement on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

PPAF and SImACT, Inc., will hold the event  Reconstruction and Business Opportunities in Southern Haiti  at the Cap Lamandou Hotel in Jacmel on 12-13 June.    The event will focus on areas of development and business  selected by participants.   Possible areas include: 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, art & artisans and other topics identified by registrants.  Participants 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.

Cost of the Jacmel side trip is $100, payable to the Public-Private Alliance Foundation.  See the Registration Form, which should be submitted and paid by June 1. 

This event will immediately follow the Building A New Haiti conference, which will be held from 9 to 11 June north of Port-au-Prince (at Club Indigo, Cote des Arcadins, Montrouis).   PPAF / SImACT will provide transportation from Club Indigo to Jacmel on Saturday morning, June 12, and return to Port-au-Prince on June 13, to those who register for this. Space is limited. Please register by 1 June using this Registration Form

 PLEASE NOTE:  If you wish to stay additional days, please write to  ppafoundation@gmail.com for details.

Woman cooking in an American Relief Committee Camp

The photo above shows life in a displaced persons camp in Haiti.  Many are living with less.  Extradordinary reconstruction is needed. 

The United States and the United Nations (UN), in cooperation with the Government of Haiti, and with the support of Brazil, Canada, the European Union, France, and Spain,  co-hosted the “International Donors’ Conference Towards a New Future for Haiti” at the United Nations in New York on March 31.   Co-Chairs were UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Haiti President René Préval.

PPAF Executive Director David Stillman had the good fortune to speak briefly with President Clinton at the conference about ideas developed during Stillman’s recent trip to Haiti.   PPAF expects to follow up on this in the coming weeks.

The goal of the donors conference was to mobilize international support for the development needs of Haiti in an effort to lay the foundation for the country’s long-term recovery.  The Prime Minister of Haiti  presented the Action Plan for Haiti’s future and explained how international support can assist. Countries, international organizations, and other partners had an opportunity to pledge resources, to discuss coordination in support of Haiti’s long-term recovery and to commit to a sustained effort to support Haiti.

At the conference, the United Nations Members States and International Partners pledged US$ 5.3 billion for the next two years and US$ 9.9 billion in total for the next three years and beyond. 

View here the Closing Press Conference .   The action plan, the meeting agenda and the final communiqué also available on the www.haiticonference.org site.

Powering Haiti’s Future

TAMPA, Fla. (March 16, 2010) – International experts involved in the rebuilding of Haiti believe there’s an unprecedented opportunity to incorporate alternative energy sources into the new infrastructure, says David Stillman, the executive director of the Public-Private Alliance Foundation which is working with the United Nations in charting a new path for the earthquake-ravaged nation.

Stillman will brief the USF community on those plans during a talk at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, March 22, in the Marshall Student Center, Room 2707, on sustainable development and renewable energy in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and other developing nations. The conversation is open to the public.

The Public-Private Alliance Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to reducing poverty in the world by uniting business, governmental, community, academic with efforts through the United Nations. The organization’s goal is to stimulate entrepreneurship, commerce and investment in sustainable development. 

Stillman, a United Nations senior officer for 30 years, said he recently attended a Haiti reconstruction conference where organizations are already taking steps to incorporate alternative energy resources – such as ethanol-powered cook stoves – into relief and rebuilding efforts. Stillman said alternative energy can be built into the Haiti’s new infrastructure, creating jobs and a sustainable economic base for the impoverished nation.

The organization had already been considering opportunities to incorporate alternative energy into development in the Dominican Republic when the Jan. 12 earthquake hit Haiti. The focus had been on a sugarcane-based ethanol – a natural because of the island’s history in sugarcane production, which has waned in recent years leaving fields vacant and workers unemployed. But other alternative forms of clean, sustainable energy could be developed if public, private, academic, non-governmental organizations, private corporations and financiers can coordinate their efforts, he said.

“Renewable energy is needed and is possible in various ways at various levels,” he said.

Stillman’s presentation is part of a continuing focus the Patel Center has on renewable energy projects in the region. The center recently selected two USF students for a six-week business development internship to analyze market potential for alternative energy products in the Dominican Republic and Panama.

Kedwin Dominguez is currently a junior majoring in electrical engineering. His research interests include incorporating alternative energy sources in communities in United States and Dominican Republic. Wilnelly Ortiz is a marketing major in the College of Business Administration with an interest in learning more about businesses in other countries.

The focus of these U.S. Department of Education-funded internships is to help small businesses in Florida involved in alternative energy products and services to develop and expand their export markets.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of only 25 public research universities nationwide with very high research activity that is designated as community engaged by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.  USF was awarded $380.4 million in research contracts and grants in FY 2008/2009. The university offers 232 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The USF System has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 47,000 students on institutions/campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.

-USF

by

Vickie Chachere
News Manager
University Communications & Marketing
813-974-6251
vchachere@admin.usf.edu

Cookstoves for displaced Haitians, ethanol to run these, biodiesel for electrical generators and fuel, and construction of transitional housing were among Public-Private Alliance Foundation interests discussed during the HAITI – Resources for Reconstruction & Humanitarian Assistance Summit, held on March 9 and 10 in Miami. 

Displaced Haitians Set Up Encampment at Port-au-Prince Golf Course

UN Photo

Dr. David Stillman, PPAF Executive Director, spoke at the panel on Economic Recovery and Reconstruction and hosted afternoon roundtable sessions.   Conference participants signed up to meet with speakers, to discuss business or support related to reconstruction priorities.

PPAF’s interest in renewable energy grows out of its work since 2008.  Several project possibilities that respond to the Haiti crisis are being developed, notably:

• Partnering with Project Gaia to make cookstoves that run on ethanol broadly available. 
• Partnering with businesses in Haiti to produce sufficient ethanol for cookstoves.
• Creating a production model that will result in sustainable commercialization of cookstoves and ethanol, on the local Haitian market.

PPAF seeks financial and technical support for these projects, from interested governments, business and financial houses, individual donors, major foundations and UN agencies. 

Regine Barjon, Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida, holding stove, with Brady Anne Luceno and Harry Stokes of Project Gaia, talking with Maureen Taft-Morales (l), Congressional Research Service

This effort potentially meets several needs:  (a) cooking and the fuel to do it, (b) rebuilding small business capabilities, and (c) helping protect Haiti’s fragile environment, where many have relied on wood and charcoal for cooking.

Brady Lucerno, David Stillman & Harry Stokes, showing the cookstove and the ethanol canister

The Summit was organized by Global Investment Summits and the IPOA (International Peace Operations Association). The event stressed the pivotal role the private sector will play in long-term reconstruction in Haiti.  Its aim was to enable participants to begin addressing the efforts required to reconstruct Haitian infrastructure and rehabilitate the country’s economy and society.  The summit aimed to contribute to work in the fields of logistics, transport and communications, infrastructure, housing, security and stability, and medical and nutritional aid.

At the Summit, Stillman discussed with the organizers and with the leadership of SImACT, a Haiti Diaspora investment group, the possibility of convening a workshop on investment and commerce in Southern Haiti, to be held in Jacmel.